Massa insists he will be allowed to win

Felipe Massa is adamant he will be allowed to win this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix should be again he running ahead of team-mate Fernando Alonso, as the Brazilian insists he is not Ferrari's number two driver.Stewards at last week's German Grand Prix ruled that Ferrari had broken Formula 1's team order rules by giving coded messages to Massa which resulted in the Brazilian backing off and letting his Spanish stable-mate through into the lead to win the race.Ferrari's actions earned it a $100,000 fine, and likely further disciplinary action with the incident having been referred to the FIA's World Council but the team has remained unrepentant, insisting it had been Massa himself who made the call.With the incident having given the impression that Ferrari is backing Alonso as its best bet to win the drivers' championship, Massa was asked repeatedly in Thursday's press conference in Hungary how the events of Hockenheim had affected his status in the team going forward.The Brazilian, however, was not keen to dwell on the past and insisted that he was going into the weekend with the sole aim of winning the race. It's not really a point to go to last weekend. We need to think about the present and I think we spoke already a lot [about] what's happened in the last race, Massa told the press conference. Yes, I will fight for the victory here, whatever conditions. Whatever.And pressed on the issue of what would happen if he was again running ahead of Alonso at the head of the field on Sunday, Massa simply replied: I will win."The Ferrari order switch ensured Massa fell seven points further adrift of Alonso in the drivers' points standings, the Brazilian now 72 behind overall leader Lewis Hamilton while Alonso is just 34.Despite a supporting role over the remainder of the season looming, Massa refused to accept the suggestion that he was now the team's number two and claims he would retire if that was the case.The time I say I am a number two driver, I will not race anymore, he insisted.So I am not.Massa, who nevertheless added that the events of Hockenheim had made him even stronger, pointed out that he had always worked in the teams' interests since joining Ferrari in 2006, referring to examples when he benefited, and lost out, in past calls in the closing stages of championship challenges.I am working for the team. We know how important it is to work for the team, he explained.I think you remember very well what's happened in the past. In 2007 [when he eased off to let Kimi Raikkonen win the race and title at the season-finale in Brazil]; you remember very well what happened in 2008 [when Raikkonen let him finish third in China].So I don't think really I have to go through all of the points. If the team really has the chance to win the championship, I want the best for the team.

Date published : 29 Jul 2010 - 16:46:50




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