Alonso pleased despite no win

The McLaren driver, in his first race for his new team, had to settle for second place after the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen proved too quick during the Melbourne event.

Alonso crossed the finish line over seven seconds behind Raikkonen, and although he was happy with the result, the Spaniard says McLaren will need to work hard to catch Ferrari.

"I think it has been a good weekend and now I think with the final result we have to be pleased," said Alonso, whose fastest lap was over a second slower than Raikkonen's.

"Ferrari were a bit too quick for us today but we have to take the maximum points from here, and second place is a good place to start.

"We need to work more if we want to win races, but we show today and proved that we are here to win and not just race and relax. We showed a good potential and I'm looking forward to the next one."

Alonso took second place after moving ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton during the second pitstop, the Spaniard losing out to the rookie at the start of the race.

"It was a very strange start, not very good," admitted Alonso, who dropped from second to fourth at the first corner.

"I saw Nick (Heidfeld) coming from the outside so I was a little bit more concentrated on him than the corner itself. I realised a little later I was fourth and from there I didn't have the possibility to push in any part, sometimes I was close and sometimes I left some space not to overheat the car.

"I was lucky to overtake him (Hamilton) in the second pitstop. It is true it has been a good fight as I always have here in Australia. I remember Fisichella winning races here, and it is interesting for the people."