Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali was all smiles after seeing Fernando Alonso take second place behind Sebastian Vettel the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps.

The Italian team boss, who had been under pressure following the team’s disappointing run of July results, said he felt some relief but wanted to see a more positive reaction from the team.

Alonso, without a win since his home Spanish Grand Prix in May, jumped from ninth on the grid to finish on the podium on Sunday while team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa, in danger of losing his seat next year, came home seventh.

Alonso’s second placing in a race he has not won despite his 32 Grand Prix wins was Ferrari’s first podium finish in the race since Kimi Raikkonen won for Ferrari in 2009.

The result was also a relief for Alonso as it comes after he was rebuked publicly by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo after the Spaniard had joked following the last race the Hungarian Grand Prix he would like a more competitive car for his 32nd birthday.

Domenicali said: “It was a great start by Fernando, he was very close to everyone, but he managed to use his driver’s skill.

“We have just come from a difficult month where we did not improve the car. We had to react to the situation.

“The qualifying of yesterday was not the real performance and today we saw the car improve. Last year in Monza (the Italian Grand Prix is the next race in a fortnight) we were strong so the speed is there and we need to keep the gap.”