Ferrari boss calls for calm after rough start

By Alan Baldwin

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali called for calm on Sunday after the Formula One champions made their worst start to a season since 1992.

"The results speak for themselves. Unfortunately it was really a dreadful weekend," Domenicali told reporters at the Australian Grand Prix, his first race as principal since taking over from Frenchman Jean Todt last year.

"Nothing went as planned in all respects. It was tough and difficult."

Neither world champion Kimi Raikkonen nor his Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa reached the chequered flag, both cars pulling over with engine problems on an afternoon of rare mayhem.

While they struggled, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was triumphant. For the first time since Canada last June, when Hamilton also won, there was no Ferrari driver on the podium.

Only the subsequent disqualification of Rubens Barrichello, the Brazilian who helped Ferrari and Michael Schumacher to a string of titles before joining Honda, lifted Raikkonen to eighth place.

PREVIOUS SETBACKS

Despite the disappointment, Ferrari have suffered similar setbacks in Australia and recovered to fight for the title.