Ferrari’s heavily upgraded F2012 has caught the eye of reigning world champion and last-start winner Sebastian Vettel.
The famous Italian team and its lead driver Fernando Alonso have tried to play down the improvements made to the recently struggling red car.
"It was good acting," said Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo’s correspondent Livio Oricchio on Friday.
"The truth is that Ferrari have debuted a new car. Almost everything is different."
Red Bull’s Vettel has spotted the same thing.
"If you ask me, Ferrari are dangerous," Bild newspaper quotes the German as saying on Friday.
The ’B’ Ferrari features new front and rear wings, floor, sidepods, engine cover, exhaust and brake ducts.
"A total reconstruction for a million euros," said the newspaper.
Alonso was quickest on Friday morning in Barcelona but then a long way down the order in P2. He played down his victory chances.
But Vettel’s boss Dr Helmut Marko insists: "They (Ferrari) have become really fast."