Di Montezemolo: Ferrari laying foundations for winning cycle

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is convinced that the team have made significant strides over the first half of their 2014 Formula One campaign, even if results are "not always visible".

For the first time since 2009 Ferrari have failed to win once over the opening 11 races, with Fernando Alonso's podiums in China and Hungary the only two occasions on which the Italian squad have cracked the top three.

However, Di Montezemolo says changes are already being made in order for the Scuderia to rediscover front-running form, starting with an overhaul of how the team operates away from the circuit.

"We are making in-depth changes on both the organisational side, in our approach and culture," he told the Ferrari website.

"We have taken important decisions and have made significant progress, even if, at the moment, the results of all this work are not always visible.

"The aim is to get back to being as competitive as we were before in the shortest possible time, while at the same time putting everything in place so that we can embark on another winning cycle."

Di Montezemolo also dismissed speculation about the futures of Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, both of whom have been the subject of rumours suggesting they could leave Ferrari at the end of the season.

"We are lucky to have two great champions, who are working with the whole team to get back to being competitive again," Di Montezemolo added.

"Of course, as is the case every summer, there is unfounded gossip about alleged problems with senseless rumours bandied about, such as the ones relating to Alonso's contract. We know that the summer heat always produces silly stories.

"Our drivers must now relax in order to return in top form. The season is still long and we need Fernando and Kimi to be in great shape."

Ferrari currently sit third in the constructors' championship on 142 points - 77 points behind Red Bull, and seven ahead of Williams. Alonso is fourth in the drivers' standings, while Raikkonen languishes in 12th, sandwiched by Force India's Sergio Perez and Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne.