Fernando Alonso has confessed that major improvements are required if Ferrari are going to be a competitive force this season.
The team's new F2012 car has struggled during pre-season testing, leading many to question how competitive the Ferrari will be over the coming months.
Former world champion Alonso is one of those doubters, advising fans to keep their expectations in check.
"I know the fans always expect to hear me say that we can obtain such and such a result, but the truth is that we cannot say with certainty where we are. We must wait until Saturday evening at six, after qualifying," he told Ferrari's official website.
"We definitely still need to improve a lot, working on our understanding of the F2012, adapting my driving style to a new car which, with the loss of aerodynamic downforce at the rear and the new Pirelli tyres, is a bit harder to drive.
"We know in which direction we need to go in terms of car development and that's an important step."
Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010.
Liam Apicella
