Felipe Massa says he “knows he can win” the title with Ferrari this season, despite having not won a single race since 2008.
The Brazilian, speaking at Wrooom, insists he feels better about his prospects after a stronger second half in 2012 which saw him finish on the podium in both Japan and Brazil.
“It’s always nice to start the year in Campiglio. Skiing and seeing everyone smiling is a great prelude to the season and I hope it is also a good sign for a championship in which I want to be a contender,” he commented.
“I consider what I did in the second half of last year as training for this season and I want to be 100% competitive!”
The 31-year-old, who finished seventh in the standings last year compared to team-mate Fernando Alonso’s runner-up position, says he must believe in his own ability.
“It was vital for me to change my approach, not so much in terms of understanding the car better or the tyres, but getting a better understanding of myself, believing in my ability, even when so many people said I’d lost it.
“I took to the track trying to find a sense of calm and especially trying to enjoy myself and that helped a lot in regaining my self-confidence. Today, I feel the fire still burns inside me and I know I can win and be competitive at the highest level, as I have done in the past in my career.”
