Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has played down reports Marco Mattiacci is only a short term stop-gap solution at the top of the Maranello based team.

It is reported that Gerhard Berger or Ross Brawn are the more likely long-term successors following Stefano Domenicali’s sudden resignation.

Flavio Briatore has already ruled himself out. “I have another job,” he told La Repubblica newspaper.

Ferrari President Montezemolo, however, rejected the reports, insisting that Mattiacci is the man for the job.

“He will already start to make a difference at the Chinese Grand Prix,” he is quoted by the Ansa news agency.

“He’s going to be at the helm for a long time. I am also going to be closer to the team during this transition, taking a more hands-on role until Marco gets the hang of things,” Montezemolo reportedly added.