Alonso - No 'war' with Massa

Date published : 16 Oct 2009 - 09:49:59

// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Fernando Alonso has insisted that his relationship with new Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa will not deteriorate into a "psychological war". Massa appeared to be re-igniting the controversy surrounding Alonso's victory in last year's Singapore Grand Prix on Wednesday when he reportedly expressed the belief that the Spaniard knew of Renault's plan for team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash. The Brazilian later issued a statement in which he backtracked from his earlier assertion, although Alonso played down the incident when asked about it on Thursday. "There will be no psychological war," he said at Interlagos, venue for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix. "Maybe it was a misunderstanding with Felipe or the media, so it's difficult to know what is true and what was said because later he said a different thing. "It's not very important for me. I'm not too worried. I made it clear to the World Council I had nothing to do with what happened in Singapore last year. Big family"I was not involved in anything, I didn't know anything, so there were no doubts. I didn't pay too much attention. "It will not affect anything, me or the relationship. I actually think we will be great. "At Ferrari the group is more important than the individual, where everyone is part of the team, a big family. "I think it will be a good group and we will be very strong next year." Massa was earlier quoted as saying that Alonso, who was cleared by the FIA's World Motorsport Council of any involvement in the plot, was "part of the problem". He added: "It was the team and Nelson, but Alonso was part of the problem. "He knew. We cannot know it, (but) of course he knew. Absolute certainty." Massa later clarified his remarks via a statement on Ferrari's website, although even then there was still an element of suspicion in his words. "What I've said is the outcome of a hunch I've had and is not based on any concrete evidence," said Massa, who has previously stated he would have been world champion but for the crash. "The FIA World Council announced that there was no indication that Fernando may have been informed of what had happened and I respect this outcome. "What is certain is that this episode will not mar in any way the relationship I'll have with Fernando when we will be team-mates." AdviceMassa is currently recovering from injuries sustained in an accident during qualifying for July's Hungarian Grand Prix and is expected to return to action next season. His new team-mate added that he will not be seeking out Massa for any clear-the-air talks, but will instead ask for advice as to how best integrate himself into the team. "Maybe we will have a chat, but I'm sure it won't be about this matter," Alonso added. "If we do have a chat it will be more about his recovery, that he seems well, about his experience at Ferrari. "He has been there three or four years and I need to learn, to adapt myself a little bit quicker if possible. "So anything I talk to Felipe about these days or in the future will be a huge help for me to know the team. "We are working with only one goal next year, which is to again put Ferrari at the top of Formula One, and I think Felipe and I can do it." Massa is set to wave the chequered flag in Sunday's race, one he has won twice in the past three years.