Schumi may continue after 2012

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Michael Schumacher has said he may choose to continue to race beyond his three-year contract with Mercedes.

He will make his return to Formula One this year, after signing a deal to race until the end of 2012 with the German team. He has admitted that it might take some time before he is back at his best, and told German newspaper Bild that he might stay in F1 beyond the length of his current contract.

"It doesn't have to be the end after three years - the three-year deal was Mercedes' idea and it was a sign of confidence. I thought about everything very carefully: Am I just spontaneously high or will my enthusiasm last? I have been excited for quite some time and can imagine doing this for a few years."

Schumacher will be partnered by Nico Rosberg during his comeback year and team principal Ross Brawn believes the pair will work well together, with Rosberg learning from his more experienced team-mate.

"We signed Nico first and have tried to sign Nico for several years," Brawn told Formula1.com. "We see Nico as a great talent, but it needs finishing and maturing. He has not won a race yet, although he came very close, and I think it is a wonderful partnership between him and Michael.

"They work well together and I see Michael helping Nico develop his career. Michael has come out of retirement but we have to accept that there will come a day when he has to stop forever and then we will have Nico. They must both try the hardest to beat each other but if it is done with the right spirit, with the right approach, then both will gain enormously."

The team will unveil and test its 2010 car next Monday at Valencia.

Massa completes Ferrari F1 test

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Felipe Massa has tested in a Formula 1 car for the first time since suffering a fractured skull, but Ferrari say he will not return to competition in 2009.

Massa is making good progress since his crash in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in July and the 28-year-old tested in an F2007 in Italy on Monday.

But Ferrari say they "want to proceed gradually" and do not intend to rush the Brazilian before he is ready.

"Talk of a proper return to F1 can wait until the start of 2010," they added.

Massa underwent neurological tests in Paris on Friday.

According to Ferrari, the outcome was "rather positive", prompting the decision to allow him to get behind the wheel of a privately-owned F2007 on Monday.

In-season testing is banned in F1, but the sport's governing body the FIA gave Massa permission to test using GP2 tyres at Ferrari's test track at Fiorano, as part of his rehabilitation.

But Ferrari insist there is no chance of a comeback in 2009, with only two races of the campaign remaining.

Massa unlikely to return this year

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Recovering Ferrari driver Felipe Massa says his chances of making a return to action this season are "very, very low".

The Brazilian has been sidelined since fracturing his skull in an incident in qualifying for July's Hungarian Grand Prix but had hoped to be fit to take part in the season finale in Abu Dhabi on November 1.

It now appears he and his bosses at Maranello have elected to err on the side of caution, meaning understudy Giancarlo Fisichella will remain at the wheel of Massa's F60 for the remainder of the campaign.

"I hope I'll be back soon but I also know the best thing is that I'm coming back 100% at the start of the next season," Massa told Ferrari's official website.

"My dream would be to race in Abu Dhabi. But the possibility is really, really low."

After completing two days in the Ferrari simulator this week, the 28-year-old is scheduled to drive a 2007-spec car on Monday - after undergoing a medical check-up in Paris later today, with the FIA in attendance.

Although in-season testing is banned, Massa has been granted permission to drive the two-year-old Ferrari, fitted with GP2 tyres.

"I'll go to Paris for some medical check-ups at the FIA and on Monday, if the weather is fine, I should finally be behind the wheel of a Formula 1 single-seater," he said.

"I hope I can do many miles and do well, not only in terms of performance but also as far as constant lap times are concerned.

"I'm confident and I think there won't be any problems. It's true that a Formula One vibrates a lot and there is lots of physical stress, but I'm used to it."

Following Monday's test Massa will turn his attentions to building his sharpness for the start of the 2010 season, when with a new car and new team-mate in Fernando Alonso he will be bidding to capture his maiden world title.

"I'm sure that with Alonso we'll form a great team and we'll work together very well. The goal will be very simple - winning," Massa added.

"I saw the model of the new car in the wind tunnel - it's different from the actual one, also because there will be new rules. Let's hope it will be fast."

Fisichella 'over the moon' with move

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Giancarlo Fisichella realised a life-long dream by signing for Ferrari.

Fisichella has signed for Ferrari for the final five races of the Formula One season after being released from his current contract with Force India, and will be the team's reserve driver in 2010.

The 36-year-old replaces Luca Badoer after his torrid time in the European and Belgian Grands Prix in which he qualified at the back of the grid and was last of those that finished.

With Ferrari this week confirming Felipe Massa requires plastic surgery after his horror smash in Hungary and will not return until next season, the team desperately needed a more experienced driver as stand-in for the remainder of the year.

Following extensive discussions between the two teams over the last 24 hours, Force India owner Vijay Mallya reluctantly agreed to part with Fisichella.

It means the 36-year-old will become the first Italian to drive a Ferrari at the team's home race at Monza - the next round of the season on September 13 - since Ivan Capelli in 1992.

"I'm over the moon," said Fisichella. "I can still hardly believe the fact we are realising the dream of my life, and I want to thank Ferrari and its president, Luca di Montezemolo.

"I am also very grateful to Vijay for allowing me this opportunity to drive for Ferrari.

"It is true that it has always been an ambition to do this, and for Vijay to have allowed it to become a reality is very generous.

"I hope in turn I have helped Force India grow and be on the right path to achieve their own ambitions.

"They are now a very competitive team and I wish them all the very best."

It has been a remarkable week for the Roman in which he started from pole and finished second in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

Now being able to look ahead to the final five races with Ferrari, Fisichella added: "I'll do my best to reward the team for the great opportunity I have been given.

"I know it will not be easy, but I will always try and get the best result possible."

Expressing his sympathies towards Badoer, who has spent the last 12 years with Ferrari, Fisichella said: "I want to say I feel sorry for Luca.

"I know how much he cared about racing a Ferrari at Monza because an Italian will always give his maximum to drive a red in front of our fans."

Explaining his decision to release Fisichella, Mallya said: "For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream, and for Giancarlo it was no exception. No one should stand in the way of this."

Mallya dismissed speculation a deal for Fisichella had been agreed with Ferrari in return for money apparently still owed for engines used last season.

"We would like to stress we have not agreed any financial settlement with Ferrari," added Mallya.

"This agreement has been made in good faith and for the good of Giancarlo and the sport in general.

"A competitive Italian driver in a Ferrari for Monza is a positive story for Formula One, which can only help raise the sport's profile in these difficult times."

Mallya is convinced his team will continue to be strong for the remainder of the season, with reserve driver Vitantonio Liuzzi expected to replace Fisichella.

Mallya stated: "For Force India, this sport is a team effort and removing one part, even a major one, will not significantly affect our performance.

"The competitiveness of the team seen in Belgium was a result of hard work in the factory and wind tunnel, and we have further developments coming for the final races.

"So we are confident this momentum can be sustained. We are now looking forward to a strong finish to the season."

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is convinced Fisichella will play a significant role through to the end of the year.

"We have chosen Fisichella because we can expect him to make a valuable contribution in this final part of the season," said Domenicali.

"Giancarlo has shown, throughout his long career, that he is fast and competitive, and we are therefore proud to be able to run an Italian driver in our home race."

Massa: Time to try something different

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Felipe Massa has dropped a broad hint another series is on the cards after criticising the "stupid fights" that have wrecked Formula One.
The sport, as we know it, is currently heading for the rocks unless a late compromise deal can be struck over the next few days between the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association.

That is now growing increasingly unlikely after motor sport's world governing body today issued another damning statement against FOTA.

After yesterday claiming there was a disruptive element within FOTA seemingly intent on preventing an agreement being reached, the FIA has further criticised the group for the latest breakdown in talks.

Adopting an unusual hard-line approach these past two days, the FIA has placed the blame squarely on FOTA after a meeting yesterday in London designed to discuss the financial regulations ended in deadlock.

In conclusion, the FIA has made it clear the £40million budget cap is to go ahead unchanged, threatening the future of several teams.

Appreciably, frustration is growing amongst the drivers as they can do nothing but sit on the sidelines and look on as the row unfolds.

As Massa remarks, it is slowly drawing to a point where the current eight members of FOTA may be forced to go their own way.

"Whatever happens on the race track this weekend (at the British Grand Prix), the current political situation in the sport is bound to make the headlines again," said Massa.

"When I am driving the car I never think about it. I simply concentrate on my job of driving as quickly as possible.

"But outside the cockpit I think about these problems as they do affect me, as they relate to my future and the future of Formula One.

"We are all very concerned about the situation and I follow the developments closely as they affect my professional life, even if I can have no real influence over how the situation evolves.

"That's down to the people who govern the sport and those in charge of the teams.

"We need our sport to be in better shape, because over the past few months there have been some very stupid fights.

"Everyone needs to work hard to make the sport what it should be for the fans, the teams, the sponsors and the drivers. We don't need this fighting.

"The situation looks bad at the moment, but if agreement can be reached then it can have a healthy future.

"If not, then we need to look seriously at what is the best option.

"As the teams appear to be united, then maybe it is time to look at doing something different that could be better for the sport."

Five teams - McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP - have until Friday to unconditionally sign up to the cap due to come into force from 2010.

A further three teams - Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso - were, against their wishes, entered unconditionally by the FIA on Friday, since when the trio have insisted they remain committed to FOTA.

If FOTA and the FIA are unable to reach any agreement over the next few days, the latter has confirmed more new entrants will be named to make up the 13-team, 26-car grid for next season.

Improved display pleases Ferrari

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Team boss Stefano Domenicali says Ferrari have made significant progress after closing in on 2009 pacesetters Brawn at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen finished third, one place ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa.

"Both cars collected points which was a very important step," said Domenicali. "We are going in the right direction."

Raikkonen, who collected Ferrari's first podium of the year, added: "We need to be happy after such a difficult start to the season."

Ferrari emerged from their worst start to a campaign in 28 years at the Spanish Grand Prix as Massa limped home in sixth, sacrificing fourth when he mistakenly believed he was running low on fuel. But the team pushed on in Monaco as Raikkonen lined up on the front row alongside eventual race-winner Jenson Button before claiming third.

Domenicali was satisfied to see his cars exhibit genuine pace around the streets of Monte Carlo to spark hopes that Ferrari, and not Red Bull, can take the fight to Brawn in the remaining 11 races.

"Now we can see that we are closer to the other cars in front of us," the Italian said. "That's a good sign.

"That is good motivation for all the people at home who are working flat out to improve our performance.

"We now have to stay focused on our job and stay focused on our need to improve internally.

"Downforce is the most important thing that we have to recover as this will help a lot in the high-speed corners."

Ferrari fail in budget cap appeal

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Ferrari have failed in their bid to stop Formula 1's governing body introducing controversial new rules that limit team spending.

Their appeal against the FIA, which wants to introduce an optional £40m budget cap from 2010, was dismissed by a French court in Paris on Wednesday.

The proposal has prompted Ferrari to threaten to quit F1, with Renault, Red Bull and Toyota sharing a similar view.

The official deadline for entries into the 2010 world championship is 29 May.

The FIA's regulations for 2010 propose giving teams who accept the cap greater technical freedom than those wishing to carry on with unlimited budgets, such as Ferrari.

It says it wants to introduce the move in order to cut costs and ensure F1's survival amid the global financial crisis - along with encouraging new teams to enter the sport. Ferrari say the optional budget cap would make it a two-tier championship, which they cannot accept, and that they do not believe it is possible to control.

They also say they believe it is wrong that a team accepting the budget cap has more freedom and different technical regulations, and that - with 700 employees worldwide - they are unable to reduce its finances significantly in such a short time.

Reacting to the rejection of the court injunction on Wednesday, FIA president Max Mosley said he welcomed the judges decision.

"No competitor should place their own interests above those of the sport in which they compete," he said.

"The FIA, the teams and our commercial partners will now continue to work together to ensure the well being of the Formula 1 in 2010 and beyond."

All 10 team owners had met with F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and Mosley in London on Tuesday and, though it was agreed a two-tier championship was not acceptable, Mosley insisted there would be "no compromise" on the cap.

Having failed to emerge with a concrete solution then, team bosses are now set to meet in Monaco ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix where they will again hold discussions with Mosley.

"You're seeing many teams trying to get into F1 next year, but if you lose Ferrari and gain new teams it won't be the same," said team driver Felipe Massa following Wednesday's appeal rejection.

"I'm a Ferrari driver and I'm very proud of that.

"The way the championship has started is very different [this year]. We've had a lot of political fighting and this does not help the sport.

"It would be nice to have more sport and less politics. It's difficult comment but many things are not over yet."

On Tuesday, Mosley said he believed that submitting the injunction was a sign Ferrari do not want to go through with their threat to quit the sport.

Quit threat is no bluff - Ferrari

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Ferrari insist they are serious in their threat to pull out of Formula 1 at the end of the year over plans to introduce a budget cap.

Board member Piero Ferrari likened the situation to a threat by his father Enzo, the company's founder, to quit F1 for the Indianapolis 500 in the 1980s.

"He wasn't bluffing," Piero Ferrari told The Guardian newspaper. "He was serious. And so are we."

Ferrari are one of four major teams to be unhappy with new rules for 2010.

Red Bull, Toyota and Renault have also said they will not enter next year's F1 championship if the rules are not changed.

Governing body the FIA has plans to introduce a voluntary £40m budget cap, with greater technical freedom for the teams that choose to apply it.

These freedoms would give a car a performance advantage estimated at as much as three seconds a lap.

Piero Ferrari is the only surviving son of Enzo Ferrari and owns 10% of the company.

He was present in the board meeting on Tuesday when the company's directors decided to end their 60-year involvement in F1 if FIA president Max Mosley does not amend his new rules."Our first objection is to the budget cap, which we don't believe it's possible to control," he said.

"The second is that it is wrong that a team accepting the budget cap has more freedom and different technical regulations.

"If we are on the starting line of a grand prix, we have to stay within the same regulations, the same technical specifications.

Ferrari stated: "It's like soccer. In Italy we have ­Internazionale, who are winning, and they spend huge amounts of money for the best players.

"But in Serie A you also have a team like Catania, who have no money.

"So do you say to Catania, 'You can play with 12 players' and to Inter, 'You must play with nine'? It wouldn't be fair.

"But this is what the new Formula 1 rules are like. They're not acceptable at all. ­

"Everybody on the grid has to start with the same rules, otherwise there's no ­competition and it's somebody else ­deciding who's going to win."Mosley has said that the budget cap is necessary for F1 to survive the global financial crisis.

He says it is too expensive to run a winning car and believes the costs are discouraging new teams from entering.

However, Ferrari insisted: "This is not because we want to spend money. We want to save money. All the constructors are keen on reducing the F1 expenses.

"But you can reduce the expenditure without having a budget cap. And it's not enforceable, anyway.

"It's difficult enough to enforce the technical rules, as was proved recently by the business of the diffuser. So how can you enforce or control a budget cap?

"A better way is by controlling the expenses on the technical side.

"We are doing it on engines and it will be done next year on the gearbox. We can even introduce limits on material costs - carbon fibre, maybe.

"I have good friends racing in Nascar in the United States. They control the costs - the number of ­mechanics, for instance - and the teams are racing with the same rules for everybody. We could do something like that."

Massa writes off title hopes

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Felipe Massa has written off his title chances for this year in the wake of another bitterly frustrating race with Ferrari.

Massa at least ended his worst start to a Formula One season with a sixth-placed finish in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.

But it was not without its issues as Massa was ordered to slow down during the closing stages to conserve fuel otherwise there was the threat he would run out.

From a relatively comfortable fourth, Massa was passed by Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull at the start of lap 63, and then on the last lap by Renault's Fernando Alonso.

Although he has three points in the bag, he now trails championship leader Jenson Button by 38, too many as far as he is concerned.

"I don't think this year, maybe next year," replied Massa when asked if he could still fight for the championship.

"We have so many problems to solve, firstly to improve the car, and then with all the problems we had in the race and with those during the season.

"Brawn have now won four times in five races. How can you fight? Even if we improve the car massively, it doesn't mean they will not score points."

When questioned as to whether it was over, he said: "For us I think yes. I think so.

"But it doesn't mean we will not fight for victory. If we carry on like that we can fight for victories."

Massa's problem stemmed from the fact all the fuel at his second stop did not make its way inside the car, with that matter to now be investigated by the team.

"It's frustrating because after a great qualifying and great race, we lost a great opportunity to score good points, but we didn't because of an issue," added Massa.

"But for the fuel problem I could have certainly stayed ahead of Vettel and Alonso. It meant the final part of the race was a pain.

"I was already struggling on the harder tyres and then I had to try and save fuel as much as possible, while at the same time staying ahead of Vettel.

"Then the team told me if I wanted to make it to the finish I would have to let Vettel by and slow down a lot.

"If I had made another pit stop I would have finished out of the points.

"It's a real shame to have lost two places in the final stages, even if we've finally made it to the scoreboard."

To add to Ferrari's woes, Kimi Raikkonen retired on lap 18 with a hydraulic problem.

Ferrari predict end to poor form

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Ferrari hope they will be able to get their season back on track when the championship moves to Europe in May.

The team have scored no points in the first three races, making this their worst start to a season since 1981.

Kimi Raikkonen, the team's former world champion, said: "We don't have the speed to be where we want to be.

"But for sure when we get to Barcelona (for the Spanish Grand Prix on 10 May) and get some new parts we should improve quite a bit."

Ferrari's car has been off the pace since the start of the season - and they lie last in the constructors' championship, which they won last year.

Raikkonen qualified eighth in the dry in China before dropping back to finish 10th in the wet race, while team-mate Felipe Massa failed to finish following an electronics failure.

But the Finn said he believed the team would find a solution to their problems.

"If we had had a dry race today we would have scored some points," he said.

"We don't have enough grip in the dry but in the wet it seems to be even more difficult. We'll do the best that we can and I'm sure we are going to be back in a position to challenge for wins, so we just need to go through this hard time."But it will take a little while. It will not happen overnight. We know that once we get to Barcelona we should take a step with the car.

"Hopefully it will improve the situation and it has nothing to do with people not trying to do their best.

"But it's not an easy sport to catch up and sometimes when you don't have what you want it just seems to be very difficult and everything seems to be against you.

"It's hard to get out of it, but like I said it takes a while and we need to get through that period and I'm sure that we are gong to be in a position to challenge. I don't know when, but hopefully sooner than later."

Ferrari are hoping to introduce for the Spanish race their own version of the controversial 'double-decker' diffuser that has dominated the sport since the start of the season.

Ferrari were one of four teams to protest against a design of the floor at the rear of the cars run by the Brawn, Toyota and Williams teams, claiming it contravened the new regulations that were introduced for this season.

But the device was declared legal by F1's Court of Appeal last Wednesday and now the other seven teams are facing a race against time to develop one for their cars.

"We probably don't have the same downforce as the others," Raikkonen said.

"When we get the new floor for sure we are going to get lots of downforce and it will make the car fast. In the dry the handling of the car is not too bad, but we are missing downforce through the corners. For sure it will make a massive difference."

Team boss Stefano Domenicali said after the Chinese Grand Prix that the diffuser was not the only reason Ferrari were struggling."That device will give you a benefit," he said. "But it would be wrong to believe that it is the only key. We have seen, for example, the Red Bull car [which does not have one of the controversial diffusers] has done a really great job.

"They had more time, they switched their project much earlier than us and that is the reality and we need to consider it. The other thing that we have to understand well is that today in certain conditions, look at the first part of the race, our car was not too bad at all. So we need to understand a lot of things.

"I think we have to wait. We need to stay cool.

"It is not easy, I know, but we need to stay cool because there are too many things that can change very quickly. The priority number one is to move from zero points."

Raikkonen: diffuser issue critical to title hopes

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Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen believes the FIA’s ruling on the legality of the diffusers used by Brawn, Williams and Toyota will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the 2009 championship. Ferrari, alongside Renault, Red Bull and BMW Sauber, have protested the decision of stewards to allow the controversial designs to be raced in Australia and Malaysia and their appeal is due to be heard on April 14.

While Ferrari are yet to score points, Brawn, Williams and Toyota all enjoyed strong pace at the opening two Grands Prix, with Brawn clinching two consecutive victories. And Raikkonen believes that the F60’s underperformance can be chiefly blamed on a relative lack of downforce, a shortfall almost certainly made worse by the disparity in diffuser designs.

“We still don’t have any points after two races and this is a very difficult moment," the Finn told the Italian team’s official website. "The next race is in China, but a couple of days before the FIA’s Court of Appeal will decide about the diffuser. This decision will have an enormous impact on the championship.

"You just need to analyse the performance in the three sectors at Malaysia to understand that we’re losing a lot compared to the best cars. You can see that especially in the middle section, where downforce is really crucial.”

Although settling the diffuser issue one way or the other will help Ferrari decide in which direction their development programme needs to progress, Raikkonen is confident that everyone in the Italian team has been working flat-out to find other solutions to boost the F60’s pace.

“We’re missing grip and downforce and we’ve got to give it our all with what we have,” he added. “There are some new features coming up and I know that the team is working very hard to anticipate the whole development. We’ve seen other moments like this, but we know how to react and we’ll do it already at Shanghai.”

The Chinese Grand Prix will take place from April 17-19.

Ferrari boss demands improvement

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Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has warned his team against becoming the laughing stock of Formula 1.

The Italian team have suffered their worst start to a season since 1992, finishing out of the points in both the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.

Di Montezemolo presided over a two-and-a-half-hour crisis meeting at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello on Tuesday.

"I don't want to find us on some sort of TV comedy video programme after each race," he said.

The Italian giants have won eight of the last 10 constructors' championships, but have endured a miserable start to the 2009 season.

Felipe Massa finished ninth in Sepang following a mistake in qualification, while 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen was five places further adrift in 14th place.

"It would be a euphemism to say people here were very angry, but these same people are also very determined to react," said Di Montezemolo.I know that this group is known for its strong sense of pride and that will help us get out of this situation.

"The team remains united and I have every confidence in it."

Ferrari are one of the teams protesting against the controversial rear diffuser used by Brawn GP - winners of first two Grands Prix of the season - and Toyota, which they feel is illegal.

"There is an awareness of a need to react to close the performance gap, even if part of it is down to the presence of an interpretation of the regulations which many teams feel is incorrect," said a team statement.

"Therefore the next few days will see the team working energetically to anticipate as much as possible the aerodynamic development of the F60 (car)."

Massa feels frustrated

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Ferrari's Felipe Massa was left to ponder another pointless weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

After a calamitous qualifying session yesterday when he failed to make it past Q1 after the team badly misjudged the pace of the rest of the cars in qualifying, Massa looked set to rescue something from the race when he took his car from 16th on the grid to ninth.

But a torrential downpour arrived midway through the race, bringing a halt to proceedings and leaving Massa just five seconds behind the eighth-placed Williams of Nico Rosberg, who took the final half-point on offer.

While it left last year's Formula One drivers' championship runner-up empty-handed, he accepted that race organisers had made the right decision in the circumstances.

"When a decision is made for the safety of the drivers, it is always good," he said.

"We had a very difficult situation on the track so when a decision is made for our safety, I cannot go against it.

"I think it was a good decision. It was a nightmare out there. We couldn't stay on the track and at one stage, I was going slower than the safety car - we could not go any quicker."

With Massa's teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, also finishing out of the points in 14th after a disastrous gamble to switch to wet weather tyres a few laps too early, the Ferrari driver believes that the team has some serious soul-searching to do.

"It was a bad day again so we need to start from zero. We need to get together and go through point by point what went wrong and try to improve everything.

"We were not great in the past and stupid now. Certainly the car is not strong enough and we need to improve on that and to understand the mistakes we made with our strategies.

"On these kinds of things we need to get together and understand the problem.

"Last year we had a better car so it was better to improve the situation quickly and get in the fight again.

"This year our car is not so good, so it will be a bit more difficult to improve - but things change from one race to the next so maybe we still have a chance."

Massa was unhappy about the late starting time of the race, which made a restart impossible as dusk descended on Sepang.

"You either have the race in the night or have the race in the day. You cannot go in the middle - that is clear," he said emphatically.

"I have said it before and many other people have said it before and it didn't help. But the events today sent out a clear message."

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."

McLaren & Ferrari in united front

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Former bitter rivals McLaren and Ferrari are now "working extremely closely together" as teams seek to show Formula One's rulers a united front.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis confirmed their growing off-track ties on Thursday and said the result has proved "profound".

Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni also spent the day at McLaren's Woking factory meeting Dennis and other staff.

"If you had told me a year ago that I would be doing this I would not have believed you," he said.

Reigning constructors champions Ferrari and McLaren have a chequered recent history.

The English team was fined a record $100m (£70m) in 2007 and stripped of all their constructors' points for their involvement in a spying controversy over leaked Ferrari technical data in their possession.

Ferrari also started legal action against their rivals, with Dennis and other executives questioned by Italian police, though the action was later dropped after a McLaren apology.

But the team's top personnel, and the wider climate in which they operate, has since changed significantly.

With the urgent need for cost cutting becoming apparent, the Formula One Teams Association (Fota) was set up in July to represent teams in talks with with the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Jean Todt also handed over as Ferrari boss to Stefano Domenicali while Dennis is due to step down as McLaren principal on 1 March to make way for Martin Whitmarsh.

Fota are headed by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who has criticised Ecclestone's running of the sport.

With FIA president Max Mosley stressing that he is keen to see a significant shake-up in the sport towards cheaper operating costs and, potentially, more standardised engines, Fota is determined to provide a strong voice for the interests of all F1 teams.

While Fota have agreed significant savings with the FIA for this season and beyond, they want to secure a greater share of the sport's commercial revenues than the 50% they currently receive.

Montezemolo recently described Dennis as "a first-class person from a first-class team" and said the sport needed great competition on the track and great unity off it.

And Dennis, who has said he will soon devote more of his time to Fota activities, told the official F1 website: "The result of our co-operation, supported by all the other teams, has already been profound.

"Fota has already achieved great things, and it will achieve even greater things in the weeks, months and years to come.

"We're not complacent; we're not reluctant to embrace radical change; we're not hidebound by on-track rivalries.

"Working together for the good of the future of F1, we'll continue to devise powerful strategies and innovations intended to improve our sport so as to make it more affordable, more environmentally friendly and more appealing to spectators and TV viewers."

New rules prompt Ferrari concern

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Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali admits that the biggest F1 rule changes for 25 years create a "big question" for his team going into the 2009 season.

New car regulations have been brought in aimed at making overtaking easier and improving the quality of racing.

"It is a great concern, when you start from a blank piece of paper, you really don't know," Domenicali told BBC Sport.

"Others can be more aggressive or more naïve... so from the performance point of view, it's a big question."

All cars must comply with the new rules, which include aerodynamic modifications making front wings bulkier and rear wings taller and narrower.

Slick, untreaded tyres are also being reintroduced after 11 years on grooved tyres, and teams have the option of employing a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers).

Ferrari were the first constructor to unveil their new car for 2009, and its F60 model has been run briefly by drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikonen at their Mugello test track.

The new regulations also prohibit testing once the season is under way.

Ferrari has traditionally tested its cars more than other teams because it has its own circuit.

"This means we have to completely change the way we are working," said Domenicali, adding that Ferrari are reluctant to make predictions about the new season, which starts at the end of March in Melbourne.

"We are very cautious and humble," he said, "because we need to see where we are and understand the situation, and we respect our competitors a lot.

"For sure, this year will be a very difficult championship."

Raikkonen tipped for form revival

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Ferrari expect Kimi Raikkonen to be back to his best in 2009, according to team director Stefano Domenicali.

Raikkonen, 29, won the drivers' title in 2007 but dropped to third last year after some lacklustre performances.

The Finn was outpaced by team-mate Felipe Massa, who ended the season in second place, behind Lewis Hamilton.

"Kimi wants to show, as president (Luca di) Montezemolo joked, that he's back to being his normal self and not his twin," said Domenicali.

"He can't wait to get in the car, while Massa is very fresh and has a lot of desire. He really matured last season."

Domenicali played down speculation that Fernando Alonso could leave Renault for Ferrari in 2011.

Raikkonen and Massa are both under contract at Ferrari until the end of 2010.

"Our drivers have contracts signed," he said. "Fernando is a great driver but we are more than happy with ours."

Ferrari unveiled its 2009 car - the F60 - on Monday, but teething problems curtailed its first day on the track.

It is common for F1 cars to encounter difficulties in their debut outings, but this season's rule changes have created new challenges for the cars' engineers.

The aerodynamics of this season's cars have been modified, with wider front wings and higher, narrower rear wings, in a bid to enable more passing.

The first official tests of the F60 are scheduled for next week in Portimao, Portugal, alongside the new models of several other teams.

However, all the teams are expected to further modify their 2009 cars before the season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on 29 March.

After that point, a new ban on in-season testing means teams will only be able to experiment with technical improvements during practice sessions on race weekends.

"Starting with the test in Portimao we will compare ourselves with the other teams. It will be interesting to see where our car is and where our opponents are," said Domenicali.

"This year I'm very cautious because we're starting with a project that isn't an evolution from the previous years.

"I think the crucial factor will be being competitive right from the start since we can't evolve during the season."

Ferrari first to unveil new car

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Ferrari became the first team to launch their 2009 car on Monday, ahead of a season that heralds the biggest Formula One rule changes for 25 years.

The team's F60 car, unveiled at their Italian base, employs a raft of new features to meet the regulations.

These include an energy recovery system similar to those in hybrid road cars and aerodynamic changes aimed at making overtaking easier.

Ferrari missed out on 2008's drivers' title but were the top constructor.

Felipe Massa, who finished a single point behind eventual champion Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, will become the first F1 driver to experience a definitive 2009 car when he gets behind the wheel of an F60 later on Monday.

The car will make its debut at the Mugello test track after snowy conditions ruled out Ferrari's traditional testing venue, their home track in Fiorano.

Ferrari's new car is the first of a number of launches as F1's teams prepare their machines for the new season, which starts in Melbourne, Australia, on 29 March.

Toyota, fifth last season, unveil their challenger on 15 January, with McLaren's latest model appearing the following day.

Renault and Williams reveal their new cars on 19 January, with BMW Sauber doing the same 24 hours later.

Red Bull announced last week that their car will be launched much later than many other leading teams, on 9 February.

All cars must comply to new 2009 regulations, which include aerodynamic modifications where the front wing will be lowered and widened and the rear wing will become taller and narrower.

Slick, untreaded tyres will also be reintroduced after 10 years on grooved tyres and teams have the option of employing a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers).

The Kers system works by storing energy that would otherwise be wasted as heat during braking and reapplying it during acceleration to provide a boost in power.

This boost is controlled by the driver from a button in the cockpit and it is hoped the burst of acceleration will make overtaking easier.

A cockpit-adjustable front wing is other innovation rooted in that aim.

The idea is that drivers should be able to follow other cars more closely through corners - and therefore make them more likely to be able to pass their rivals at the end of the following straight - by increasing the amount of front downforce produced by the wing.

Though the Ferrari F60 was unveiled on Monday, it is not yet the finished product that Massa and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen will race in Melbourne.

All teams will introduce a series of updates to their cars between their official launches and the first race weekend in Australia.

Ferrari first to launch 2009 car

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Ferrari will be the first team to launch its car for the 2009 season.

The constructors' champion will unveil its latest F1 challenger at its Italian HQ at Maranello on 12 January.

Felipe Massa, who lost the 2008 crown to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by a single point, will get behind the wheel on the Fiorano track later that day.

McLaren unveil their car on 16 January, a day after Toyota launch their new model, with Renault, Williams and BMW Sauber unveiling the following week.

Red Bull announced on Monday that their car will be launched much later than many other leading teams, on 9 February.

All cars must comply to new 2009 regulations which include aerodynamic modifications where the front wing will be lowered and widened and the rear wing become taller and narrower.

Slick, untreaded, tyres will also be reintroduced and teams have the option of employing a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers) to boost their car's performance.

When Ferrari present their 2009 car in Maranello next week it will not meet race specifications for the opening Grand Prix in Australia on 29 March.

The Italian marque will test the car over the next couple of months and further improvements will be made in time for the Melbourne race

Young Italian drivers test for Ferrari at Fiorano

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The top three finishers in this year’s Italian Formula Three Series got the chance to drive a Formula One car at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit on Wednesday, as a reward for their success in the championship.

Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli all enjoyed time behind the wheel of the F2008 during the special day of testing, which was devised by Ferrari and Italian motorsport's governing body, the ACI-CSAI. The trio of young drivers also worked with engineers from the outfit’s race team and met tester Andrea Bertolini.

Bortolotti ended the day fastest, clocking a quickest time of 59.111s, after covering 40 laps. Piscopo’s best time was a 1m 00.336s after he completed 29 laps, while Cicatelli finished with a fastest time of 1m 01.243s over 33 laps.