Championship in Ferrari's hands

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has sent out a rallying call to all the staff at Ferrari ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.

Despite Ferrari starting the 2012 season with, by their high standards, a poor car, Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel lead the Formula One World Championship, both with 61-points each.

A run of consistent performances from the Spanish double F1 champion and an unlikely victory in Sepang at the Malaysian Grand Prix have put Alonso and Ferrari in a very strong position.

In Spain, Alonso was in contention to win his second race of the season, thanks in part to the improvements the team had made following the Mugello test session earlier this month.

With the team riding out the early season poor form Ferrari now look real contenders for the 2012 Formula One World Championship and Luca di Montezemolo is not a man who is going to pass up that opportunity lightly.

“The championship is in our own hands, (It) is very open and so far, there has not been one dominant force.” Di Montezemolo wrote in a letter to Ferrari staff as quoted by formula1.com.

The President of Ferrari went on to praise the efforts of Fernando Alonso for getting the most out of a disappointing car, however there was also a comment for Felipe Massa whose performances this season have come in for a lot of criticism.

“A series of circumstances and the work done here to improve the car, as well as Alonso’s great ability, has led to us leading the championship after five rounds, We must capitalize on that, with each one of us giving our very best at home and at the race track, including Massa who must bring home the results we expect from him.”

He went on to add: 'Winning the championship depends only and exclusively on ourselves: on our ability, our creativity, our determination and our desire to show that we are the best,”