Ferrari not getting ahead of themselves

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is refusing to be deluded by his team's stunning start to pre-season testing.

The Ferrari F10 topped the timesheets at the end of each of the first three days of testing this week at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit.

Felipe Massa, returning following six months out after requiring life-saving surgery in July following his crash in qualifying ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, led the way on Monday and Tuesday.

On Wednesday Fernando Alonso delighted a 36,000-strong crowd by setting the fastest time of the week on his debut.

At this very early stage the Ferrari certainly looks a far stronger proposition than it did a year ago, ahead of a season which yielded just one race victory.

But understandably Domenicali is eager to temper the surge of enthusiasm among Ferrari fans, with another 12 days of testing still to run ahead of the season-opening race in Bahrain on March 14.

"We know very well the test lap times, especially this year, have to be handled with care," insisted Domenicali.

"Using an Italian expression from football, we're still in 'August football'. We can't forget where we were in terms of performance at the last GP last year.

"There is still a lot of work to do to close the gap and there are still many problems we have to solve.

"We also don't know the fuel loads the other cars had on board, so it's impossible to get a clear idea of the relative strengths on the track.

"Maybe someone wants to play hide and seek, whilst some still have to present their cars."

That was a reference to the fact one Ferrari insider stated on Wednesday that the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were strong, even though the British duo were off the pace of the cars from Maranello.

Also, last year's constructors' runner-up Red Bull Racing have yet to unveil their car, with the team testing for the first time in Jerez next Wednesday.

Domenicali has indicated, however, that both Alonso and Massa were very happy with how things went, in particular with regard to reliability.

Speaking to Ferrari.com, Domenicali added: "They are both extremely motivated and have a great desire to drive, so it would have been frustrating if we hadn't started on the right track.

"Both Felipe and Fernando know we have to work a lot and they have already given many indications as to where we have to improve the car."

Preaching caution, Domenicali added: "There are no miracles in Formula One.

"If you want to be fast you have to work hard for months and months and then you'll meet your competitors, who have the same capacity and are as motivated as you.

"We can't take anything for granted and we shouldn't delude ourselves by indications, which could be completely misleading.

"We can't work like in football, where two good or bad results are enough to pass from riches to rags or vice versa."

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