Ferrari: Pace the only positive in Spain

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says the only positive the Italian squad can extract from the Spanish Grand Prix is the improved speed of its car

The Maranello-based outfit continued with its shaky start to the season in Barcelona, where Kimi Raikkonen retired with mechanical problems and team-mate Felipe Massa finished in sixth place after he was forced to slow down in order to save fuel following an issue during his last pitstop.

Despite its problems, Ferrari showed improved form since the last race in Bahrain thanks to the introduction of a major upgrade package.

Domenicali admitted that was the only positive point of the weekend.

"I think that is for sure the best and the only positive aspect," said Domenicali. "It is very significant for this weekend. I would say that Felipe was fighting for the podium today if he did not have the problems he had.

"This is something we need to keep from this negative moment as a positive point to step back for when we are preparing to go to Monte Carlo."

The Italian, whose team has scored just six points in five races, conceded the current situation is painful for Ferrari.

"There is a lot of pain," he said. "I would be dishonest if I didn't say there is a lot of pain, because that is the thing that I have now. It is important that, once again, we need to make sure that the people who have the responsibility in all the areas do the maximum job we can do.

"I am here to keep the pressure on them, but of course I need the people to work and react very hard to take responsibility because otherwise it will be difficult. For sure, looking back, it should be a target to reach back at that level as soon as possible."

Domenicali was cautious when answering questions about Massa's comments that the championship is over both for him and his team.

"Well, I think first of all we want to see things in house," Domenicali added. "We need to make sure that what we are doing is the maximum level that we can do. So as soon as we are ready, hopefully very, very soon, at all levels performance, reliability and management and so on, then we need to look ahead and see where we are.

"For sure they [Brawn] are very reliable and very quick, and the situation for us is the opposite. So I said, on our side we will try and do the best and then we will see."