Ferrari are bracing for a tough start to the 2012 Formula season, which kicks off Sunday with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The Italian team, the oldest and most successful in Formula One, took a bold approach to the development of their new race car, the F2012, which they have admitted is "ugly" and has very little carried over from its uncompetitive predecessor.
The aim was to be on level terms, or close, to world champion Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull, who have ruled the roost for the last two years, and the McLaren team of former world champs Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Struggles with the F2012 in pre-season testing, however, have tempered the optimism of getting off to a flying start after a dreadful 2011.
Fernando Alonso said earlier this week that Ferrari will have to "grit our teeth for the first few races" because of problems with the F2012.
One of the main problems Ferrari have had is with the rear of the F2012 because a new configuration of the exhaust led to a loss of aerodynamic downforce.
"At the moment I'd say no," technical director Pat Fry told
www.ferrari.com when asked if he thought Ferrari could battle for a podium place in Melbourne.
"We are disappointed with the level of performance displayed in these tests and I think we have a lot of work ahead of us".
The team's spirits were lifted somewhat by Friday's free practice in Melbourne, when Alonso clocked the fourth-best time in both the morning and afternoon session and his team-mate Felipe Massa came 18th in the morning after spinning off and and seventh in the afternoon.
"If I have to give a judgement on today it is positive," Alonso said.
"The balance is good and the car responds well after the modifications we've made".
Ferrari are desperate to get back among the contenders this season after winning just one race in 2011 - Alonso's victory at the British Grand Prix.
They have not won the drivers' title since Finn Kimi Raikkonen prevailed in 2007, although they came very close with Alonso in 2010 and Felipe Massa in 2008, which was the last year they won the constructors' championship.