Ferrari's Carlos Sainz suggested Formula One champions Mercedes were playing "typical" games in talking up the Italian team's prospects ahead of the season starting in Bahrain next week.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and new teammate George Russell pointed to Ferrari's form in testing at Sakhir.
"From what I can see, today Ferrari would probably be getting a one-two, or maybe Red Bull," Hamilton said on Friday, while Russell told reporters on Thursday that the Italians looked strongest in low-fuel runs.
Sainz said Russell's comments were "typical Mercedes, typical George -- just hype up the others and then come to the first race and blow the competition away.