Ferrari have to move up a gear, warns Alonso

MONTE CARLO, Monaco, May 25, 2011 (AFP) - Fernando Alonso has warned his Ferrari team that they must show improvement at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix if they are to have any chance of competing for this year's world
championship.

Despite catapulting himself from fourth to first during the start of last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, it wasn't long before his Ferrari's lack of pace became evident and the 29-year-old Spaniard was overtaken by three of his rivals before finishing fifth.

The double champion has only finished on the podium once so far this season, and although he mounted a serious title under similar circumstances last season, Alonso stressed the importance of a strong opening to the season and is concerned that time is running out.

"We need to reorganise a little bit inside the team and I am sure that we will do that very quickly because we cannot lose any time," he said. We need a quicker car immediately to fight for the championship and we will see what we can do.

"Next year we need to start with a better performance because in 2010 and this year in 2011 we seemed to lose too many points at the beginning of the championship."

However, Alonso still has his eye on the title and insisted it was still far too early to give up. "One of the most important things is that we are in race five" he added, "no-one can say bye-bye to the championship in race five.

"We need to be confident that we can improve the situation, that we can get good results. I remain optimistic that we can turn it around, but it is true also that we need immediately to have a competitive car.

Alonso also backed Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali's decision to restructure the team after an announcement that Aldo Costa would be stepping down as technical director.

"We trust what the team does and we have full confidence in Stefano's decisions, and what is best for Ferrari" Alonso added.

"The only thing I can say is that I feel a very positive atmosphere today, between the track people and the team."