F1: Massa Finally Ends Podium Drought In Japan

F1: Massa Finally Ends Podium Drought In Japan

Ferrari driver has yet to renew his contract...

Felipe Massa achieved his first podium since Korea 2010 with a strong run to second in Japan.

Massa jumped up from 10th to fourth at the chaotic start and then jumped both Kamui Kobayashi and Jenson Button by pitting later while they were struck behind slower cars.

The Brazilian has improved his chances of hanging onto his drive in 2013.

?First of all I think my start was very good,? said Massa. ?I was able to overtake Lewis and then I get to corner one, I saw that Fernando (Alonso) and Kimi (Raikkonen) went a little bit outside, not outside of the track but very wide after corner one and then I pull inside both, so I was able to overtake both, and then after I saw Mark [Webber] spinning around.

?Then I saw a space and I was able to go on the throttle and take this space, and even take the KERS, as it was another two cars going out of the corner a little bit slower. I was able to overtake these two cars by using the KERS and going before on the throttle. I think the start was a little bit complicated in corner one but I think we did a perfect job with all these things happening.

?After that, I was behind Jenson and Kamui, and Jenson was not so quick, so anyway, it was very important. It?s very difficult to overtake in this track, so as soon as they stopped I preferred to stay out just to see. And then I improve half a second straight away and a little bit more in the next lap, and I think they were a little bit in traffic, so I managed to pass both and then the pace was very good on the hard as well.

?Actually, the pace was very good since the whole weekend ? unfortunately I couldn?t do a very good qualifying yesterday but I think I was very happy with the car all weekend and very nice to be on the podium again after a little bit of time. Hopefully this is just the beginning of many podiums now in front.?

Massa said it was too early to suggest that Vettel and Red Bull will now overhaul Fernando Alonso in the championship.

?I think we need to wait and see track to track. We need to keep pushing very hard, we need to work very hard in the factory too to bring the right pieces for the car as well and try. Nothing is finished for Fernando. He did many, many good races until now. What happened today was not nice for him but these things happen in the championship. It's important that we push hard and concentrate on the next race. He's still leading the championship and that's important.?

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.

Source: http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-felipe-massa-finally-ends-podium-drought-in-japan/

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