Ferrari boss upbeat despite positions

ABU DHABI, Nov 2, 2012 (AFP) - Ferrari technical boss Pat Fry was upbeat about the team's ambitions and performance on Friday after title-chasing Spaniard Fernando Alonso wound up only seventh after the second free practice session for this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The two-time champion, who is 13 points behind leader and German defending champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull with three races remaining, was eight-tenths of a second slower.

But Fry said: "There are a few new developments on the car and we worked through our programme this morning and this afternoon.

"It's looking promising, but we need to analyse all the data before we decide what to run tomorrow."

He added that it was imperative that the team improve their qualifying performances.

Alonso has not started a race from better than fourth on the grid in seven outings since he took pole in the rain at the German Grand Prix.

Fry said: "We are trying as hard as we can to improve the qualifying performance.

"Obviously our race pace is quite reasonable, as last weekend at the Indian Grand Prix showed. We need to work on our qualifying, so we will keep on trying, keep on pushing."

Alonso's Ferrari team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa was eighth fastest.