Felipe Massa will not be leaving Ferrari at the end of the current season after speculation the Brazilian would not be partnering double world champion Fernando Alonso following a series of less than impressive performances.

Massa is yet to finish higher than fifth in nine races so far in 2011, while Alonso demonstrated how for the famous Italian team had come from their poor start to the season as he took Ferrari’s first victory of the year at the British Grand Prix earlier this month – and with 60 points separating the pair a string of high profile replacements have been touted as possible replacements for Massa.

McLaren’s Jenson Button and Red Bull’s Mark Webber have been linked with a switch to Ferrari in recent months, but now team President Luca di Montezemolo has insisted there will be no line-up change for 2012.

“Massa and Alonso always bring something more," di Montezemolo told Sky Italia.

"In the seventies, when I was a young sporting director, people would say that car and driver counted 50-50. Nowadays the car counts for more, but it's in that 30% that the driver can make a difference.

"Alonso is super, Massa is coming back: I think the drivers are not a problem. This is the time for gossip, but next year's drivers will remain Alonso and Massa." He added.

The Italian also refused to concede defeat in the race to be crowned world champion after Alonso pipped Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel to victory at Silverstone.

With 92 points separating the pair the Spaniard is a huge sports betting outsider to overhaul that margin, but di Montezemolo says he is not giving in just yet.

"(Alonso) is right to keep hoping (about the title), because hope dies last," he commented.

"We are all disappointed of not having been where we wanted to be at the start of the season, and this is why I'm pleased with the Silverstone victory, with a demonstration of superiority that gives us good hope.

"We'll count the points at the end. In the meantime we are working with next year in mind too.

"The victory has certainly come at the right time, after a lot of work. I asked for a great reaction and I thank our men for the effort and the capabilities shown.

"The fact that the first victory of the season has come at Silverstone, on the same track and in the same month when Ferrari won its first GP in 1951 demonstrates the team's strength and shows that Ferrari is always there and that a red car has been at the start of every race for the past 60 years,"