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No quick fix for qualifying pace - Montezemolo

Luca di Montezemolo: "I don't think Ferrari can turn it around in the space of a week" © Getty Images

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• Drivers:
• Stefano Domenicali
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• Luca di Montezemolo

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo does not believe his team will be able to solve its qualifying issues in time for the Chinese Grand Prix.

Ferrari has not yet got within a second of Sebastian Vettel's pole-grabbing qualifying pace at the opening two rounds, with Fernando Alonso lining up fifth on the grid at both races. The results do not correlate to Ferrari's winter testing form or, more worryingly for the team, the potential shown in Maranello's recently-upgraded wind tunnel.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali is hoping to put an upgrade package on the car in China based on the aerodynamic tests the team did on Friday in Malaysia, but Montezemolo played down the chances of a quick fix.

"I hope we see some improvement, especially in qualifying and to see us be competitive as we were yesterday [Sunday] in the race," he said at the presentation of new Ferrari DVD. "But I reckon that will be difficult as I don't think Ferrari can turn it around in the space of a week. I know from Domenicali, with whom I have just spoken, that everyone has got their heads down working hard.

"In the race, I saw Ferrari at the same level as the best and barring a couple of incidents we were definitely heading for the podium. I also spoke at length with Alonso to get his impressions of the car and I could tell he was confident in how things went in the race, even if we have a lot of work to do to improve."

He said Ferrari had fallen short of expectations so far in 2011, but still has full confidence the team will be a challenger this year.

"I am definitely not satisfied with the way the season has begun, but I have complete faith in the people here who know how to react when the situation is tough," he added. "I am sure there will be an amazing response. I know everyone is working flat out and I have great faith in the human and technical strengths of our people. I believe the period when the most we can hope for is a podium will soon come to an end."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.