Mind games matter to Massa

Felipe Massa believes mental strength will prove critical to the outcome of tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix.

A red mist descended on title rival Lewis Hamilton last Sunday when the five red lights disappeared to signal the start of the Japanese Grand Prix, and then Kimi Raikkonen’s red Ferrari passed the Briton on the run down to a chaotic first corner.

Over the last two days of the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton has so far made his critics eat their words with a near faultless display of driving.

But nerves will surely play their part come the start of the race at the Shanghai International Circuit, and it will be the man who can mentally handle the pressure who emerges on top.

Hamilton may start from pole, but he has Raikkonen alongside him on the front row, as last week when the two tangled at Fuji.

Massa, five points behind Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, is directly behind his title rival in third, with Fernando Alonso fourth in his Renault, a man who has vowed to help the Brazilian.

McLaren ace Hamilton will likely be able to feel the trio breathing down his neck, and that is when he will mentally need to be at his sharpest.

“I think we are both under pressure,” assessed Massa.

“We will both have a difficult time thinking about how the race is going to be and what we need to do to succeed.

“That is why I feel mental preparation is very important.”

From his perspective Massa knows third is not good enough, not if he wants to take the title fight to his home country of Brazil in a fortnight’s time.

If Hamilton finishes six points clear of Massa tomorrow then the 23-year-old becomes Formula One’s youngest world champion.

“We just have to work to recover because I had a bad qualifying in Fuji, another here,” assessed Massa.

“But I’m confident I can fight tomorrow, and I will do my utmost to get a result.

“There have been many times this season we’ve had a competitive car in the race after it has not been so competitive in qualifying.

“It looks like the McLaren guys have an easier car to put a lap together, and they will be very competitive.

“Let’s hope we are more competitive than they are!”

It is difficult to determine whether Raikkonen will come to Massa’s aid should it be required, and the outgoing world champion refused to give anything away on that score.

“I know what the team expects,” stated Raikkonen.

“We want to get the best possible result for the team, and we will see what we can do tomorrow.”

The Finn, though, has not now won for 12 races, and you would not bet against him making a bid to end that drought rather than helping Massa’s cause.

“I will definitely try to win the race,” insisted Raikkonen.

“I’m very happy with the car, we’ve made improvements, and we will see what we can do because the McLaren has been very fast here.

“We’re not first, but as a team we’re starting from good places so hopefully we can challenge.”