Ferrari still needs 'massive' step forward, according to Stefano Domenicali

That is the view of its team principal Stefano Domenicali who thinks that, although updates introduced at Barcelona have delivered as expected, much more progress is needed over the remainder of the campaign.

"This has to be a push for all the engineers at home to make sure that we improve the car," Domenicali said about Alonso now being joint leader of the title chase with Sebastian Vettel.

"That is the only thing we can do if we want to win this championship. We need to make a massive step and keep improving the downforce.

"But with all the problems we had since the beginning of the season, at least we are there [at the head of the title race]. Still, there is a lot of improvement that we need to bring because our target has not changed."

Ferrari had gone in to the Spanish GP weekend well aware that the updates needed to deliver a sign of clear improvement. But its front row start and battle for victory was more than even it expected, with Alonso admitting that he was "surprised by the weekend result".

However, Domenicali believes it was important to show that efforts back at Maranello are paying off.

"At least I am happy for the team at home who are pushing and working hard, to see the sign of their work," he said. "In a difficult condition with a lot of pressure, it is not a problem for me; it is a problem for the people who have to manage the engineering of it, to deliver the job.

"I am happy because I saw the job of the last weeks delivered the right sign in terms of trend. But we know it is not enough."