Massa: I’ve always been under pressure

Felipe Massa’s career has always been characterised by pressure. When he took his first steps in the Italian Formula Renault Championship Felipe knew that he would have to win to secure the budget necessary to complete the season. In Formula 1 the Brazilian driver has always had very strong team-mates, such as world champions Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Jacques Villeneuve, and he’s always had loads of pressure on his back. Countless drivers have been rumoured to be on the verge of taking his place at Ferrari.

“I’ve always felt pressure in my career – indeed I’m the first to put pressure on myself,” says Felipe. “You notice external pressure but it’s much less important. What counts is what you show on the track, inside the cockpit of the car, and how the team makes you feel – and I feel the faith and respect that Ferrari has for me. I like reading that they speak well of me, I certainly don’t deny that, but I think that’s the same for everyone. What counts is that I know, if I have a car that suits my characteristics, that I will be able to battle for the title.

“Montezemolo has spoken about having my brother driving in certain races last year? But he’d already spoken about brothers the year before – that time it was Kimi’s!” joked the Brazilian driver. “I know that last year things didn’t go well but now we have to look to the future and do well this year.”