F1: I’m Feeling Strong And Motivated, Says Massa

Formula 1

F1: I’m Feeling Strong And Motivated, Says Massa

Felipe Massa wants to improve drastically on his 2011 season at Ferrari...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted January 12, 2012 Balen (BEL)

Felipe Massa had a rough 2011 season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

An optimistic Felipe Massa insists that he will bounce back this year after struggling through a poor 2011 season.

Last season, Massa never bettered fifth place, while Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso took a win and nine other podium finishes.

“After the last Grand Prix of 2011 in Brazil, I told myself that we had to be more competitive at every level and that’s exactly what we are doing,” said Massa in Italy on Thursday.

“Something also needed to change on my side and now I feel mentally strong and extremely motivated. I am well aware that this is an important year for me, but the same goes for the whole team. I ask only to not have those difficulties in the races which often cropped up last year, preventing me from getting the results I should have done.”

Massa says he’s not bothered by pressure from the media.

“It’s to be expected when the results aren’t there, just as it weighs heavily that I have not won a race for a long time,” the Brazilian said. “With a well-sorted car, this will not happen. The design of the new car is very different to those of the past, and also the fact that we should have softer compound tires should work in favor of my driving style.

“All the same, we will need to have a car that works perfectly in all conditions and on all types of tire. That’s the target the engineers have worked on all these long months spent designing the car.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.