Renault endure frustrating day back at the office

MELBOURNE, Mar 16 (Reuters) A fuel pressure problem made it a demoralising first day back at the office for champions Renault today.

Giancarlo Fisichella and rookie Heikki Kovalainen both spun off in the dry conditions in the day's second free practice at Albert Park, and were forced to leave the day's plaudits to the pace-setting Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

''Our first Friday under the new rules was a little more traumatic than we had expected,'' director of engineering Pat Symonds told reporters.

Italian Fisichella was 12th fastest in the morning wet before a late spin in session two cost him the chance of improving on his fourth place, behind the Ferraris and McLaren rookie Lewis Hamilton.

It proved equally frustrating for Kovalainen who spun in the morning before finishing eighth fastest, and he completed only ten laps in session two in a lowly 18th.

The French team hold pride of place at the head of the Formula One paddock of team tents because of their second championship win last year.

But champion driver Fernando Alonso is gone, and the hordes of media and hangers-on were conspicuous by their absence from their section of the paddock after a disappointing day.

But both drivers are confident they can turn the situation round.

''It was a bit of a mixed day for us,'' said Fisichella, who now holds team leader status after Alonso's defection to McLaren.

''The set-up was not fantastic this morning, but we made good progress, and it was much more consistent during the afternoon. we still need to fine tune the set-up, but the handling is OK.'' Kovalainen admitted he had to improve after making his bow as a Formula One driver.

''It wasn't a perfect first day for me,'' the 25-year-old Finn said.

The team's head of track operations conceded the day could not have gone much worse, but having a bad Friday was preferable to Sunday.

''It was a far from ideal start to the new season. The fuel problem we suffered has a number of possible causes and they are under investigation at the moment,'' Denis Chevrier said.

''If we are to encounter difficulties, this is the best point of the weekend to do so, but we need to make sure they are not reproduced during more critical moments.'' REUTERS SAM SSC1348