Ferrari test driver Marc Gene says the Maranello team is heading into the 2017 season in a particularly bullish mood.
Most observers believe the Italian marque is close to or even ahead of the formerly-dominant Mercedes team’s pace after recent Barcelona testing.
Spaniard Gene agrees: "I’ve been at Ferrari for 13 years and I think this has been the best preseason I can remember.
"The drivers are very happy and the reliability we have shown has been excellent," the 42-year-old told Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.
Gene also thinks the 2017 field in general is going to impress the watching world this year.
"I think we’re going to see a lot of track records," he said.