Fernando Alonso says early-2013 race win would still be a 'surprise'

Fernando Alonso has suggested it would "surprise" him if Ferrari won a race in the opening flyaway leg of the new season despite the team being in far better shape than this time last year.

After enjoying a far more straightforward winter with their new car compared to 2012, Ferrari have started the new campaign among the leading group of teams, with their pre-season preparations having given them what Alonso says is "a little bit more confidence about this championship".

Nonetheless, despite the substantial improvement from one winter to the next, Alonso still reckons further consistent podium finishes are the logical target for the opening weeks of the season in dry conditions.

"It will be a surprise to be honest if we win one of the first races,"It will be welcome for sure, but we need some strange conditions - maybe like last year in Malaysia, rain or something. But in normal conditions I think the podium is more or less the maximum target we have to ask for."