Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has warned against writing off any of the Scuderia's rivals ahead of the new season.
As Formula One gears up for the start of pre-season testing, questions are already being asked about who will emerge as the teams to beat.
Red Bull and Ferrari, who finished first and second last season, are expected to again fight at the front however both McLaren and Mercedes have challenges to overcome.
While McLaren have lost Lewis Hamilton and taken on the relatively inexperienced Sergio Perez, Mercedes have yet find the right mix to get the necessary speed out of their car.
Asked whether he shared the thought that this year could be a straight fight between Ferrari and Red Bull, Domenicali told Autosport: "Based on paper analysis, it seems to be correct.
"But, as usual, we have to very, very careful in this field. I prefer a mental approach to considering that our opponents are as many as there were in the past season. Surprises may take place each year.
"My approach is fearing everyone and not considering anyone outside of the Championship."
The Italian also spoke of Ferrari's desire to make amends for last season after Fernando Alonso lost the Drivers' Championship title to Sebastian Vettel by a mere three points at the season finale.
But, like many at Ferrari, Domenicali concedes it wasn't Brazil that cost the Spaniard the title, rather it was Ferrari's sluggish start to the campaign which resulted in the team having to play catch-up with a heavily revised car.
"Let's face reality," he told the BBC. "We need to know what was the gap [to the front of the grid], prepare a target to deliver a car that will be competitive, make sure we start in a competitive way, avoid the start of last year and the year before.
"We need to put ourselves in a place so we don't have to spend a lot of resources to catch up."
One reason why Ferrari cannot deplete their resources this season is because of the new engine regulations that will be introduced in 2014 which have already seen the Scuderia's working groups divided.
Domenicali said: "The 2013 season will be a complex one from many points of view.
"We face a few changes on the technical front which will have a significant impact on all areas of the company, not just in terms of design, but also when it comes to the investment and infrastructure required to develop the new engine.
"Within the limits imposed by the regulations, we need to put every effort into reaching our objectives, while making the best use of the timescale in preparing for 2014.
"Our aim is clear, to win and the priority is still that of giving our drivers a car that will be competitive right from the very start."
As for that car, it will be the first developed at the Toyota facilities in Cologne after Ferrari were forced to revamp their existing windtunnel due to calibration errors.
"The development of the 2013 car began in the Cologne wind tunnel and is on-going.
"I certainly expect to see greater efficiency than last year because we will no longer need to carry out comparisons of data and correlation with the Maranello wind tunnel, which is currently being rebuilt and is due to be operational again after the summer break."
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