linkin...how come u kno massa not good in setup the car? got news bout it? how bout kimi?hehe

hmm.... some undertable negotiations going on, will torro rosso and s.aguri be giving up their points(if any) this year to placate williams and spyker?

World champion Fernando Alonso is confident his switch from Renault to McLaren will enable him to pursue a third successive championship title.


The 25-year-old is part of a new-look McLaren team alongside hot British prospect Lewis Hamilton, and much is expected of the new MP4-22 car.


And, ahead of the opening race of the season in Australia this weekend, Alonso admits he feels at home with his new team.


"At McLaren I have found a great atmosphere," he said. "The people are really very focused on the target to come back with success and to regain the dominant position in Formula One, and I have to say thanks to the team for all the huge work they did in the winter.


"They have improved and developed the car a lot compared to last year.


"They work day and night and I think we arrive here in Australia with a really competitive car and I think we can fight for victory.


"I feel really, really happy with the move and really confident for the championship."


Alonso will be keen to ensure his tenure at McLaren gets off to a good start at Albert Park in Melbourne.


The Oxfordshire resident seems to perform well on the circuit and won the race last year on the way to his second drivers' title.


But he admits it is difficult to make any predictions as to who will be challenging at the top of the points table.


He added: "To be honest, I've always had very good races here in Melbourne. In 2005 I started 16th and finished third, last year I won here.


"But I think this year we arrive with a very interesting championship, very open in the first races.


"Ferrari has been the strongest, especially the last part of the winter, but last year we saw in some tests that Ferrari was very, very quick in August and September and then we arrived at races and everything was really, really close between all of us.


"The important thing is our team will be there in the fight and then it's up to us to do the job."


One of the biggest changes to the rules this season is the uniform use of Bridgestone tyres.


Each team receive just two specifications of tyres in each race and both have to be used during an event.


And Alonso believes it could cause a few surprises this season, with drivers able to take advantage over those who have been used to Michelin rubber.


He said: "I think there's a big difference in the cars now with the new tyres and I think it's the same for everybody.


"We've lost grip, performance and I think the driving style is a little bit more complex and a little bit different.


"I think all the Michelin drivers, including me, have been used to them and we accommodate our driving style to suit the Michelin tyres and I think new drivers who have come in this year have a big advantage because they don't have past experience of Michelin tyres.


"It has been a very long winter and now finally here we are at the first race and now it's time to put everything on the table."

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton insists he is unconcerned by Ferrari's promising form over the winter testing period ahead of the curtain raiser in Melbourne on Sunday.


Ferrari set the pace in testing in Bahrain last month but rising British star Hamilton has been pleased with his own team's efforts and insists anything could happen this weekend.


"We have done all the testing that has been needed and we have arrived here very optimistic about the weekend and with our package," he said.


"If you do look at the testing then Ferrari have been reasonably quick in their last few tests, so some could say that Ferrari are the strongest at the moment.


"But you don't know what programme they are on so we won't know until tomorrow or Saturday exactly who is where, but I am sure we are going to be very competitive."


Hamilton has been participating in an intense testing period since stepping up to full-time driver as McLaren strive to ensure their new MP4-22 car will perform to the best of its ability at Albert Park.


And though he knows there is still room for improvement, the 22-year-old is confident it will continue to get better as the season progresses.


Hamilton added: "All the preparations have gone really well, we have covered a lot of mileage and it has been a pretty intense winter testing.


"Obviously I have done testing in winter before but with us developing a new car we have had to be in it near enough every week just to maximise the mileage and learn as much as I can.


"We have got a solid package and we have made some really good steps forward.


"There is still room for improvement but I am sure throughout the season we will improve on that."

Jenson Button has written off Honda's chances of success at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.


Honda struggled for pace during pre-season testing, especially over one lap, which has led to Button predicting that neither himself nor team-mate Rubens Barrichello will be able to achieve a top-10 grid slot on Saturday.


"It's not a nice way to start a season. Arriving with a car that isn't challenging for victory hurts," Button said.


"Here I can't see us qualifying in the top 10.


The Briton, though, does believe Honda can make up some places during Sunday's grand prix, however, doubts that it will be enough to challenge for a podium finish, never mind the race victory.


"I think if we have a good race - because we are very reliable and some of the teams aren't - I can see us finishing in the top 10.


"We're not going to get on the podium, we're not going to win the race."


In fact Button even went as far as to claim that this weekend's race will be more of a test session for Honda than a grand prix.


"It's an important race but it's not about the end result," he continued.


"We've got to look at the areas where we're lacking and the areas where we need to work on compared to the top teams.


"It's more of a big test session for us, to learn why we're so far off.

Times

01 F. Massa Ferrari 1:27.353 32 laps

02 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:27.750 33 laps

03 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:27.829 29 laps

04 G. Fisichella Renault 1:27.941 33 laps

05 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:27.970 27 laps

06 A. Wurz Williams 1:27.981 31 laps

07 F. Alonso McLaren 1:28.040 25 laps

08 N. Rosberg Williams 1:28.055 29 laps

09 R. Kubica BMW 1:28.281 26 laps

10 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:28.495 23 laps

11 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:28.727 28 laps

12 J. Trulli Toyota 1:28.921 33 laps

13 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:29.009 23 laps

14 J. Button Honda 1:29.066 30 laps

15 R. Barrichello Honda 1:29.542 12 laps

16 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:29.574 26 laps

17 M. Webber Red Bull 1:29.801 11 laps

18 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:30.097 10 laps

19 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:30.383 28 laps

20 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:31.108 35 laps

21 C. Albers Spyker F1 1:31.175 32 laps

22 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:31.693 16 laps