Fernando Alonso believes that the best result that Ferrari can realistically expect at the moment is a podium finish.
The Spaniard claimed second place at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, behind Kimi Raikkonen and surprisingly ahead of the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel.
The result comes on the back of a much-improved pre-season performance from the team who struggled to get out of the blocks at the start of the 2012 campaign.
Despite this slow start last year, Alonso managed to secure a victory in Malaysia after rain wreaked havoc on the race. However, it was his only victory until the European leg of the season as no team was able to dominate top spot.
Looking ahead to Ferrari's chances for the immediate future, the double World Champion admits it may take another freak event for the team to register an early-season win.
"It will be a surprise to be honest if we win one of the first races," he told Sky Sports.
"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."
Having been pipped at the post by Sebastian Vettel in the race for the World title in the last two years, Alonso is determined to be on the right side of the result this time around. The 31-year-old believes that this can be achieved by the team sticking to their guns throughout the season and simply getting the required results when needed.
"We need to change the final result. That's the only thing we can improve from last year," he asserted.
"We've been three years now in Ferrari, two of them we fight for the Championship until the last race. In both occasions we finished second and this year we want to change the final result.
"Hopefully we are able to fight for the World Championship, that is the first thing you need to make sure because not every year you have that possibility. So we want to have this possibility to be in the fight until the last moment and if we are in the fight until the last moment don't lose the possibility this year. "
