Ferrari vows not to surrender despite Vettel's charge

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali vowed Sunday the Italian outfit would fight Red Bull all the way, after Sebastian Vettel toppled Fernando Alonso in the drivers' standings.

Vettel's victory at the Korean Grand Prix saw Alonso fall to second with four races to go. Vettel's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber was second in the race, with Alonso and the fellow Ferrari of Felipe Massa third and fourth.

A buoyant Domenicali declared: "This afternoon's result was a great team effort and anyone who thinks that losing the lead in the drivers' championship might leave us discouraged is making a big mistake."

The Ferrari team boss said that "we are working day and night to succeed". "There are four races to go at the end of a fantastic and very uncertain season. We will not let up, not even for a second, you can be sure of that," he said.

Domenicali was coy about the future of Massa, amid rumours the Brazilian will be offered a seat for next season after a distinct improvement in his performances, coming second last week in Japan.

"Felipe followed up his great race in Suzuka with another one here, also on the attack right from the opening lap and then again at other key moments, like when he overtook Hamilton," he said.

"His future? As my friend Laura Pausini (Italian pop singer) would say, 'Wait and see...'.

"Clearly, at the moment Red Bull might seem unbeatable in everyone's eyes, but I can remember the same thing being said about McLaren on Sunday afternoon in Singapore: the wheel turns quickly this year."