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Alonso: Ferrari to be competitive from start

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In this photo released by the Wroom Photoservice, Ferrari Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso, of Spain, left, and Felipe Massa, of Brazil, pose as they arrive in Madonna di Campiglio, on the Italian Alps, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. The Ducati and the Ferrari teams are jointly meeting the media in this mountain resort of the Dolomites. (AP Photo/Wroom Photoservice, HO)

(AP Photo/Wroom Photoservice, HO)

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy (AP) Fernando Alonso is confident Ferrari will fight for the Formula One world title right from the start this season.

He picks Lewis Hamilton as the man to beat, rather than triple champion Sebastian Vettel.

Alonso lost out on the title in the final race of last season, finishing just three points behind Vettel as Ferrari's poor start to 2012 proved costly.

Ferrari struggled in the opening rounds, with its new car proving uncompetitive - apart from Alonso's win in the second race in Malaysia.

Speaking at Ferrari's annual winter retreat in the Italian Dolomites on Thursday, Alonso says "it is maybe impossible to be worse than last year, so I am confident."

Alonso says Vettel "deserved to win three titles in a row" but adds "Hamilton remains my strongest rival."

Updated January 17, 2013

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