ROME : Finland's reigning Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen and Brazilian Felipe Massa have been confirmed as Ferrari drivers for next season, team boss Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said on Friday.

Cordero di Montezemolo, speaking while at Monza in the north of Italy where several Formula One teams are having tests, said when questioned on whether the drivers would remain the same for 2009, said: "Absolutely, yes."

Renault driver Fernando Alonso had been mentioned in certain quarters as a possible recruit for Ferrari.

Di Montezemolo added on Alonso: "I was disappointed to see a great champion like him not make the top 10 in Valencia (during the European Grand Prix on August 24 where he retired on the first lap)."

He added on the recent difficulties by Raikkonen - third in the world championship standings with 57 points behind Britain's Lewis Hamilton (first on 70 points) and Massa (second with 64 points) - that the Finn was "not in a crisis."

"He is motivated and we must work hard so that he is in a position to make a quick start," di Montezemolo added. "Especially on the new circuits which I don't like and are doing harm to Formula One. You can't overtake and nine times out of 10 whoever takes pole position wins.

"All this criticism of Raikonnen reminds me of when (Filippo) Inzaghi was at Juventus. If he did not score in three matches, everyone said he was in crisis."

- AFP /ls