Ferrari already working flat-out on 2012 Formula 1 challenger

Fernando Alonso's recent run of good form, which included victory in the British Grand Prix, has put him 89 points behind championship leader Sebastian Vettel - and his only realistic hope of closing that gap down dramatically is if his Red Bull rival hits some trouble.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says his team's approach right now is on simply trying to win each grand prix, and then in a few race's time the outfit can take a better look to see if there is still a chance of the title.

Meanwhile, he openly admits that the real effort at Maranello is on delivering a much more aggressive car design for next year, having realised the team was too conservative this season.

"Our realistic goal for the remaining eight grands prix is to win races, to score as many points as possible," Domenicali told the official Ferrari website. "I am sure we can achieve good results, but we should avoid looking at the classification, because we know the championship will be very difficult given the current gap, but let's see where it is in a few races. We have the potential to do well and we have to believe in ourselves.

"In terms of the development of the 150º Italia, we are almost at the end of the road but this does not mean that work on this year's car has come to a complete halt, but as of now, we are working full throttle on the 2012 car.

"As far as next year's regulations are concerned, apart from rules regarding the exhaust system, there are not many changes; therefore the new cars can be described as a development of the 2011 car. However, what I can say, having seen the model in the wind tunnel and the work going on in the drawing office, is that it will be a very innovative machine.

"In fact, this is to be expected, this is necessary given that our first goal is that, in 2012, we must be competitive right from the very start of the season."