Massa: “Don’t stop our efforts”

He has yet to win a single race. And yet Felipe Massa, after three Grands Prix, has taken the lead in the drivers' world championship. The little Brazilian was satisfied with his race, which was obviously difficult due to a 21st place on the starting grid.

“Given our starting position, seventh place is probably the best result we could hope for, declares the 2008 world vice-champion. We tried to delay changing tires as long as possible, especially because it had rained a lot the previous afternoons. And if that had happened, we would have been able to take advantage of the opportunity. Unfortunately, for once, the rain didn't come.

Continuing his climb after his pit stop, the driver Ferrari will finish the race in seventh position after taking the advantage over the reigning world champion for the 44th title.

“The duel with Button was very complicated: on the straights he could always take a few steps ahead, but when he made a small mistake at the last corner, I was able to get close enough to overtake him. The race proves that we need to fight at every round of the championship. We still have a lot of work to accomplish, so we must stay focused and not stop our efforts.”

Second in Bahrain, third in Melbourne, Felipe Massa will try, on April 18 in Shanghai, to win his first GP of the season, in order to slightly increase his lead in the championship over Fernando Alonso et Sebastian Vettel, which follow it at two small points.