Ferrari technical director James Allison has denied rumours he is set to leave the team at the end of the season, insisting he has a long-term contract.
The British engineer has helped to turn Ferrari’s fortunes around, with the team taking its first victory since early 2013, whilst posing a greater threat to Mercedes this year.
However that early form has begun to tail off, with Williams now emerging as Mercedes closest rival, pushing Ferrari down to third and prompting suggestions Allisons’s contract – which reports claim comes to an end this year – won’t be renewed.
Allison insists that isn’t the case: “First, I have a contract that binds me to this company for several years [to come],” he told Autosprint.
“Second, I came back to this team to repeat the experience of winning, because it is an unique feeling. I experienced it as a young engineer, and it was amazing to win five world championships.
“And the prospect of being able to relive those moments in the role that I occupy today is something that I really wanted to do, as a matter of the heart.
“I want to stay here until I finish my work and if Ferrari feels the same then I will be very happy,” he added.
Allison expects Ferrari to catch up to Mercedes once again and admitted their early form gave rise to expectations which were a little too optimistic.
“In the first part of the season updates came much faster than the competition and we reduced the gap [to Mercedes].
“Then we saw that the Mercedes teams took a huge leap forward in Montreal, and the gap widened again.
“But if I had to bet on what will happen in the second half of the season, I think we will return to reducing the gap to Mercedes and staying ahead of Williams.”
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