Ferrari’s drivers were disappointed at Sepang to learn that pole, victory and even a podium on merit are out of reach at present.
The Italian team was surprised to find itself off the pace in Melbourne, but had high hopes that the more conventional Malaysian layout would paint a different picture.
But RTL commentator Christian Danner said Red Bull and McLaren are "in a different league" this weekend.
"The gap between us to them is very big," Felipe Massa admitted to Agencia Estado. "We will have a tough weekend."
Alarmingly for the Maranello based team, Fernando Alonso said the 150 Italia car is handling quite well at Sepang.
"What we lack in comparison to Red Bull and McLaren is speed," said the Spaniard.
"We’ll see how we go but we have not been fast and we expect no miracles," Alonso is quoted by Spanish newspapers.
He said the Malaysian weather could intervene to give Ferrari a boost, and F1’s other Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari agrees.
"The chances of rain are quite high," the Toro Rosso driver told AS newspaper. "It rains every day here between 4 and 6pm."