Stefano Domenicali backs Fernando Alonso

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is confident that Fernando Alonso will recover from his poor showing in the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend.

The Spanish driver could only secure seventh position in the race, while teammate Felipe Massa hit the wall in Monaco after suffering a suspension failure.

However, Domenicali told AutoSport: "We didn't have the pace and we have to understand why, but we are used to reacting very quickly after a difficult weekend. It's very difficult to say [why we struggled].

"I said to our guys that, as we say in Italy, were were not 'in the stars' at the end of the weekend in Barcelona and we are not in the dust after Monte Carlo.

"Unfortunately, there must be a reason why we have not won at this track since 2001, maybe it's the characteristics or the situations, I don't know."

Alonso currently sits third in the drivers' championship.