MELBOURNE, March 16, 2008 (AFP) - New boys Force India lamented a dismal start to their Formula One life with both of their cars failing to see out the season-opening Australian Grand Prix here on Sunday.

Experienced Giancarlo Fisichella went out in the first lap and German Adrian Sutil´s car had hydraulic pressure problems and bowed out after just eight of the 58 laps.

It was a big let-down after a promising qualifying with 195-GP Fisichella forecasting a mid-field finish in the 22-car Melbourne race.

"I am very disappointed as I lost the race at the first corner because another driver came in like a kamikaze into my car and it was very frustrating," said Fisichella, who won the 2005 Australian GP with Renault.

"It was a good opportunity especially considering a race like this where there was a possibility to score lots of points.

"I am really disappointed, let´s hope for more in Malaysia."

The team´s chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne said it was a disappointing first race for Force India, a repackaged version of the Ferrari-powered former Spyker team and India´s first-ever Formula One team.

"It was a great opportunity missed, but overall it was a positive weekend in terms of car pace and we have to look to get a better result in Malaysia," Gascoyne said.

McLaren´s Lewis Hamilton dominated the Aussie GP beating BMW-Sauber´s Nick Heidfeld and fellow German Nico Rosberg in a Williams to strike first blood in the 18-race F1 campaign.

The F1 roadshow moves on to Malaysia for next weekend´s second race of the season.