Ferrari insists it's "not interested" in Alonso return

With Ferrari having neither of its drivers under contract for 2018, and Alonso’s McLaren deal running out at the end of this year, there has been talk that the two-time champion could be a candidate for a Maranello comeback.

But speaking at the Austrian Grand Prix, Marchionne made it clear that Alonso had already been told by Ferrari that it wasn’t interested in him.

He also dismissed speculation of a pre-contract being already in place with Max Verstappen for the longer term, something that Red Bull boss Christian Horner had also denied.

“Alonso may well have shown the desire to return [to Ferrari], but he did not find the right response from our side,” said Marchionne. “We’re not interested.

“As for Verstappen we have not signed anything. Before the end of the year you'll know."

Marchionne has already ramped up the pressure on Raikkonen to deliver more over the remainder of the campaign if he is to keep his F1 seat next year, describing the Finn as a "laggard".

Vettel relationship intact

Although Vettel is leading the championship, there had been talk in Austria that even the German’s place at Ferrari could be under threat as a result of the clash with Lewis Hamilton in Baku.

But Marchionne said that although the team had told Vettel that it was not impressed by what happened in Azerbaijan, the matter was closed.

“I saw him on the Monday or Tuesday after Baku,” said Marchionne. “We met and we [Ferrari] said that this [incident] was something to be avoided.

"We have now closed that chapter, so we must think of the races and not the personal squabbles.”

He added: “Sebastian is aware of what happened. I understand the pressure and it was not an easy race. We lost the other car at the second corner in a manner that was not very correct.

"But I don’t want to talk about who behaved well and who did not.”