Massa talks teamwork

With seven races left to go this season Renault heads both the drivers' and constructors' standings but Ferrari is closing in. Who will win the drivers' championship is the main topic of discussion but for Felipe Massa the focus is on the constructors'. After an unsteady start to the season, the Brazilian has raised his game considerably and has visited the podium three times so far.

Felipe Massa.

Photo by Ferrari Media Center.

It was never going to be easy being teammate to Michael Schumacher -- and let's just ignore that whole debate because it's pointless and tedious -- but Massa isn't in the race for the drivers' title and knows his job is to help Ferrari fight for team glory. "Of course, we have to always work as a team," he told reporters at Hockenheim. "Because we are in a situation where we are fighting with the same team race after race."

"So, in order to pick up as many points as possible we have to work together. Michael is totally committed to trying to win the championship and I am a hundred percent motivated to try and win the constructors' championship for the team and get ahead of Renault. We are always trying to work together."

The crown may be out of Massa's reach but if he could end the season third behind Renault's Fernando Alonso and Schumacher -- presuming they finish at the top, in whatever order -- it would be his best ever result. "There is a very big points difference and so I cannot realistically win the drivers' title, but if we can win as a team and if I can come third among the drivers, then I really want to try and achieve those targets."

With two third places and a second under his belt so far, naturally the top step of the podium is Massa's other target. "Of course, my goal is always the same -- to win," he said. "And if I could take my first win here it would be fantastic. But at the least, I will be aiming to be on the podium and take as many points as possible away from Renault."

But what of Massa's future? We all know the rumours about Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari and Massa's seat is not guaranteed, but we're not likely to know until perhaps Monza. Unsurprisingly Massa is not about to show any doubts. "I am expecting to have a great future in Formula One," he stated, rather grandly. "But it is too early to talk about that future, so you will have to wait a month or so!"