12/01/2009
NEWS STORY
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Read into it what you will but last year it was 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen who got to give the new Ferrari its maiden run, today, a year later, the honour fell to 2008 runner-up, Felipe Massa.
After a few demonstration laps, the Brazilian climbed from the F60 and admitted that the raft of new rules introduced this year mean that the 2009 car is an altogether different animal from its predecessor.
"It really is a car which is totally different to what we were used to up to last year," he told reporters. "KERS and the aerodynamic changes mean the car is completely different to drive. This is just the beginning of a new cycle in Formula One and it will not be an easy experience.
"This was the first day and we weren't looking to do one hundred laps and good times given that they've changed the rules," he continued. "Today there were small problems like on any first day but I'm happy with how it went.
"It will certainly be very different to drive this car, but you get more familiar and eventually it will be automatic. When changes are introduced it is always like that and at this stage we suffer, like last year with the lack of traction control. This is a situation where the driver is more important."
The Brazilian, looked remarkably relaxed and happy, the misery of Interlagos seemingly put behind him.
"The mood inside the team is good," he said. "There have been great changes and maybe it will change some of the ways we work. I'm pretty happy with the work done by the team and I hope they'll continue to improve week after week.
"During this holiday period I simply put myself in a very normal frame of mind and tried to draw a lesson from last year. I'm not looking backwards, I'm always looking to the future."
Referring to claims that the new aero rules make the car look ugly, the Brazilian smiled and added: "I prefer to have an ugly car with very high performance levels."