Ferrari boss Jean Todt has brushed aside talk of a crisis at the former world champions, challenging his team to prove their worth this season.

Ferrari left Australia with nothing to show for their weekend after both Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa crashed while squabbling for minor positions.

But Todt tried to remain upbeat despite seeing his team fall 27 points off the pace of reigning champions Renault F1, from Enstone, after only three races.

With Ferrari's home race in San Marino looming on April 23, the Frenchman called on the former world beaters to show their mettle.

He said: "We have a good package but we have to demonstrate it. I think we can be competitive at Imola, how competitive I don't know, it depends what the others will do.

"We will have a good upgrade but we will not be the only team with one. Hopefully we manage to get it together. We will try to run closer to the front at Imola."

Todt insists Ferrari's current malaise, after five years of unbroken success, is not a cause for too great a concern.

"My pride can stand that," he said. "The maximum of pride is humility.

"It was a weekend to forget. Going home without points is a very bitter feeling, given that we had all we needed to succeed.

"This big disappointment does not alter our targets, but it does make them harder to reach.

"Now we want to show with results that we have what it takes to get back on top, starting when we race at home in Imola."

However, Todt still feels his team are capable of running at the front despite 18 months since their last proper win, discounting the six-car parade at Indianapolis last year.

"When everything is working together we have a good potential unfortunately we have not expressed this properly," he added.

"We did it kind of in the first race when Schumacher was second, not in the second one and even less in the third one."

Todt has a new driver to contend with for the first time since Rubens Barrichello's arrival in 2000.

Felipe Massa has made an impact in his three races at Ferrari so far, at least in terms of the repair bill after several crashes.

But Todt backed the Brazilian to improve on his four points so far.

He said: "Felipe is a very talented driver, a very good driver and I'm sure that time will allow people to understand this."

World champion Fernando Alonso emphasised Renault F1's dominance so far this year with his second win from three races to extend his standings lead to 14 points.