Ferrari courtship of Vettel ruffles Alonso’s feathers

Recently-crowned world champion Sebastian Vettel has become a target for Ferrari for the 2012 season, according to reports across Europe.

In the jockeying for position (and lucrative contracts) that characterises the climax of every Formula 1 season, Vettel is the most coveted talent, even though he is contracted to Red Bull until 2014.

Current Ferrari No 1 driver, Fernando Alonso, hardly renowned as modest, may be less than enthralled at the prospect of sharing leadership duties with Vettel, even if Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali thinks that the combination could work.

'Would Alonso accept Vettel? I think yes, it could work,” Domenicali, the Ferrari team principal, said., adding 'Fernando's strength is that he's afraid of no one.'

But there are other names in the mix, including those of Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa. The Briton is believed to be keen to join Ferrari, even if his own relationship with Alonso has never been easy, while the Brazilian may be yet heading for the exit.

'Massa will do everything he can to show that he's worthy of Ferrari and other drivers with contracts expiring will want to show that they're ready to come,' Domenicali said. 'Hamilton is also probably among those drivers, but it is early yet.'