Binotto: Ferrari would be wrong to think they're quicker than Mercedes

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto believes his team would be "completely wrong" to think they are going to be faster than Mercedes in the 2019 season because they were the quicker in pre-season testing.

Sebastian Vettel recorded the fastest lap-time in Barcelona, as teams collected data for the upcoming season.

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes claimed Ferrari could be half-a-second quicker than the world champions going into the first race of the season in Melbourne, but Binotto believes any assumptions that his side are quicker could be premature.

"I'm happy to know that Hamilton believes we are faster, but I believe they are very strong," Binotto said on Mercedes. "I believe that Mercedes will be very, very strong in Australia, and I think it would be completely wrong to think we are faster than them.

"I'm not expecting them to be behind us. I think they will be very, very close."

Vettel's crash, as well as engine difficulties and exhaust problems meant that the pre-season testing was not a perfect time for Ferrari but Binotto believes this will benefit them to work even harder to improve.

"I think that we did a lot of work but I am not pleased with where we are at the moment," the Ferrari boss added. "We would like to be faster and we would like to be more reliable. So there is still much to do.

"I'm pleased to think that the car performs as expected as the starting point, but I know as well there are many issues to be addressed and performance to be pushed forward.

"I will not be pleased today. Certainly the fact that the car is running properly is a good starting point, but that is it. Our programme hasn't always ran as we were hoping. I feel that we are not yet ready for Melbourne - I think most of the tasks are still to be done."