Ferrari Formula 1 chief Maurizio Arrivabene has admitted that the team was surprised to 𓂃make such a strong start to the 2017 season, but remains wary of the challenge posed by Mercedes and Red Bull.

Ferrari endured a winless 2016🍨 campaign that saw tension brew at Maranello, only for much of it to be released when Sebastian Vettel won the season-opener in Australia.

Vettel claimed a second win of the year in Bahrain and leads the drivers' championship after four rounds, with the 2017 SF70H car being a mat𒁏ch for defending champion team Mercedes.

Arrivabene admitted on Friday that the team was not expecting to make such a str🐽ong start to the year🍌, but urged caution in the face of competition from Mercedes and Ferrari.

"We are happy, of course. We 🌸were not expecting to be here but I'll add that the hard work is paying back," Arrivabene sa𓃲id.

"I'm very, very pl♉eased for the overall team, for the guys that are here, the guys in Maranello, that they are working very, very hard. Having said so, I saw how Red Bull was growing here in Barcelona♑ and how they are competitive.

"Mercedes have to defend the title of the world champion, and we are still focused🌊 on the race after race work and we try to do all our best to make the race interesting."