Massa refusing to become distracted
Thursday 7th July 2011
Felipe Massa is refusing to let speculation over his future at Ferrari serve as a distraction ahead of Silverstone.
Although the 30-year-old Brazilian holds a contract with the Italian team until the end of 2012, there have been suggestions that the deal could end early.
Red Bull's Mark Webber and even McLaren's Jenson Button have been connected with a switch to the Scuderia, although Massa, who has raced for Ferrari since 2006, is used to such talk.
"When you drive for a top team like Ferrari, you always have the pressure," Massa said on Thursday.
"It is a team which many people are watching and supporting, so it is normal that you have more pressure - but I think most of the drivers would like to have this kind of pressure, to be racing for Ferrari, so that is a good pressure."
Massa and team-mate Fernando Alonso will be hoping for strong results at the British Grand Prix as Ferrari look to make up ground following a poor start to the season.
They were pacesetters in pre-season testing but lost ground as aerodynamic updates to the F150° Italia failed to have the desired effect.
Ferrari have had to play catch up ever since and although Alonso and Massa currently lie fifth and sixth in the standings, they have upped their pace of late.
Alonso finished second to Sebastian Vettel in Valencia two weeks ago as the Red Bull driver scored his sixth victory in eight races.
Vettel is currently running away with the drivers' championship as a result, although Massa rejected suggestions a successful title defence for the German was a forgone conclusion.
"He has a big difference, but we will not give up. We will fight," he said. "Sebastian had a great championship until now, so we will try our best to be in front of him and the other drivers as well.
"We never give up and are always pushing our car race by race to be in front."
Despite there being plenty of home focus from British Formula One fans this weekend, Massa maintains Ferrari always look forward to their visit.
"Silverstone is a great track, and one of the most famous races," he said.
"We really enjoy to come here. Even if there are some British teams, people really support Ferrari.
"Maybe we will see some showers around, but hopefully we can have a good weekend and be competitive."
However, Massa, who won his home race in 2006 and again two years later, feels that both Button and Lewis Hamilton could seize home advantage.
"It is always good to race at home. You have a lot more pressure, but are also pushed more from the people around," he added.
"Whenever I go to Brazil, it is great. The people are very warm, really expecting you to be fighting, so for me it is always exciting to be racing at home."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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