Alonso eyes long road to catch Ferrari

DEFENDING world champion Fernando Alonso believes McLaren will still need to up the ante if they are to challenge Ferrari for victories this season.

The Spaniard finished second in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne while new Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen eased to victory on the Albert Park Circuit.

Both Alonso and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who enjoyed a stunning debut in F1 after making the step-up from GP2, were unable to catch the Finn, who at one stage stretched his lead to more than 17 seconds.