• Malaysian Grand Prix - Qualifying

Ferrari has lost ground - Alonso

Fernando Alonso: "From what we have seen over these two races, there are two teams who have worked better than us over the winter" © Getty Images

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• Race:
• Malaysian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso
• |
• Stefano Domenicali

• Teams:
• Ferrari

• Picture Gallery:
• Malaysian Grand Prix - Qualifying and FP3

Fernando Alonso has admitted Ferrari needs to make a considerable step forward to match the pace of Red Bull and McLaren after he qualified a distant fifth at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Alonso was nearly a second adrift of Sebastian Vettel's pole time and said it is no longer worth trying to hide the fact that the 2011 Ferrari is simply off the pace.

"We weren't quick enough in Australia and we are not here in Malaysia either, at least not enough to fight for pole position," he said. "From what we have seen over these two races, there are two teams who have worked better than us over the winter and clearly we have to make some progress in terms of performance and there is no secret about that: we need to make a step of some quality, we need to be aggressive in our development to make up lost ground.

"At the same time, we have to stay calm and concentrated and, in the meantime, bring home as many points as possible, exploiting every opportunity that comes our way."

With high levels of tyre degradation and the possibility of rain threatening to mix up the racing, Alonso believes he is in a good position to take advantage of any mistakes by the top four.

"The championship is very long and last year, we saw how the situation can change continuously from one race to the next. So, I feel this fifth place is a positive result, because so much could happen tomorrow, especially if it rains. Overnight and this morning after FP3, we improved the set-up of the car and I felt more comfortable than yesterday.

"I will start from the clean side of the track, which is never a bad thing. It's difficult to make predictions for the race: yesterday we saw very high tyre degradation, so we can expect three to four stops. On Sunday in Melbourne, our pace was close to that of the McLarens and I was able to fight with Webber, but there in qualifying, McLaren was closer than they are here."

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said Ferrari had to adopt a strategy of damage limitation until it gets the opportunity to improve the car.

"We know that, at the moment, we are not capable of fighting for pole position: two teams are currently quicker than us," he said. "Our aim therefore was to be right behind them on the starting grid tomorrow and we managed to do that. Sure, we cannot be pleased with being a second off the pole time, but at the moment we have to be on the defensive, if I can use a footballing metaphor.

"The forecast is for changeable conditions tomorrow, which could mix things up. Furthermore, this is a very tough race both for the cars and the drivers. If we do everything well in terms of strategy, reliability and the work of the team and drivers, then we can aspire to securing a good result."

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