Felipe Massa refuses to rule out podium position at Australian Grand Prix – Formula 1 news
Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has refused to rule out the probable podium finish at the first Grand Prix of the forthcoming season going to be held at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia on March 18, 2012.
After the struggling pre-season, the Scarlet team had been passing out mixed statements regarding their position in the upcoming season. Where on one hand, the technical director of the team, Pat Fry had said that they would not be able to fight for the
podium in the first race at the end of the last pre-season test held at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, on the other hand Fernando Alonso had said that they would not be able to do well in the first few races.
Moreover, the team principal, Stefano Domenicali had also stated that they were doubtful about having a tussle for the top-three finishes at the first GP this weekend.
However, regardless of the statements from the team, Massa was confident that they would be able to fight for the podium at the Australian GP. Nevertheless, he said that there was still a lot of work which had to done for the season ahead.
In addition, he said that this season had proved out to be the most difficult one to extract the exact information about where they stand amongst the contenders after the pre-season testing programme being carried out.
“I believe it's never been as difficult as this year to have a precise picture of the situation based on the winter tests alone: we will begin to learn the truth only in Saturday afternoon's qualifying when we are all in the same conditions,” said Massa.
Besides, he reaffirmed his prior assertion and said that they could fight for the podium finish at the first race. Nevertheless, he said that he agreed with Fry too.
“I already said this last week in Sao Paulo: in my head is the thought that we can fight for the podium but that doesn't mean that I don't agree with what Pat Fry said in Barcelona,” said Massa.
He also said that they could manage to take out the best from their new car F2012.
“I remain convinced that this car has great potential: we must just find the way to get everything from it,” said Massa.
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