Massa racing to win

Ferrari driver insists he would rather retire than be considered Alonso's number two

Last updated: 29th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Massa racing to win

Massa: Racing to win

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Felipe Massa insists he will race for victory at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, despite moving over to let Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso win in Germany on Sunday.

The Brazilian driver, who almost lost his life in a qualifying accident in Budapest last year, also denied that he was a 'number two' driver and said he would rather retire than consider himself as such.

Ferrari were fined $100,000 (£65,000) after the Hockenheim race for breaching F1 rules prohibiting team orders. Although Massa had led the majority of the German Grand Prix, Alonso passed him on lap 49 after Massa received a coded message from race engineer Rob Smedley.

Massa said: "The time I say I am a number two driver I will not race any more, and I am not (a number two). I will fight for the victory here, whatever the conditions."

Asked what would happen if he found himself in the same situation, with himself in the lead and Alonso second, he replied: "I will win."

Massa claims he has assurances from Ferrari, stating: "I've spoken to everybody inside the team. I'm not just here to race, I'm here to win, and that's my point.

"Yes, I am working for the team. We know how important that is. I want the best for the team, but I am professional."

Questioned as to whether the incident had altered his relationship with Ferrari, Massa replied: "It makes me even stronger."

Stonewalling

Meanwhile, Alonso played a straight bat to every question that came his way with regard to the incident on Thursday - his 29th birthday.

The Spaniard claimed there was no number one or two driver within Ferrari and offered no opinion on whether the team orders regulation should be quashed or whether he was worried the FIA World Motor Sport Council will further punish the Scuderia.

Alonso also stonewalled when asked if he would ever give up position to Massa should the situation dictate.

"Every race is different, different circumstances, possibilities and we will decide for the best," said Alonso.

"We race for Ferrari and we know what we have to do."

Furthermore, he pleaded ignorance when it was pointed out that the majority of F1 fans around the world had expressed their unhappiness at what they saw.

"It is the past. I've nothing to say right now. That's your opinion what you think about the fans," was Alonso's reply to his questioner.

"Some of them are happy with some races, not only in Germany, but other races this year, and some of them they don't care.

"I arrived today in Hungary and the airport was full, the hotel was full of people cheering for us, and that's what I've seen so far."