Massa not disheartened by slow start

The Brazilian had appeared to be a match for Raikkonen throughout practice but it all went wrong in Q2 when an electronic problem in his gearbox left him unable to set a time.

He started from the back of the grid after an engine change before the race and, although he recovered to take sixth place, the ease with which Raikkonen dominated showed his car had the potential to fight right at the front of the field.

But although things could have gone much better for him in Australia, Massa said on his official blog that his focus is simply on making amends in Malaysia next time out rather than dwelling on what might have been.

"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," wrote Massa.

"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.

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

Massa believes that if he had started right at the front in Australia, as the pace he showed in practice suggested he should have done if his car had worked properly, then he thinks he would have challenged Raikkonen for the win.

"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. I am sure it would have been a very good race for me.

"On the other hand, I think about events last year when there were so many races where we just threw away so many points, but this time at least, even after a bad result on Saturday, we were able to finish by bringing home some points that could turn out to be very important for the end of the championship. That was the most positive element of the whole weekend."

Massa is currently training in Brazil but will fly to Malaysia this weekend to take part in the final day of next week's test at Sepang.