Their hopes of making the second qualifying session went up in smoke and Force India will start Sunday's Australian Grand Prix with Giancarlo Fisichella 18th on the grid followed by teammate Adrian Sutil.

Sutil's ninth place finish in Friday's practice sessions raised the hopes of the VJM02 car making it to the Q2 for a better start in the season opener tomorrow but it proved false dawn in the end.

With the field proving even closer than last year where 1.5 seconds covered 10th to 20th, Fisichella and Sutil were among the five drivers who dropped out after the first qualifying session.

"For sure we were hoping after yesterday's performance to be able to make it into Q2 but in the end it was not possible. Things looked better in practice but perhaps the others were not showing all their potential," said a candid Sutil.

The German said the car needed down-force and said his priority would be to take to the chequered flag on Sunday.

"We know we have plenty to work on, our main problem is that we need a lot more downforce. My main goal now will be to make it to the end of the race tomorrow and then let's see where we are. It's even tighter than last year," Sutil said. Fisichella, meanwhile, was not too surprised by the outcome.

"We knew that it would be difficult today, but considering what we have done so far this year, with the limited pre-season testing, being just two tenths slower than the 2008 world champion is a good result," said Fisichella.

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