Feb.22 (GMM) Pat Symonds agrees that Ferrari is leading the formula one field at present, but the Renault technical boss does not think the Italian team is so far ahead.



Some figures have expressed the view that Ferrari's F2008 looks set to dominate the new season, but Symonds thinks the car's record-breaking test at Bahrain recently should not be overestimated.



"We are in the group that is behind Ferrari," the Briton confirmed to the Spanish newspaper Diario AS.



"It seems as though they are ahead of everyone else, but I don't think they are as superior as they seemed to be in Bahrain.



"Until you can make a direct comparison with your rivals, you can never have a clear idea," Symonds said, exactly three weeks before opening practice for the Australian grand prix.



After three days in Barcelona this week, he thinks the gap between McLaren, BMW Sauber, and Enstone based Renault is "quite small", with Red Bull and Williams also not far away.