Fernandoꦜ Alonso has backed Fe♑rrari team boss Stefano Domenicali and team-mate Felipe Massa despite a difficult start to the 2012 season.

With the new F2012 failing to per🀅form as expected, Massa has strug⛄gled for any kind of form; failing to make it into Q3 in any of the four races and picking up just two points or a ninth place finish in Bahrain.

That has led to more spe💫culation suggesting that the Brazilian could be replaced by Ferrari, but Alonso insisted th🍸at his team-mate was still up to the job.

"He's one of the best drivers in the world, and he has shown it during his 💮whole career𝓡," Alonso replied in answer to a question on his official website. "It's easy to praise when you have a good car but also to criticise when you have a bad one.

"I lived similar situations during my last stint at Renau♕lt, when some of my teammates were unfairly criticised and now, they are beinꦉg praised once again."

Domenicali has also come under fire for Ferrari's difficult start to 2012, but Alonso again show🌃ed his support for the team boss when the suggestion was made that Ferrari would benefit from having soꩵmeone like his former Renault chief Flavio Briatore in charge.

"Stefano's work is fantastic in every sense and I can't think of anyone better than him," he s📖aid.

"As I explained before, it only takes one race to pass from criticism to praise. I'm very good frieꦬnds with Flavio and we talk frequently. He's one of the most i🔯ntelligent people I've ever met."