Domenicali says Ferrari must go faster

Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa dominated proceedings in Barcelona to strengthen their own and Ferrari's position in the world championship battles.

But despite a major aerodynamic update, which included the 'hole in the nose' concept, having lifted the car's performance, team principal Stefano Domenicali is adamant Ferrari must improve to stave off the threat of McLaren and BMW Sauber.

When asked to clarify how much of a step forward the updates delivered, Domenicali said: "Well, normally we try to simulate the performance that we gained but I would say that we were estimating about one tenth.

"I don't know now if it's more than that now. But I don't think it is enough. We saw that they (the team's rivals) are pushing like hell."

Domenicali's feelings about the threat of the team's closest opposition came because Lewis Hamilton was able to shadow Ferrari throughout most of the Grand Prix.

"It was a very difficult race with two safety cars that interrupted the pace at which we were progressing. But we did need to keep up the pace and we don't need to lose control of the reliability, because they were only three seconds behind us.

"The pace will be very tight and the championship is with us leading both, but it will be very, very long, believe me."

He is also wary of the possibility of bad luck in a race quickly eroding the points advantage the team have gained so far.

"Look at Heidfeld," he explained. "Heidfeld was unlucky in a way with the conditions of the safety car, because he was forced to stop when he basically had no more fuel.

"So he had to pay a penalty and (if you) take the example that this may happen to us in a race then, what are you going to do? Are you going to be behind and lose some very important points?

"So this is why we really think that these results are very important. I don't know what the English equivalent is, but you bring the food at home and maybe you will use it when you need it."