 Reigning World Champion Kimi Räikkönen won his first race of the 2008 Formula One season in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this weekend. He was followed onto the podium by BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen of Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes.
The perfect result for Scuderia Ferrari was not to be after team-mate Felipe Massa's off-track excursion on the 31st lap, having started the race in pole position.
Lisa Lilley, Shell Technology Manager for Ferrari commented after the race: "We are very pleased with how the fuels and lubricants performed today around one of the most technical circuits on the Formula One calendar, particularly in the hot and humid conditions. They delivered maximum performance and reliability, contributing to Kimi's great result."
Räikkönen's win sees him move into tie second with BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld in the FIA Formula One Drivers' World Championship with 11 points each, behind Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (14 points). Scuderia Ferrari currently stands third in the Constructors' Championship behind Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes and BMW Sauber F1 Team.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is two weeks away and will take place on Sunday 6 April 2008.
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 Stefano Domenicali: "This has been a bittersweet Easter day. We are very happy with Kimi's victory, but equally disappointed with Felipe's retirement as it robbed us of a possible one-two. This weekend, we have shown what the team can do after our very bad weekend in Melbourne. So, we were not cart horses in Australia and we did not become phenomenons today. We know we still have much to do to improve in terms of performance and, above all, reliability. The team carried out its tasks well, showing in style that it knows how to react. Congratulations to Kimi, who drove a superb race and thanks to our commercial and technical partners, first and foremost, Philip Morris and Shell."
Kimi Räikkönen: "I am very happy with this win, for me and for the team. It's a shame that Felipe was unable to let us bring home a result that was within our grasp. At the start I came alongside Felipe, but I did not take any risks, knowing I was stopping one lap later than him at the end of the first stint. When that time came, I pushed to the maximum and I managed to come out of my pit stop ahead of him. From then on, with a clear track ahead of me, the car was perfect I was able to control the situation without having to stress the car or the tyres. We are struggling a little bit in qualifying, but in the race we have a very high potential. We have had a very complicated start to the season, but I have certainly not lost faith in the team: we can still do better."
Felipe Massa: "On lap 31, I clipped the kerb at the exit to Turn 6 and hit it quite hard and then I lost the rear end going into the next corner. We have to check to see if the impact with the kerb damaged the car. It's a real shame because we could have brought home a one-two finish. Obviously this has been a very difficult start to the season for me, but there is still a very long way to go. We have great potential, as was seen today and so I am still confident. Naturally I hope to make up for this soon, starting with the next race in Bahrain."
Luca Baldisserri: "Today we showed we had a clear advantage over the opposition, but obviously there a slightly bitter feeling that we did not manage to bring home maximum points today. It's a real shame, because we could have made up for the bad start in Melbourne in fine style, but there's no point in crying over spilt milk. Incidents such as the one that befell Felipe are part of racing. We now have to prepare as well as possible for the next round in Bahrain: our rivals will not be twiddling their thumbs and we have to improve, especially in terms of overall reliability."
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