McLaren expect Ferrari fightback in Malaysia

By Alan Baldwin

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - McLaren are bracing for a Ferrari fightback in Malaysia next weekend after the Formula One champions endured their worst start to a season in 16 years.

"It's not their true pace and we're under no illusions," McLaren boss Ron Dennis said after Sunday's incident-packed Australian race left his team's Italian rivals with just one point to their credit.

"They're a very competitive team, they're well run. We know they're going to be a very strong team in all the remaining races and we've got to be stronger than them," he told reporters.

"All we can do is try and stay focused on our own efforts and that is what we will do."

While McLaren's 23-year-old phenomenon Lewis Hamilton chalked up a pole-to-flag victory on an afternoon of searing heat and general mayhem, neither Ferrari made it to the chequered flag in Melbourne.

In a race with only seven cars still running at the finish, Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen picked up the single point after Honda's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was disqualified from sixth place for a pit lane infringement.

INQUEST

Brazilian Felipe Massa, who spun into a wall on the opening lap and was later involved in a collision with Red Bull's David Coulthard while trying to pass on the inside, retired long before.