Ferrari optimistic for 2012

Ferrari have continued to talk up their chances of clinching the 2012 Formula One World Championship.

While Ferrari would never admit that they had all bit given up hope on turning around the current season, realistically everyone in Formula One has known for some time that Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel have had both titles wrapped up.

Fernando Alonso remains the 'best of the rest'. The Spaniard is currently third in the drivers championship, behind both Vettel and Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber.

Alonso sits 102-points behind Vettel, while Ferrari are 195-points behind Red Bull in the constructors' world championship.

Ferrari's focus shifted towards next season earlier this year and the team are optimistic that they will not suffer the same results as they have done this year.

'We are convinced this is the last disappointing season, Todt won a lot, but he had time to build a winning team with extraordinary balance. I aim to do the same and am optimistic about the future.' Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said in an interview with Repubblica newspaper according to Autosport Magazine.

Domenicali has been under pressure all season with the Ferrari team being outperformed by Red Bull.

Ferrari had a re-shuffle amongst it's staff during the season and the package that the team from Maranello have put together has led Domenicali to believe that his team will have the upper hand going into the 2012 Formula One season: 'With this Red Bull... I may sound crazy, but I'm convinced we are building the basis to have an unbeatable structure. With a warning though: no lone men at the helm, like Red Bull with Newey, but a team.

'Alonso believes in it. He's signed until 2016, he is in the middle of his career. A winner like him wouldn't throw it down the drain, if he was not more than convinced about the project.'

'Ferrari is condemned to win: in our history we'll never be allowed to smile for a second place.'