| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SAKHIR, Bahrain : Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa admitted he was going to look forward to basking in the glory of his victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday until the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
The Latin American claimed his third Formula One victory from pole position, helping to offset the disappointment of his fifth place finish in the Malaysian Grand Prix last weekend where he had received heavy criticism after qualifying on pole.
"It was a perfect afternoon," said Massa who finished 2.5 seconds ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton.
"Now we have a good break to give me plenty of time too think about this nice result.
"The first races I did not get the results I wanted. Something was missing, but today we put everything together.
"I am really pleased for the whole team. We need to push harder because McLaren are very close.
"I made a good start and finished in the front. I am sure the media will talk a different way after last week."
After maintaining his lead position from the start Massa was unable to shake off a determined Hamilton in the early stages proving McLaren Mercedes-Benz had clearly closed the gap on the pace of the Ferrari's
"My car was not well balanced in the first stint and Lewis was quite close. But the second stint was fantastic and it was much easier to drive and I could build a gap," said Massa.
"In the last stint I started looking after the car, just keeping the pace. Massa's victory moves him to within five points of the lead in the drivers championship currently being held by his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen, double world drivers champion Fernando Alonso and rookie Briton Lewis Hamilton all on 22 points.
"The season is looking very exciting," added the Brazilian.
"It is going to be very tight. We have an important break now to work really hard and try and improve the car."
It was another historic day for Britain's Lewis Hamilton as he became the first driver in Formula One history to finish on the podium in his first three races.
"It is sweet to get three successive podiums," said the McLaren rookie.
"I am happy with that and this weekend we have definitely closed the gap to Ferrari.
"To have another second I could not have asked for more. There is only one more step and I will be pushing hard for that in Barcelona."
The much talked about start was perfectly handled by Massa as he beat Hamilton to the first corner with the Briton admitting he did not get the start he hoped for.
"I did not get as good a start as Felipe. I just had to make sure I stayed as close behind him as possible. We were fairly matched," said Hamilton.
"I struggled a bit in the second stint but came on strong in the end. The balance was not very good and I was losing a lot of time to Felipe."
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen was third in the other Ferrari eight seconds further adrift and blamed his failure to overtake Spaniard Alonso in the early stages for not being more competitive.
"I was getting close to Lewis at the start, but had to back off and Alonso got a good run on me. He got the place and being behind Fernando in the first stint cost me."
- AFP /ls
|
