Ferrari and Red Bull pick each other as main rivals

Mark Webber and Felipe Massa believe their Red Bull and Ferrari teams will be each other's chief rivals in 2011.

The duo finished 2010 as the fastest teams and Red Bull's Webber and Ferrari's Massa expect the rivalry to pick up where it left off.

"Ferrari are strong," said Webber, who was third fastest behind Sauber's Sergio Perez and Massa on Thursday.

"I point to Red Bull," said Massa. "They won the titles last year [but] I hope Mark Webber is right."

Sebastian Vettel and Webber signalled their intent as they set the pace for the world champions on the first two days of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Webber and Massa were the early pace-setters on Thursday until Perez set his mark.

Sauber revealed that Perez set his fastest lap - which bettered Vettel's to be the fastest time of the winter at Barcelona - on low fuel and super soft tyres.

Neither Ferrari or Red Bull are believed to have run in full qualifying trim as yet but the pair are nonetheless believed to be the ones to beat in terms of pure pace and over longer spells on track.

Despite these signs, Webber was quick to downplay the significance of pre-season form as he wrapped up his preparations before the opening Australian Grand Prix on 27 March.

"I would not put my house on qualifying in Melbourne," the Australian said. "I don't know who has the outright pace.
from bbc sport