Arrivabene: Ferrari must be 'realistic' after Vettel's Malaysia win

Sebastian Vettel took a stunning win for the Scuderia at Sepang on Sunday as rival Mercedes did not have the pace nor tyre longevity to challenge him.

It was Ferrari's first victory since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix and added further evidence that the Italian team has made a good step forward this season, following a winless 2014.

The team, which has undergone a change of management, is now halfway to achieving its target of two race wins for the year, with 17 races still to go.

However, Arrivabene remained cautious about Ferrari's potential for the rest of the year.

"You have to be realistic," said Arrivabene. "I said at the beginning of the season that we wanted to take two victories and now we've won one race, one of two [held so far].

"Sometimes if the victory comes too early it can be an advantage or a disadvantage. So we keep our feet on the ground."

Arrivabene pinpointed Ferrari's improved efficiency as a key factor in the team's performance on Sunday.

"The discipline of the guys was amazing," he said.

"During the race I was looking at the guys, the drivers, the engineers, and they were working like a Swiss watch. But this time it was a perfect Italian watch.

"The message is we keep our feet on the ground. The most important thing is to do whatever you have to do without disruption."