Hamilton wants to turn on heat after Oz breeze

Formula One front-runner Lewis Hamilton has said “bring it on” while faltering Ferrari seek a fresh start in Malaysia on Sunday at the second grand prix of the year.

Formula One front-runner Lewis Hamilton has said “bring it on” while faltering Ferrari seek a fresh start in Malaysia on Sunday at the second grand prix of the year.

McLaren’s Hamilton took the chequered flag in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last Sunday, a performance the 23-year-old Briton described as the best race of his career.

Now he is eager to build on that momentum at Sepang.

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“I felt fantastic. I never thought it would have been as physically a breeze as it was,” Hamilton said of his victory in Melbourne. “It is great preparation for Malaysia so bring it on, I’m really looking forward.

“Going into the next few races, we obviously need to try to continue with the momentum. I am probably twice as fit this year compared to last year. But also the car was really fantastic to drive and it was quite easy to drive.”

Ferrari’s black day

For the red cars of Ferrari, the Australian Grand Prix proved a black day.

Neither Kimi Raikkonen nor Felipe Massa managed to finish the race, although Raikkonen went away with a point for eighth place after Honda’s Rubens Barrichello was disqualified.

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It was the worst start to a season for Ferrari since 1992 and Massa acknowledged that the team must scratch that poor start from their record and begin anew.

“Our championship will have to start again in Malaysia. We know we have a good car, we have to work to be able to use it as intended,” said the Brazilian.