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The start of the new Formula One season couldn't have started worse for Kimi Räikkönen. After his technical problems in yesterday's Qualifying the Finn also wasn't able to finnish today's Australian Grand Prix Melbourne.

The race was a disaster Kimi and Ferrari. Errors from the team and Kimi Raikkonen see the defending champions leave Albert Park with only one point. Kimi made up ground early on to move through the field. The team did not bring the Finn in during the second safety car period and Kimi found himself battling hard with Kovalainen. A mistake from Kimi saw him run too deep into turn three and into the gravel trap. The Finn was soon back underway but pitted the very next lap pitting himself at the back of the field. Why Ferrari did not pit him sooner is not clear. Kimi soon closed down a 15 second gap to Timo Glock but then spun at turn three while trying to make the pass. It would prove academic as the F2008 later slowed with an engine issue in the closing staged and Kimi retired from the race. Due to the disqualification of Rubens Barrichello, the Finn still earned one point from the race.

"It's really disappointing not to finish the race, but at least the point is better than nothing. I had an engine problem, the reason for which now needs to be analysed. The car was good and I had a good pace when I found a free track ahead of me. I spun a couple of times trying to pass those ahead of me, but the first time, with Glock, I put a wheel on the grass and the second time, with Kovalainen, I was a bit too optimistic. This result is obviously not the best start to the season but it is a very long one and we are well aware that we are capable of recovering from far worse situations than this. We have to put everything in place and then we will be really competitive."

Race results: