Ferrari Formula One Team Principal Stefano Domenicali has admitted that his team needs a strong start to the 2013 season if they are to challenge for the title.
Number one driver Fernando Alonso was in the running for the Driver's Championship until the final race of the 2012 season despite making a sluggish start to the campaign, and Domenicali believes that the same mistakes mustn't be made again this year.
He added in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport that the initial part of the 2013 season would be pivotal for teams who want to succeed this year, before the respective research and development departments start focusing on their 2014 cars, which will be subjected to several rules changes.
"What happened to us last year in the Jerez test will not be repeated this year," he noted.
"Next season will be decided in the first races. The teams will do their work for 2013 and then move on to the preparations for 2014.
"I think that this switch will happen in July, so you will need to start the year well."
