Marchionne targets Melbourne win for Ferrari

Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne says the Maranello team should start 2016 with an immediate win.

After a tumultuous 2014 campaign, the Italian outfit regrouped impressively this year, but Sebastian Vettel only won three times versus Mercedes' combined 16.

F1 legend Alain Prost predicted in an interview with Bild newspaper: "Mercedes will continue to be strong next year. Ferrari will move closer again, but I see Mercedes in front of them, and then Red Bull."

Taking on Mercedes

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo agrees that Mercedes may be too big a challenge for its main rivals in 2016, telling Perth Now that he thinks the German camp actually "increased the gap this year".

Ricciardo said: "I don't want to get too excited. Obviously I probably set too high expectations at the start of the year, so I think the next goal is to play it down and see what happens."

Ferrari's Vettel has a similar view, arguing that Mercedes' level of dominance is perhaps unprecedented - and greater even than his run of four consecutive titles at Red Bull between 2010-2013.

Dominating the season

Vettel said: "Honestly, we never had that level of domination.The first year I won by a few points only to Fernando (Alonso), Mark (Webber) and Lewis (Hamilton).  And then in 2012, the first seven races had seven different winners.

"That's very different to what we have now. The rules are not changing much for next year and it is likely that Mercedes will be very strong again."

As far as official goals go, however, Ferrari chiefs Marchionne and team boss Maurizio Arrivabene are targeting nothing but the best.

Arrivabene also said at Ferrari's Christmas party: "If I'm completely honest. we do not want to be closer to Mercedes, but ahead of them.  With all humility, just being close to Mercedes cannot be our goal."

President Marchionne agrees: "The balance sheet of Ferrari is good. What we need now is results on the track.  It is important to win the first race of the season in Australia.

"I know the work that has been done quietly by the team, without making a fuss.  But now we win."