Senna relieved to get some running

The Brazilian, who was treating the event as a test after no prior running ahead of the weekend, started the race from the pitlane and had time to make his first pitstop.

He eventually was forced to retire on lap 18 after his engine overheated.

But the Hispania driver was pleased to get so much running and is looking forward to a better race in Australia.

"It was certainly a relief to have been in the race for so many laps," said Senna. "Everything was going well. I felt I had a little too much understeer. I had a good base set-up now after these laps and my engineers will have a better starting point to work from for next race.

"There was a vibration from the back of the car a lap earlier and then the car suddenly stopped. We'll have to investigate what happened.

"But I am very happy for the whole team for their incredible hard work to ensure we are in a position to be racing again in Melbourne."

Team-mate Karun Chandhok also retired from the race, the Indian crashing out after just one lap.

"Sorry, this was my fifth lap on this track," he said. "I hit a bump in the new part of the circuit, I was not that much experienced in that part of the track as I had driven only four timed laps over the weekend.

"I was pushed on to the exit curb, trying to bring the tyres in gently, I did not know that part of the circuit. I want to thank my mechanics for accompanying my first laps on this track and the whole team for a great week-end and long sleepless hours. Now let's look forward to start again in Melbourne."