Ferrari can launch race for the title: Alonso

A single podium finish can boost confidence sky-high. Ask Fernando Alonso who, after his strong third position finish at the Turkish Grand Prix, feels Ferrari can launch a bid for the title.

Alonso says on the Ferrari web-site that the team has to maintain its recent form to challenge the Red Bulls though current leader in Sebastian Vettel is two wins away from the Spaniard.

If his battle with the other Red Bull, that of Mark Webber, at the Istanbul Park is taken as a reference point, Alonso's hopes of taking his team to the title may not be completely idealistic. He gave the Australian a run for his money and a long battle eventually saw Webber managing to hold off Alonso. "What came out of this little game was that compared to 2010 I'm eight points short [49 versus 41] but in the same four races [Australia, Malaysia, China and Turkey] this year I've brought home 13 more points compared to last year [41 versus 28]," he said.

Ferrari's pace has been slower than that of the Red Bull and the McLaren which has been attributed for it's rather sluggish start to the 2011 season. The team since has made a few developmental changes and are promising to come out with a better design to tackle it's rivals.