Ferrari focused on single-lap speed

The team arrived in Melbourne with high expectations but was unable to match the pace of its main rivals, especially in qualifying.

Fernando Alonso qualified in fifth position, with team-mate Felipe Massa down in eighth.

The team's deputy technical director Pat Fry said Ferrari was happier with its race pace, which is why it has focused its efforts on improve its single-lap form.

"After the opening round in Australia, we have spent a lot of time analysing all the data acquired in Melbourne and one clear fact is that our race pace there was definitely better than the one we had in qualifying," said Fry.

"Much of that was down to how our car uses its tyres, so a major part of the analysis has focussed on looking at our one-lap performance, when compared to long run performance in the race.

"In addition, we have looked at that other important factor, aerodynamics, to see in which areas we can unlock more of the car's potential. The results of all these studies have provided us with the basis of a test programme which we will be working through in Malaysia."

Fry said the team will have several new parts to test ahead of the upcoming races in the hope of closing the gap to the front of the field.

"After analysing qualifying and race data from Melbourne, there are already things we plan to change and improve for Malaysia," added Fry. "These will be added in to an already busy pre-planned test programme with further aerodynamic updates that were always planned for this race.

"But we have also added a further three or four test items and probably there will be even more new parts to test arriving in the few days between the Malaysia and China races. It's a case of constant development throughout the season."