News; BMW, Floorboard speculation, Massa, Sleepy Kimi

The opening race of the season always stirs
up technical queries and BMW and Ferrari’s rivals are questioning how
flexy their flexible floors are.

The McLaren team haven’t protested the design or even named
Ferrari, but are keen to find out from the FIA just what is and isn’t
permissable. Both Ferrari and BMW Sauber use a sprung device to mount
the front section of floor on their cars.

McLaren claim this lowers at speed to give the car an unfair aerodynamic advantage.

"We will see how things are in two or three races," McLaren’s boss Ron Dennis told speedtv.com.

"There is a whole range of things that come to light in the
first race and you go and you say what is legal, and what is not legal.

"Most teams are given that current race to enjoy the benefit of
the doubt. I think there will be a rationalisation of some aspects of
some cars that would close the gap if no one did anything.

"You look at people’s cars, you are not always of the opinion
that rule interpretation has been strictly adhered to, and you get
into, ‘Hold on a second, what are we allowed to do and what are we not
allowed to do?’ and that always takes place at the first event. So it takes a race or two to know what is or isn’t permitted," he said.

Kimi going to Ferrari has opened my eyes a bit and drawn me away from participating in the Ferrari Witch-hunts. For his
sake, I really hope Ferrari are not going for this championship in a cunning way. The last thing Kimi needs is his championship hopes being
clouded by doubt on the teams part.

Massa was one of the favourites to win the season-opening race
after impressing during winter testing and again in Friday’s practice.
However, a gearbox problem and a subsequent engine change had the
Brazilian starting the grand prix from the very back of the grid.

Massa, however, drove a mature and strong race to finish in
sixth place, while his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen claimed the victory
from pole position.

"After the Australian GP, I was told that a lot of the media
wrote I drove a very good race from the back of the grid to finish in
the points in sixth place," Massa said.

"But while I agree that the race itself was good, I was not so
happy with the outcome of the weekend, because of the circumstances
that prevented me qualifying properly the previous day.

"But in the end I had a good Australian Grand Prix, a good race
and that is encouraging for the next few rounds of the championship.

"There was no doubt that I was competitive in Melbourne from the
first laps on track on Friday. Everything was set for me to get a great
result."

The Ferrari driver also reckons he could have given his
team-mate a good fight for the victory had he started from the front of
the grid.

"If I had started from the front, it could definitely have been
a very competitive race between me and Kimi, especially if I’d made two
stops, starting on the right tyres and being in optimum conditions in
every way," he said. "I am sure it would have been a very good race for
me."

The Brazilian is now focusing his attention on the second race
of the season, the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he hopes to claim his
first victory of the year.

"I just have to think ahead," he added. "(There is) a fresh
chance in the next race at Sepang and (I am) looking forward to being
at the front."

I’m sure the race would have been more interesting with Massa up front, Kimi practically had no challenge whatsoever! Though, despite two wins last year as Michael Schumacher’s teammate, Massa still has a lot to prove to me, especially combat-wise, as in racing? He does still make some amateur mistakes and his sulking after qualifying last weekend shows he still has long ways to go yet in maturing. For now though, he has to cope with a teammate like Kimi who pulled this amazing move on the last lap of the Japanese Grand Prix to take victory in 2005:

< Kimi Attack!!!

The former McLaren driver confirmed that he
had difficulties communicating with engineer Chris Dyer following a
problem with the F2007’s radio. Raikkonen claims that this effected his
race pace.

"We knew that our rhythm in the race was very competitive: I did
not have to go to the limit, but maybe if the radio had worked I would
have gone faster."

The Ferrari driver also showed a glimpse of his legendary sense
of humour. According to him, the race was so easy for him to win that
he nearly fell asleep while unchallenged in the lead.

"On one occasion – just about ten laps before the end the race –
I almost fell asleep! I got distracted, my concentration levels dropped
a bit and I locked the wheels and took Turn Three slightly too wide:
even without radio I knew that they were saying: ‘Kimi, wake up!’

"The team had lots to do keeping me informed with the display
boards. A couple of times I couldn’t see them, because it was difficult
to distinguish them from the ones of the other teams.

"When I passed the chequered flag it was a really emotional
moment and it was fantastic to celebrate together with the boys from
the pitwall. It was a moment I would never have missed for anything in
the world."