Massa: I’ve come here for the sport

As a two time winner at this circuit, Scuderia Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was an obvious candidate for today’s FIA press conference at the Sakhir circuit. “I’ve always had a great time here and this is a very nice track to drive,” said the Brazilian. However, as we have said before, the past counts for little in a fast moving sport like Formula 1 and it’s this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix that Felipe is concentrating on.

“I am expecting to have a good race here, hopefully the best of the season so far,” he said. “In Shanghai, we definitely made progress, even if the final result for myself, Fernando and the team was not satisfactory. However, it was what I would say is a normal race in that qualifying was normal, our race pace was not bad and it was definitely a very different race compared to the first two of the season. That is why I am optimistic and hope to have a nice race on Sunday, scoring a good number of points and for that to continue in the other races from now on.”

Asked if the higher temperatures here would suit the F2012, the Ferrari man admitted it was too soon to tell, given the cars have not yet turned a wheel on track. “It would be nice to think so, but we still need to make our car much more competitive and we have to consider that the car we have here is not very different to the way it was in Shanghai last week.”

The drivers on the panel were all asked if the much-publicised situation in Bahrain had affected their preparation. Felipe’s answer was very succinct: “I have prepared for this race in the same way as for any other. I’ve come here for the sport.”