Luca di Montezemolo has taken a swipe at Bernie Ecclestone after the F1 supremo called Ferrari's request for clarification "a complete joke."
Following the season-ending Brazilian GP, Ferrari asked the FIA for clarification on Sebastian Vettel's lap four pass on Jean-Eric Vergne, which appeared to take place under yellow flag conditions.
The response from motorsport's governing body was that it was perfectly legal as a marshal was waving a green flag on Vettel's left before the Red Bull driver completed the move.
Ecclestone was not impressed, saying it was a "shame" and a "complete joke."
Di Montezemolo in turn was not impressed with the 82-year-old's opinion.
"Ecclestone? We must respect the old people," f1news.ru quotes the Ferrari President as having said, "especially when they reach the point where they are no longer able to watch their words.
"However, age is clearly not compatible with certain positions and a certain level of responsibility."
Pressed as to why Ferrari had even asked for clarification, di Montezemolo stated that the Italian stable had only done it after receiving "thousands" of requests from their tifosi.
"Some people cried scandal, or said a bit too much.
"The story is very simple: we saw some images, some of which were broadcast on all the internet sites, and we received thousands of requests from our fans so we did the simplest and most straightforward thing: we asked the FIA what they thought, telling them we would accept whatever decision they took.
"I think that is the best way to resolve questions when there are doubts.
"The FIA replied that in their view Vettel had been given a green flag before the passing move and then we said that for us the discussion was closed: you can't be any more straightforward than that."
The Ferrari President also took the time to congratulate Vettel, who beat Alonso by three points to the Drivers' Championship, as well as Red Bull who won the Constructors' crown.
"I would like to take this chance to congratulate Vettel and Red Bull because they won and we like to congratulate whoever wins, hoping and wishing that next year it can be others who are congratulating us.
"If anyone says a bit too much then I'm sorry but that's too bad for them."
Related Links
'We Weren't Out To Belittle Vettel'
