The Italian says that the team has a specific policy of studying other cars and working out what lessons can be taken on board with the development of the SF70H.

The Maranello squad has hit the ground running with its 2017 car, winning two of the first four races.

However, with development being key this year as a result of the new rules, Arrivabene admits that the new ideas introduced by its main rivals cannot be ignored.

"The lesson that we learned last year was to look at all our competitors," Arrivabene said today. "Of course visually the Mercedes is very impressive, because yesterday we were looking at the Mercedes.

"But we were looking also at the Red Bull. We have two schools, one is the one of Mercedes, which is quite interesting, creative and surprising. The other one is the Red Bull school, where maybe something is not really evident, but is extremely efficient.

"We need to take into consideration what they do to be able to compete with them and continue our development. One of the mantras of this year is we are looking, and if there is something interesting. we will investigate it.

"But we follow our way, our have own programme, and we want to continue to follow our programme."

In Barcelona this weekend the huge update package Mercedes has introduced has inevitably attracted a lot of attention.

Arrivabene said he had no concerns about the pace shown by the revised Mercedes on Friday, suggesting that a patient Ferrari will gain momentum as the weekend progresses.

"I was asked the same question on Friday in Australia and the gap in FP1 was the same between us and Mercedes. And on that occasion I answered the question as I answer today.

"Chapeau to Mercedes for what they have done, but we are not going to change our programme. The programme for this weekend is starting from Friday, improving Saturday, and looking also for Sunday.

"This is what we want to do and what we are focussed to do.

"Having said so, as I've said many, many times, they are world champions, they have to defend the title of course.

"They are stronger, they are the reference for all of us, and what we have to do, we just have to try to create them some problems."