Four-time world champion and former Scuderia driver Alain Prost believes Ferrari should tone down its claims and forecasts which have only set the team up for disappointment.

Early last year, the House of Maranello made some bold predictions of race wins and the title, only to endure a winless season with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

At the end of the year, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone insisted that part of Ferrari's problem is the fact that it relies on too many Italians, but Prost offered some nuance.

"What Bernie said was harsh," the F1 legend told Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

"I was there for two years: one was beautiful, the other terrible. What I can say is that winning in such a competitive environment as F1 requires more linear behaviour, with less mood swings".

Prost therefore urged Ferrari to be a bit more conservative when it comes to offering guidance for the season ahead.

"Words should be used more carefully. It is clear that if you promise to win the championship, then it becomes difficult to remain calm when things go wrong."

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter