Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo says their slow start to the season is due to their prolonged title fight with McLaren last season.

Lewis Hamilton beat Felipe Massa to the world title last season in a fight that went right down to the final corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Both Ferrari and McLaren were off the pace in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix - and Brawn GP drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello went on to complete a one-two finish in the race.

Hamilton managed to sneak through into third for McLaren despite his car's struggles, while both Ferraris failed to finish.

Massa retired because of a steering failure in Melbourne while team-mate Kimi Raikkonen hit a wall in his Ferrari, to cap a poor week for the team.

[source]