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Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix

Australian Grand Prix

Top ten, but Red Bull hoped for better 15 March 2008 David Coulthard may have qualified in eight place, but Red Bull Racing was left feeling that it could have done even better in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix after Mark Webber spun out of qualifying and ended up fifteenth after a problem with his car. "It was quite tricky out there, especially on the prime tyres," Coulthard said. "I think there's going to be some variation during the race when car's run between the two tyre types. We expected to get into the top ten today, but I would have preferred to have felt that I could attack a bit more with the car. If I push then the car's quite unstable on the bumps. All our concentration is on the start line now, as it will be interesting to see what happens without traction control." Webber commented, "There was a failure at the front right of the car, which isn't good. I had a strange feeling in Turn one, but continued to push as it was the qualifying session, but something broke into Turn six. That was it and I was into the gravel. It's nearly impossible to get into the points now under normal circumstances, because it's very, very difficult to overtake on this circuit, but I'll do my best." Team boss Christian Horner added, "It's frustrating for Mark at his home Grand Prix to have what looks like a suspected brake issue. He's going to have a busy afternoon tomorrow, but looking at his race pace in yesterday's practices he should be able to make reasonable process. David progressed well through the first two qualifying sessions to make it into Q3. He wasn't happy with his balance on the final set of tyres and finished eighth. The potential is to be better, but starting in the top eight at the first Grand Prix of the season is a respectable result."

Button surprised by Honda pace 15 March 2008 Jenson Button may have qualified thirteenth, but it was the happiest thirteenth of his life in Albert Park today as he rejoiced in Honda's improved competitiveness. Team mate Ruberns Barrichello finished just ahead of him in eleventh. "Everyone was a bit surprised by our pace here if you look at pre-season testing and personally I'm really disappointed because I screwed up my lap so it could have been better," Button said after qualifying. "I'm happy for the team that we're more competitive. It's so close out there - just 0.3s from where I am to eighth which is really exciting for the sport," he added. "We'll see a good improvement with our car throughout the year and it's a great start for us and if we can keep building on this I'll be happy."

Qualifying 1 L. Hamilton 1:26.714 2 R. Kubica 1:26.866 3 H. Kovalainen 1:27.079 4 F. Massa 1:27.178 5 N. Heidfeld 1:27.236 6 J. Trulli 1:28.527 7 N. Rosberg 1:28.687 8 D. Coulthard 1:29.041 9 T. Glock 1:29.593 10 S. Vettel no time 11 R. Barrichello 1:26.173 12 F. Alonso 1:26.188 13 J. Button 1:26.259 14 K. Nakayama's 1:26.413 15 M. Webber no time 16 K. Raikkonen no time 17 G. Fisichella 1:27.207 18 S. Bourdais 1:27.446 19 A. Sutil 1:27.859 20 T. Sato 1:28.208 21 N. Piquet jr. 1:28.330 22 A. Davidson 1:29.059

Qualifying 1 L. Hamilton 1:26.714 2 R. Kubica 1:26.866 3 H. Kovalainen 1:27.079 4 F. Massa 1:27.178 5 N. Heidfeld 1:27.236 6 J. Trulli 1:28.527 7 N. Rosberg 1:28.687 8 D. Coulthard 1:29.041 9 T. Glock 1:29.593 10 S. Vettel no time 11 R. Barrichello 1:26.173 12 F. Alonso 1:26.188 13 J. Button 1:26.259 14 K. Nakajima 1:26.413 15 M. Webber no time 16 K. Räikkönen no time 17 G. Fisichella 1:27.207 18 S. Bourdais 1:27.446 19 A. Sutil 1:27.859 20 T. Sato 1:28.208 21 N. Piquet jr. 1:28.330 22 A. Davidson 1:29.059

3rd Free Practice 1 R. Kubica 1:25.613 18 2 N. Heidfeld 1:25.950 16 3 F. Alonso 1:26.082 14 4 N. Rosberg 1:26.171 17 5 D. Coulthard 1:26.385 14 6 M. Webber 1:26.407 17 7 J. Button 1:26.502 18 8 S. Vettel 1:26.663 18 9 G. Fisichella 1:26.682 18 10 J. Trulli 1:26.882 11 11 F. Massa 1:27.020 19 12 L. Hamilton 1:27.084 14 13 T. Glock 1:27.162 15 14 K. Räikkönen 1:27.163 17 15 N. Piquet jr. 1:27.284 13 16 R. Barrichello 1:27.333 18 17 A. Sutil 1:27.489 18 18 S. Bourdais 1:27.578 17 19 K. Nakajima 1:27.601 15 20 H. Kovalainen 1:27.992 15 21 T. Sato 1:28.363 13 22 A. Davidson 1:28.912 15

3rd Free Practice 1 R. Kubica 1:25.613 18 2 N. Heidfeld 1:25.950 16 3 F. Alonso 1:26.082 14 4 N. Rosberg 1:26.171 17 5 D. Coulthard 1:26.385 14 6 M. Webber 1:26.407 17 7 J. Button 1:26.502 18 8 S. Vettel 1:26.663 18 9 G. Fisichella 1:26.682 18 10 J. Trulli 1:26.882 11 11 F. Massa 1:27.020 19 12 L. Hamilton 1:27.084 14 13 T. Glock 1:27.162 15 14 K. Räikkönen 1:27.163 17 15 N. Piquet jr. 1:27.284 13 16 R. Barrichello 1:27.333 18 17 A. Sutil 1:27.489 18 18 S. Bourdais 1:27.578 17 19 K. Nakajima 1:27.601 15 20 H. Kovalainen 1:27.992 15 21 T. Sato 1:28.363 13 22 A. Davidson 1:28.912 15

Ronaldo Won't Get Back To His Best - Pelé Brazilian legend Pelé said he doesn't think Ronaldo will be able to be the player he once was again. It isn't known yet whether AC Milan striker and two-time Golden Ball winner Ronaldo will decide to come back to playing football, but what seems certain is that we will never see the 'Fenomeno' we knew in his golden period. Fellow Brazilian legend Pelé, who was present at a ceremony as ambassador of the Copa Libertadores, also believes it will be tough to see the old Ronaldo again. "I don't think Ronaldo will be able to be the player he once was," he said. "Medicine has made huge progress, but he's also a few years older now. I would be very happy if he would be able to come back at 100%, but I'm afraid it won't go that way." Ronaldo suffered the second major knee injury of his career in the league match between Milan and Livorno recently. The first one came in 2000 while he was at Inter, keeping him off the pitch for about a year and a half.

Ronaldo will try another comeback MILAN, Italy (AP) -- AC Milan striker Ronaldo wants to attempt a comeback once his left knee recuperates from what some experts said would be a career-ending injury. "For now it's still early to speak about decisions, but I'm preparing myself for the great challenge of returning to play," Ronaldo said Thursday in comments published on the team's Web site. The three-time FIFA world player of the year ruptured a tendon in his left knee last month while playing in a Serie A match. He had a successful operation and immediately began physical therapy. Doctors say the earliest he could play again would be in about eight months. The 31-year-old Brazilian is the leading scorer in World Cup history with 15 goals. Ronaldo has battled serious injuries throughout his career, including a right knee injury when playing for crosstown rival Inter Milan eight years ago. He missed the following season, but came back strongly at the 2002 World Cup, guiding Brazil to its fifth title with eight goals, including both in the final against Germany. Ronaldo's contract with Milan expires at the end of June.

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AC Milan coach Ancelotti keen to see Maldini play on AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has intimated he'd welcome veteran captain Paolo Maldini playing on next season. He said: "The best person to evaluate this is himself. He will decide whether to continue. I can say that he is still very reliable from the point of view fitness. He plays because he deserves to and has the qualities to do so. "Moreover, he has shown great flexibility; other players would have said 'no' to my request to play as a wing-back, he has adapted, however, with excellent results. "Against Arsenal and Empoli, he was one of the best."

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We Don't Want To Play Uefa Cup - Gattuso Milan midfielder Gennaro 'Rino' Gattuso talked about the importance of finishing fourth and avoiding ending up in the Uefa Cup. n order to reach their objective of finishing fourth, Milan will have to face each match with the concentration of a final. That is the opinion of midfielder Gennaro 'Rino' Gattuso, which he expressed in today's press conference ahead of the match against Roma this weekend. "Saturday's match will be a tough one, but the fourth place will not only depend on the match in Rome," he said. "It's only one of the 11 finals we have between now and the end of the season. The objective is always to take home the three points, even though I think Roma can still win the Scudetto. In 11 games six points can be recovered. "Our objective is the fourth place, it's an important objective. We have no intention of going to play in Bratislava or in Bulgaria next year. Playing in the Uefa Cup would be sad for Milan, who are used to other kinds of stages. Fiorentina's qualification to the next stage of the Uefa Cup could be good for us: the more matches our opponents have, the better." Currently Milan are still in fifth with 46 points, but Fiorentina are only one point above them after their 1-0 defeat away to Siena last week.

Rino welcomes Sheva talk Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has supported the idea of re-signing former star Andriy Shevchenko. The Rossoneri are struggling for striking options after Ronaldo severed a tendon in his knee. Young gun Alexandre Pato has stepped up to the mark, but Milan seem to be lacking a reliable finisher to do the job Sheva used to do. “If the club wanted to sign Shevchenko, he would be a good addition,” Gattuso said at the presentation of FIFA Street 3. “He hasn’t succeeded to play at the top of his abilities in England, but if he returned he would have such a great hunger and would be good for the atmosphere. “I have heard that Sheva doesn’t want to return, but the important thing is that we bring in a top striker and other champions. “Didier Drogba is the kind of man who can make the difference and Luca Toni is also a match-winner.” Despite his hopes for reinforcements, Gattuso also expressed his sympathy for fallen comrade Ronaldo. “It has upset me to see him out of action,” he stressed. “He is football and he shouldn’t have to be reduced to watching. “His future? I can’t make judgements but I’m sure that he will only sign a renewal to his contract if he manages to recover.” Ronaldo attended training with his Milan colleagues today for the first time since his injury, but he will be on crutches for another few weeks.

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Inzaghi Out For 20 Days With Hernia AC Milan will be without Pippo Inzaghi for around 20 days, as the striker is suffering from an inguinal hernia. The 34-year-old missed the weekend win over Empoli with the problem, and after a number of medical tests he has been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. Fortunately for SuperPippo, he will not require surgery to correct the problem, and will just undergo a 20-day period of rest, therapy and some exercises. Doctors believe Inzaghi picked up the problem due to a physical imbalance in his body resulting from a recent ankle injury. He will miss this weekend’s big match with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, as well as the games with Sampdoria, Torino and Atalanta. The prolific goalscorer should be fit enough to return for the home clash with Cagliari on April 6. Milan have been hit hard by problems in the striking department this season, with Inzaghi and Ronaldo missing large portions of the season through injury, and Alberto Gilardino continually misfiring. The Rossoneri are currently in fifth place in Serie A, one point behind Fiorentina in the fourth and final Champions League position.

Kaka: Milan Must Sign Young Players Milan superstar Kaka has declared that the club must start signing some young players in order to start a new winning cycle at the club. The Rossoneri’s Champions League exit to Arsenal last week was pained by many as the end of an era for the current squad. At present eight of Milan’s first choice starting XI are all over the age of 30, and Kaka says that younger players must be bought if a new winning cycle is going to begin. "Milan has to understand that our cycle is ending and we must begin another one,” he stated. “The day comes when the end of the careers of many players arrives - even mine. "We must sign young players who can absorb the winning mentality - over a long period of time - of those who are already here and develop them in the same manner." Milan face something of a struggle to qualify for next season’s Champions League as they are currently in fifth place in Serie A. Tomorrow night they travel to the Stadio Olimpico to play in-form Roma in the game of the weekend in the Italian championship.

Seedorf returns for Roma Carlo Ancelotti is breathing a sigh of relief with the news that Clarence Seedorf will be fit for Milan’s crunch match against Roma tomorrow. With the race for Champions League qualification finely poised, Milan know that they need to return from Rome with something to show for their efforts. Fiorentina host Genoa on Sunday and it is essential that the Diavolo don’t allow the Tuscans to extend their single-point advantage in fourth place. Seedorf has been a costly absentee for Ancelotti since picking up a thigh injury against Lazio at the start of the month and was sorely missed during Milan’s Champions League clash with Arsenal. Now, the Dutchman is set to start at the Stadio Olimpico and Ancelotti is expected to return to a Christmas Tree formation. The news will come as a disappointment to Alberto Gilardino and Yoann Gourcuff with the duo set to sit on the bench in the Eternal City.

Seedorf issues Pato warning Clarence Seedorf has warned Milan’s fans not to put too much pressure on Alexandre Pato and reiterated the importance of securing fourth place. Teen sensation Pato has made a lightning start to life in Italy and is already a crucial figure at San Siro, but there are fears that he has too great a burden on his young shoulders. “He is a fantastic talent, but we already knew that,” the Dutch midfielder told Sky Sport Italia. “I have always tried to calm the hysteria, but not because I don’t want him to be praised. “Look at what happened to Adriano – he became the Emperor of Inter at 22-years-old, but he didn’t have the moral or mental capacity to be a leader and now look at where he is.” This weekend sees a huge clash between Roma and Milan and a win is vital for the world champions’ bid to take part in next season’s Champions League. “We are proud of what we have achieved, but now we are obviously thinking about finishing fourth and building a future,” Seedorf stressed. “From next season we want to be competitive in Europe and also in the other competitions. “When you are in the top few you always have a chance and our winning cycle won’t be over. But there won’t be a future if we aren’t in the Champions League.”