Trulli would choose Vettel over Alonso

Alonso left Ferrari after five seasons with the Italian squad, with Vettel replacing him after leaving Red Bull, the team with which he took his four titles.

The German ended Ferrari's victory drought in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix with a superb drive to victory ahead of the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Trulli, who was Alonso's teammate at Renault in 2003 and 2004, reckons Vettel is exactly what Ferrari needed.

"Sebastian brought a freshness to the team that had been lost because it did not have the best relationship with Alonso," Trulli told Italian newspaper Tuttosport.

"I have worked with Alonso and he is difficult to work with.

"Now as a manager of a team, I would prefer Vettel," added Trulli, who runs his own Formula E team now.

Trulli admitted, however, that he would never have predicted the race victory in Malaysia for Ferrari and Vettel.

"I would not have bet a penny on it at the start of the season," said the Italian.

"From here they can start to breath down Mercedes' neck.

"For Mercedes too I think it was very unexpected, but I have a feeling they will have some cards to play at the next race. The next grand prix will tell us a lot."