Jun.2 (GMM) Ferrari test driver Marc Gene has denied the team supplies superior equipment to Fernando Alonso.

Spaniard Alonso, with a new long-term contract, is widely regarded as the famous Italian team's number 1 driver, particularly with Felipe Massa struggling to keep up over the past two seasons.

But Gene, also a Spaniard, told El Mundo newspaper: "I can confirm 100 per cent that both Felipe and Fernando have the same materials at their disposal.

"If the results of Fernando have been superior it is because of his very high level.

"I cannot judge what he did in his time at Renault and McLaren but I have worked with world champions Schumacher, Villeneuve and Raikkonen and Fernando is the one who impresses me the most," said Gene.

"Before he arrived at Ferrari I had great expectations, and now that I've seen and studied and worked with him, I can say he has exceeded all of the expectations."

Gene, meanwhile, said he does not believe it would be the right move for Ferrari to abandon work on the 150 Italia car in order to ensure a more competitive start to 2012.

"It is true that the gap to Red Bull is significant, even if there are many races left. But no gap is unbridgeable, especially for a team like Ferrari.

"Also, if it is right that the regulations for next year do not change much, it is still useful to develop the current car because these improvements can also apply to the next one.

"Ferrari's philosophy is to not give up while the maths do not prove otherwise," concluded Gene.

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