Kimi Raikkonen described his emasculated plod around Sepang four days ago as like playing for a goalless draw. Everything is relative, however. What Honda's Jenson Button would not give to have at his disposal in Bahrain on Sunday a Ferrari running at half-cock?

Free from the engine concerns that forced them to turn down the rev counter in Malaysia, Raikkonen expects Ferrari to reassert their supremacy in the desert this weekend. Fernando Alonso, who claimed his first victory for McLaren in Malaysia, also expects to be fighting for the win at Sakhir.

"We will get a new, fresh engine for Bahrain," said Raikkonen. "That makes me feel very optimistic. When we have our whole package working 100%, we should be back to the same speed as we had in Melbourne."

Ferrari's power handicap was only part of the explanation for the reversal of fortunes in Malaysia. McLaren began conservatively in Melbourne, where their interpretation of the regulations, particularly regarding the floor of the car and the range of movement permitted, was not as aggressive as Ferrari's. The Australian Grand Prix also surrendered more information about the characteristics of the Bridgestone tyres, new to McLaren this year.

A combination of technical issues, therefore, combined to reduce an advantage held by Ferrari that appeared mammoth around Albert Park. It is unusual for a gap that measured one second a lap for much of the Australian weekend to disappear between races. The fascination in Bahrain lies in determining the status of the Ferrari power slide. If they are back on top when they take to the track tomorrow, Raikkonen will be going all out for the onion bag.

So, too, will team-mate Felipe Massa, who has endured a torrid start. After dominating in the post-Christmas winter testing period, there was a view that Massa might give Raikkonen a bloody nose this season. He was the quicker Ferrari in practice at the opening grands prix. In Malaysia he started from pole. Hegemony lasted all of a few seconds. Thereafter he ran into the force of nature that is Lewis Hamilton.

Massa arrived in Bahrain in defensive mode. The account of his first-corner eclipse and failure to subdue Hamilton sounded more like an excuse than an explanation. "Having lost position to Fernando [Alonso] and to Lewis, I knew that if I did not pass Lewis as soon as possible, my race was effectively over. If people accuse me of making a mistake, I say, yes I did make a mistake, because otherwise I would have been ahead of him. But I am not disappointed that I tried to pass him."

There will be no more room for error in Bahrain.