Felipe Massa has all but given up hope of winning the title this season, a feat which would require him to outscore his team-mate by some 13 points at each of the remaining ten races.
The Brazilian is now fully focused on helping out the current championship leader, Fernando Alonso, and his team to win the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships.
“Me having a clean race is what counts [in Hungary] and that will help Fernando a lot, as well as helping myself and the team,” said the Brazilian on Thursday.
“I am completely outside the fight for the title, but Fernando has a good margin out in front, even if there are a lot of races to go. I will do the best I can to be at the front end, to try to win but also to help Fernando the best I can for the championship.”
Massa is aware and compliant that if he were to find himself in the lead with Alonso second, Ferrari would expect him to relinquish the chance of winning.
“If the situation ever arose that I was leading a race and Fernando was behind me, I would know what to do, because I am a professional driver. And that would be the situation in any team,” he confirmed.
Finally he discussed his future, and whilst negotiations with Ferrari remain silent, the 31-year-old is adamant that a seat at a small team wouldn’t be considered as an option.
“I want to stay in Formula 1, but it has to be in a situation where I am in Formula 1 to race, not just to participate,” concluded Felipe.
“If for whatever reason, I don’t have the chance to stay in Ferrari, then I will try and find a direction where I can race. But otherwise, small teams? I’m not interested.”
