Massa denies problems with new rules

Felipe Massa has denied he is having problems adapting to the new regulations banning driving aids, and said his retirement from the Malaysian Grand Prix was not his fault.

“No, definitely not,” Massa told reporters when asked if he was struggling with this year`s regulations. “I am comfortable in the car. I just had bad results.

“That can happen and I know what I am doing, and I know what I have to do to be quick, to drive fast and to be consistent.

“So, even if we have a bad result in Malaysia, I started on pole, I did a very nice lap and I know I can be quick. So we just need to put things together.”

Massa retired from the Sepang race after spinning off the track when running in second place and he is yet to score a point this season.

The Ferrari driver denied, however, that the spin was his fault.

“In Australia we had a failure in the car, and in Malaysia I cannot say that I made a mistake, because it was not the case,” he said.

“But I just hit one kerb and it changed the configuration of my car, and that caused the retirements. It was two different problems and we cannot say they were the same thing.”

The Brazilian says he is not dwelling on the past and is focusing on kicking off his title challenge this weekend.

“I am only thinking about this race,” he said. “The important thing is that we have a good car and a good team, and I am looking forward to having a great result. The only way to be happy and to finish everything is to have a good result, so I am looking at having a good result.

“I am not the guy who is looking backwards and starts crying. We have a race this weekend and I am looking forward to getting a good result.”

3.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Massa    ▪ www.autosport.com