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Ferrari's head of race operations Diego Loverno has admitted that Felipe Massa "struggled" in last weekend's Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

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Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished fifth in the 2012 F1 season opener in Melbourne but team mate Felipe Massa struggled to perform, retiring from the race after 46 laps.

It was not the best of starts for the famous team but Ferrari's head of Race Operations, Diego Loverno believes everyone is working together to make sure a better result is achieved during Sunday's race in Malaysia.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Diego Loverno, Ferrari Head of Race Operations

"I think that the situation is the same also for our two drivers, they know that we are struggling and they are pushing massively with everyone else in the team to have something better, trying to give feedback and suggestions as much as they can. Obviously they are different characters and they are acting in a different way. For sure Felipe (Massa) this weekend struggled more than what he has struggled in testing and we have to react together and they are aware of this."

The teams have been working hard all winter to ensure their cars would be competitive for the start of the season.

With race one completed, Loverno admits the quick turn around between races has restricted any changes being made to the car before the weekend's action.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Diego Loverno, Ferrari Head of Race Operations

"The time is so short that there is no way, it's pointless also to hide. There is no way to have a massive difference in the car. We just have also Malaysia to try to do the best that we can to adapt the car and package to the track layout. (It) Will be again a tough weekend for us on the track but it's what we have at the moment, so we have to try to maximise what we have."

With the season in it's infancy, all the drivers and teams remain unsure of how the races will unfold - Kuala Lumpur is renowned for it's unpredictable weather, which could throw further uncertainty on the outcome of Sunday's race.