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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:57 a.m., Friday, April 17, 2009

Auto racing: Gloom sets in at Ferrari after poor practice

CHRIS LINES
AP Auto Racing Writer

SHANGHAI — After another poor showing Friday, the Ferrari team acknowledged it faces a difficult task in catching up with the pacesetters of the 2009 Formula One season.

The team is pointless after two races and looks unlikely to score any points in China after Friday's practice session ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. Felipe Massa was only 12th fastest and teammate Kimi Raikkonen was 14th, reflecting how far off the pace the sport's perennial power team has fallen.

After dropping the problematic KERS power-boost system for the third race of the season, and still without a two-tiered diffuser to match those used by pacesetters Brawn, Toyota and Williams, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali acknowledged Friday's mediocre results were not surprising.

"We will have to run a few races on the defensive and try to do the best we can," Domenicali said. "We are in a difficult situation and we must try and stay calm and work hard on all fronts."

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone said Ferrari's struggles were not good for the sport, but added that the aura of the team will continue to capture the imagination of fans regardless of performance.

"It's not good, but it will look better when they get up the front again," Ecclestone said. "In those days when they were not winning, if you asked anyone in the street who won the world championship last year they would say Ferrari, and if you said which driver, they'd say Niki Lauda.

"That's how strong the Ferrari brand is — it's one of the strongest brands in the world."

After sliding down the timesheets Friday, Massa said the team had no choice but to work hard to catch up.

"I can say our fight for the championship is ever more compromised," Massa said.

"We are losing even more performance, in addition to not having as much aerodynamic downforce as the best cars."

Raikkonen was more optimistic, saying he did not miss the KERS boost too much, and felt the team could yet rally.

"We must not give up the fight because, with the whole team working hard, we can get back into a winning position," Raikkonen said.

"It's not an easy time but our group is strong and we know what needs to be done to get out of this situation."