Drivers confident of Ferrari turbo fix

Ferrari's drivers have said that the team have fixed a technical problem that ruined their weekend in Malaysia.

The Italian team looked strongest overall at Sepang, but Sebastian Vettel was left last in qualifying with a turbo problem that seemed to repeat itself on Kimi Raikkonen's failed car on the grid.

Reports said that the problem was a carbon tube, with the power units all returned to Maranello between Malaysia and Japan for a fix.

"I think we have a good understanding of what happened," German Vettel said, insisting that he still has a chance of beating Lewis Hamilton to the championship.

"It has only been a couple of days but some parts went back and I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be an issue here."

Raikkonen agreed: "We fixed the problem, but no-one can guarantee that it won't happen again."

Also at Maranello, Ferrari repaired superficial damage to Vettel's gearbox, following his bizarre post-race crash at Sepang with Lance Stroll.

Vettel admitted that he is relieved he will not take a penalty.

"We will only find out after we put the gearbox on the car on Saturday, but judging from what I heard, everything should be fine," he said.

However, a slightly more panicked reaction to Sepang had reportedly been made by president Sergio Marchionne, who hinted that organisational changes would occur.

"I heard about it," Vettel said. "Or I read it in the press. I'm not sure if his words were taken out of context.

"I know what is going on inside the team. There is no panic - no emotional reaction to what happened. As far as I know, no big changes are planned."

Vettel is 34 points adrift of Hamilton heading into Sunday's race.