Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso has said that the team must be right in the fight at the front of the field in the 2012 Formula One season, after their poor 2011 campaign, but believes the team's new car will be capable of delivering.
Alonso secured just a single race win in 2011, taking victory at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and the Italian squad fell well short of challenging for the championship.
The team has adopted a more aggressive approach for 2012, with the result being the dreadful-looking new car the team revealed on Friday.
And while Alonso admitted that the new car looked "very different" to its predecessors, the Spaniard also insisted that the striking new machine had to be able to help him challenge for the title.
"It looks very different from what we have seen in the last two years," he understated on Friday after the car had been revealed.
He went on: "[This is] my third season at Ferrari and I am going to start with the same strength and determination. I want to do great.
"Of course it will be quite competitive for the whole season, but we want to see red cars on the podium."
He added that it was crucial that the team was able to fight for the title, saying: "We have two months to get ready before the first competition.
"We have to fight for the title and try and get as many points as possible. We really want to be right at the top of the ranking.
"We have to be as consistent and resolute as possible and I am sure, really, really sure we will be able to get great targets and great responsibility for driving for Ferrari."
Alonso's team mate Felipe Massa, who faces a make or break season in 2012 following a disappointing couple of seasons, added that he was aware that 2012 was a critical year for him.
"It is going to be an important year for me and whole team, 2012, this is going to be the victory year," he muttered, the Brazilian without a win since the final GP of the 2008 season.
"We want to fight to get the championship back. I want to be believe in my skills and our car and this is the right thing to do."
He added: "I'm focused on winning. There's plenty of positive things in my head and I want to start in the right way and get to the end of the championship in a better way."
As far as the new car was concerned, Massa said that he was "impressed" with the machine, saying that he was confident that the car would be competitive.
"This was part of my dreams," he said about the new car, mispronouncing the word 'nightmares'. "We always wanted to develop new models so I am impressed with the new car.
"We start in a few days and I am sure the championship will be stunning and very competitive."
Team boss Stefano Domenicali, meanwhile, paid tribute to both of the team's drivers on the eve of the start of pre-season testing.
"I am sure our team will deliver a great effort," he rambled, "For Fernando I don't have to add anything about his skill.
"In a difficult time last year he extended his relationship with us for many years, so this shows his responsibility."
He added: "Felipe has been here 10 seasons in F1, always with a Ferrari [engine], always with us.
"A great, great talent and I am sure this year after a difficult season he will show his great value for himself and the whole team."
Massa will drive the new Ferrari in the first two days of next week's Jerez test, with Alonso taking over for the final two days.
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