Ferrari have changed the engines in the cars of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso as a precaution ahead of Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

The race at the desert Sakhir circuit is one of the hottest in the championship, with an air temperature of 35 degrees an hour before the start.

The circuit has also been extended since last year and is now one of the longest.

"We have decided on a late engine change as a precaution," Alonso, who starts in third place with Brazilian Massa on the front row ahead of him and next to Red Bull’s German polesitter Sebastian Vettel, told Spanish television.

"We want to finish the race in perfect conditions.

"Today we have a tough race ahead of us because of the heat and mechanically it’s going to be very demanding as well. That’s one of the reasons for the engine change," he added.

"It would be great to get on the podium and I hope we are going to get the season off to a great start."

Ferrari won just one race last year in what amounted to a nightmare season for them, but have come back as early championship favourites.

Double world champion Alonso is making his debut for Formula One’s most successful team after winning his titles with Renault. Massa is returning after suffering life-threatening head injuries last July.