Ferrari frustrated by pointless race

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Luckless Ferrari did not manage to score a single point in a season-opening grand prix for the first time since 1992.

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali was left to reflect on "a day to forget".

Last season's title runner-up, Felipe Massa, retired on lap 45, with 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen following suit three laps from home.

Domenicali can only hope his team repeat the kind of recovery they displayed last season when Massa came within a point of clinching the crown, while the team captured the constructors' championship.

"This was definitely not a start worthy of Ferrari, from any point of view," fumed Domenicali.

"We were lacking on the reliability front, with two cars forced to retire, with our performance not up to the potential we had expected after our winter testing.

"We struggled to manage the tyres and our strategy choices did not work out, especially in the case of Felipe.

"To sum up, it was a day to forget from the result point of view but to remember well so as to try and analyse everything we failed in, in order to improve immediately.

"From that point of view, it's good we have a race coming up next week in Malaysia.

"It will give us the opportunity to react, as long as we draw the right conclusions, calmly but also decisively."

Domenicali will be hoping the track in Malaysia is more to the liking of the team's cars, adding: "Australia does not seem to have been a happy hunting ground for us these last few years.

"The circuit is a bit untypical, where it could be that the pecking order is not so clear.

"It will be more evident in Sepang, although we're well aware that, apart from one team that was untouchable today, there are numerous other strong competitors."

Domenicali was referring to Brawn GP's one-two courtesy of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello as the team made a stunning start to their new life in Formula One after two years in the doldrums as Honda Racing.

Massa feels the Brawns are head and shoulders above the rest of the field at present but he remains confident Ferrari will recover.

"We knew the Brawn GP cars would be unbeatable but, all the same, we thought we could have a good race," said Massa.

"In my opinion, apart from the Brawns, we are competitive but we have to work perfectly to get to the front.

"The solution for Malaysia? Work, and work hard."