Felipe Massa has assured fans and the media that he is no number two driver despite letting his team-mate, Fernando Alonso, past him during the closing stages of the German GP.
The Brazilian managed to take the lead into the first corner of the first lap and remained there until his race engineer, Rob Smedley informed him that he was slower than the Spaniard – a lap later and the switch took place.
That led to speculation that Massa is a clear second driver within Ferrari, but the 29-year-old insists he would quit F1 before such a scenario became reality.
“The time I say I am number two driver, I will not race any more,” he said in the Hungarian paddock.
Massa now trails championship leader Lewis Hamilton, by over 70 points and his team-mate by 38, however the Italian outfit has ensured him, he can fight for victories.
“For sure I have spoken to everybody inside the team,” Massa said. “As I said I am not here really to race, I am here to win. That is really my point. As long as I am in the condition to win, we need to go to the end, to fight for the victory.
“I am a professional, I work for the team and everybody has to understand my point.”
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