Williams driver Felipe Massa says the team could have finished fourth at the Spanish Grand Prix, admitting the lost opportunity was “painful”.
The Brazilian racer started between the two Force India drivers in ninth place and made up ground on the run down to the first corner.
However, while avoiding the clashing Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen returning to the track at Turn 2, he collided with Fernando Alonso’s McLaren and picked up a puncture.
He dropped to the back of the field and from there, could only recover to 13th place. Massa felt fourth was possible at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and rued the ‘big’ lost opportunity.
“I’m so disappointed,” he said. “I had a fantastic start, passing Perez and Alonso on the straight, and then I got to Turn 1 and saw the incident ahead.
“I then got to Turn 2 and Alonso was suddenly on the outside of the corner, we touched and I picked up a puncture, which ruined my race.
“We had a big opportunity to finish fourth, which I think I could have done because we had good pace. It’s really painful because we lost so many points as a team.”
