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Fernando Alonso says he expects Mercedes to join Red Bull, McLaren and his Ferrari team in the battle for the world championship in 2011.
He added he was "proud" of Ferrari despite a strategic error in the final race costing him the 2010 title.
"I really want to start again," said the Spaniard. "I expect four teams - us, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull - will be in the fight for the top."
Mercedes failed to win a race after taking both titles as Brawn in 2009.
Alonso was talking at the Ferrari World Finals in Valencia on Sunday, a now-traditional event where the team celebrate their year in sport.
Ferrari have been under fire in Italy for making a catastrophic mistake that handed the drivers' championship to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in the final race of the season at Abu Dhabi.
The team called Alonso in for an early pit stop when he was running fourth, the position he needed to win a third career drivers' title.
The move left the 29-year-old stuck in traffic and he could finish only seventh while Vettel won the race.
But Alonso pointed out that he and the team had made other mistakes earlier in the season - and that Red Bull had also lost lots of points.
"I am proud of what the Scuderia managed to achieve this season," he said.
"In a year when we did not have the best car, we managed to get to the last race still in with a great chance of winning the title after staging a really strong recovery.
"In a race like that last one, anything could happen, as this is a sport, not pure maths.
"The comeback we mounted from the mid-point of the season onwards, the way in which we all pulled together, more united than ever, is much more important.
"There were races where we lost points, just as there were some where the others lost more, otherwise they would have won much earlier."
Alonso drew parallels between his frustrations in Abu Dhabi and the points Vettel lost two races previously in Korea. An engine failure cost the German victory and handed it to Alonso, who moved into the championship lead.
"So much has been said about Abu Dhabi, but it's easy to talk with hindsight," Alonso said.
Alonso frustrated as title slips away
"But I think that at Red Bull they would have made other choices after Korea for example.
"The team were very disappointed with the missed opportunity but Ferrari's great strength is that does not sink into depression because of one mistake.
"On the contrary, it reacts to be even more determined the following year."
Ferrari's mistake has caused condemnation in Italy, where even politicians have criticised the team, and there has been speculation that some of the team's senior management might be sacked as a result.
But Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has ruled out making any kneejerk decisions.
"Changes within the team? That is not our philosophy, because for years now we have adopted a policy based on dynamic stability," Di Montezemolo said.
"A few minor adjustments are possible, but no major upheaval.
"And after all, it has to be said that if we had not got it wrong with that 'penalty kick' in Abu Dhabi, today the discussion would be completely different."
Di Montezemolo insisted that team principal Stefano Domenicali, who has only been in the role for three seasons, had his his full backing.
"I am very happy with the work with which Stefano Domenicali is moving us forward, with great ability, spirit and a sense of balance," said Di Montezemolo.
Meanwhile, Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa has denied that next season is make-or-break for him.
The Brazilian was forced into a supporting role in the second half of 2010 after failing to match Alonso in the first half of the season and there have been claims he could be replaced if he does not improve in 2011.
But Massa said: "I don't think 2011 signifies a crucial year for me. Fundamentally, I have been in this situation often.
"I remember that at the start of 2006, many people said I would only last a year at Ferrari and then I won races that season and went on to stay for a long time more.
"In 2008, there was a lot of pressure, especially at the start, but I managed to cross the line at the end of the final race as world champion."
Massa subsequently lost the title by one point to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton after the Englishmen overtook Toyota's Timo Glock at the final corner.
"This year, there were many who said I would have a difficult year after my accident in Budapest [in 2009]. It turned out that way, but not for that reason," said the Brazilian.
And a defiant Massa added: "Over the years, the names of at least 10 drivers have been put forward as replacements for me at Ferrari, but I am still here!"
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He added he was "proud" of Ferrari despite a strategic error in the final race costing him the 2010 title.
"I really want to start again," said the Spaniard. "I expect four teams - us, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull - will be in the fight for the top."
Mercedes failed to win a race after taking both titles as Brawn in 2009.
Alonso was talking at the Ferrari World Finals in Valencia on Sunday, a now-traditional event where the team celebrate their year in sport.
Ferrari have been under fire in Italy for making a catastrophic mistake that handed the drivers' championship to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in the final race of the season at Abu Dhabi.
The team called Alonso in for an early pit stop when he was running fourth, the position he needed to win a third career drivers' title.
The move left the 29-year-old stuck in traffic and he could finish only seventh while Vettel won the race.
But Alonso pointed out that he and the team had made other mistakes earlier in the season - and that Red Bull had also lost lots of points.
"I am proud of what the Scuderia managed to achieve this season," he said.
"In a year when we did not have the best car, we managed to get to the last race still in with a great chance of winning the title after staging a really strong recovery.
"In a race like that last one, anything could happen, as this is a sport, not pure maths.
"The comeback we mounted from the mid-point of the season onwards, the way in which we all pulled together, more united than ever, is much more important.
"There were races where we lost points, just as there were some where the others lost more, otherwise they would have won much earlier."
Alonso drew parallels between his frustrations in Abu Dhabi and the points Vettel lost two races previously in Korea. An engine failure cost the German victory and handed it to Alonso, who moved into the championship lead.
"So much has been said about Abu Dhabi, but it's easy to talk with hindsight," Alonso said.
Alonso frustrated as title slips away
"But I think that at Red Bull they would have made other choices after Korea for example.
"The team were very disappointed with the missed opportunity but Ferrari's great strength is that does not sink into depression because of one mistake.
"On the contrary, it reacts to be even more determined the following year."
Ferrari's mistake has caused condemnation in Italy, where even politicians have criticised the team, and there has been speculation that some of the team's senior management might be sacked as a result.
But Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has ruled out making any kneejerk decisions.
"Changes within the team? That is not our philosophy, because for years now we have adopted a policy based on dynamic stability," Di Montezemolo said.
"A few minor adjustments are possible, but no major upheaval.
"And after all, it has to be said that if we had not got it wrong with that 'penalty kick' in Abu Dhabi, today the discussion would be completely different."
Di Montezemolo insisted that team principal Stefano Domenicali, who has only been in the role for three seasons, had his his full backing.
"I am very happy with the work with which Stefano Domenicali is moving us forward, with great ability, spirit and a sense of balance," said Di Montezemolo.
Meanwhile, Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa has denied that next season is make-or-break for him.
The Brazilian was forced into a supporting role in the second half of 2010 after failing to match Alonso in the first half of the season and there have been claims he could be replaced if he does not improve in 2011.
But Massa said: "I don't think 2011 signifies a crucial year for me. Fundamentally, I have been in this situation often.
"I remember that at the start of 2006, many people said I would only last a year at Ferrari and then I won races that season and went on to stay for a long time more.
"In 2008, there was a lot of pressure, especially at the start, but I managed to cross the line at the end of the final race as world champion."
Massa subsequently lost the title by one point to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton after the Englishmen overtook Toyota's Timo Glock at the final corner.
"This year, there were many who said I would have a difficult year after my accident in Budapest [in 2009]. It turned out that way, but not for that reason," said the Brazilian.
And a defiant Massa added: "Over the years, the names of at least 10 drivers have been put forward as replacements for me at Ferrari, but I am still here!"
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