Ferrari flop sparks debate in Italy

Ferrari's woeful end to the Formula One season has sparked contentious rounds of debate in Italy, with some lawmakers calling for the automaker's president to resign.

Ferrari's woeful end to the Formula One season has sparked contentious rounds of debate in Italy, with some lawmakers calling for the automaker's president to resign.

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Fernando Alonso entered Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix leading the drivers' standings but finished seventh in the race after several strategic errors by the Italian team, handing the title to Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel.

Cabinet minister Roberto Calderoli suggested that Ferrari President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo should step down, prompting Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne to issue a statement Monday in Montezemolo's defense.

Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Petrucci also sought to calm the outrage, nothing that "you can also finish second in sports sometimes."