While fans and pundits alike ponder who really has the edge, heading into the first race weekend of the season Fernando Alonso tips Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull as the pace setters once again.

With the regulations barely changing from 2012 such a prediction is hardly strange indeed, on the latest Pitpass podcast editor Chris Balfe, roving reporter Mat Coch and technical expert Matt Somerfield all predict that Vettel will pick up his fourth successive title this season.

Talking to reporters in Melbourne, Alonso explained why he believes the German and his team remain the ones to beat despite the fact that they barely set the world alight during pre-season testing. As ever.

Asked who he thought was hot, he replied: "I'm not sure about McLaren but Red Bull 100 percent they didn't push the limit of the car because they have this advantage of the last three years that they have a very dominant car, and they feel comfortable," he said.

"They feel optimistic," he continued, "and they will use the full potential in the race when arrives the time."

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the tifosi, the Spaniard insisting that the F138 his car is "200 times better" than the F2012.

"It will be a surprise if Red Bull is not in front of everybody after the advantage they had last year, but I am also confident, and I am optimistic that we have reduced this gap a lot. Maybe we are not the fastest, but we are not 1.5 seconds behind as we were last year."

In the eyes of many this is a make or break year for Ferrari, the Italian media sure to seek heads if the 'national team' loses out to an energy drink manufacturer yet again.

"Every year you start with fresh motivation," said Alonso. "It doesn't matter really what happened the previous season or how you finished the championship. But it's true that in the fourth year we really need to change this result.

"This year we have a better car to start the championship," he concluded, "we just need to keep improving race and race. If we fight to the last race with this car this year I am much more optimistic."