Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has laughed off Bernie Ecclestone’s recent comments claiming that Red Bull team boss Christian Horner would be his ideal successor.

Ahead of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, Ecclestone heaped praise on Horner for his efforts at the Milton Keynes-based outfit, making clear that he does not want “a corporate type” taking over his role as the commercial head of Formula 1.

But di Montezemolo, speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Italian TV channel Rai Uno, brushed the remarks aside as another of the 83-year-old’s many “jokes”.

“Ecclestone sees Horner as his successor? As the years go by, he more and more enjoys making jokes and I’m happy he still has the desire to do so…”

Di Montezemolo was more forthright over his team’s chances next season, when a series of technical changes, including turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 engines, are introduced.

“Our aim is to build a car capable of winning,” he said. “We have carried out a very extensive reorganisation and highly regarded engineers such as [James] Allison have joined us or returned to us. There will be the new regulations which will give more importance to some areas, such as the engine, where we are very competent.

“We have good cause to be optimistic and all the ingredients to win are in place. We have come within a whisker of success too often and now we must win, I just hope there are no unclear aspects that could have an influence on things. Avoiding mistakes? That will apply to everyone.”