Still plenty to come from Ferrari, declares Massa

FELIPE MASSA believes it is still too early to say how the title fight will pan out as the Ferrari driver climbed to the top of the drivers’ championship following the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Brazilian has yet to win a race this season but two successive appearances on the podium plus a well-earned seventh place in Sepang after starting from 21st has moved him on to 39 points after three races, two ahead of team-mate Fernando Alonso and Sunday’s race winner, Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.

Ferrari also lead the constructors’ championship, but Massa feels there is still plenty of room for improvement if they are to stay ahead of their rivals.

“All things considered, we did a good job in these first three races, as proven by the fact we lead both championships,” he said.

“However, there are still 16 races to go and we know there is room for improvement in terms of car performance and in making it totally reliable.”

After quickly making his way through the field on Sunday, Massa found himself battling with McLaren’s Jenson Button before eventually getting the better of the reigning world champion to move into seventh.

Massa’s form so far this season is all the more impressive considering he missed the final eight races of the 2009 campaign as he recovered from a fractured skull he suffered in a crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

And the 28-year-old believes he will need to win many more battles like the one he had with Button this season if he is to be in with a chance of claiming a maiden world championship.

“The duel with Button was very complicated,” he added.

“Down the straights, he could always pull away, but when he made a mistake at the final corner, I was able to get close enough to overtake under braking for the first one.

“The (Malaysian Grand Prix) proves the need to fight on every lap of the championship. We have a lot of work to do, so we must keep focused and not lessen our efforts.”