After a lackluster 2009 season, it’s easy to get carried away in thinking that Ferrari are back on top. Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso occupied the top of the time sheets at the first pre-season testing event in Valencia, Spain. The scuderia’s cars were the only single seater’s lapping in the 1 minute 11 second range with the rest of the drivers failing to break the 1 minute 12 second barrier. A great start to the F1 pre-season, but team principal Stefano Domenicali may now face the toughest job in preparing the team for the 2010 championship, and that is keeping the prancing horse’s feet firmly on the ground.

In December of 2009, (though talks must have started earlier) Ferrari hired Giuseppe Azzollini who previously worked for Totyota F1 as senior CFD engineer. With Toyota departing from F1, Ferrari acquired the services of Giuseppe.

Ferrari is set to debut their car at a common launch along with the other teams at the end of January. Whilst developing the F2010 (under the internal designation 661), particular attention is being paid to the Ferrari 056 V8 engine. Ferrari are attempting to maintain the current level of power and torque while at the same time reducing the engine’s overall fuel consumption.