Massa Says DC Didn't Attack Him

By FIA
May 7 2005

Felipe, your team-mate, Jacques Villeneuve has been saying that it's much easier now for him to set up the car because they're giving you a lot more freedom to do so. Does that apply to you as well? Did you feel slightly constrained before, because you had to use their set-up?

Felipe Massa: No. I think things are going better now because the car is better. The car was definitely slower than we expected at the beginning of the (season), the first three races. At Imola, the car was very competitive, so when you have a very competitive car, I think, it's much easier to work with the team and find a better set-up as well. We were quite competitive at Imola, but I think the relationship was similar, Imola and at the other races as well, especially for me.

What was the incident with David Coulthard at Imola, how did you see that?

FM: Well, for me it was a race incident. When I overtook him, I was a bit disappointed, not because of the move he made there, but I was a bit disappointed because many times, or maybe a couple of times I tried to overtake him going down to Rivazza on the right hand side. We were both at 300kph and he just pushed me into the kerb and we almost crashed at 300 kph. That was why I was disappointed and that was why I was angry when I overtook him. For sure the finger was not a good thing to do, but we are all in the competition, we are all with some emotion and sometimes things can happen. For sure, I have to apologise to him for these things but I think that's my point of view.

Have you spoken to him since Imola?

FM: Yeah, I've spoken to him but I was surprised when I saw him saying that he almost hit me. I think he was just kind of joking, because both of us were smiling, so I was a bit surprised. One thing I have to say is that I'm really open, I don't have a problem with any drivers, I think DC is a very nice guy. Everything that happens on the track stays on the track. That day I was a bit angry and the day after everything was fine for me. I don't have any problem with him. For me, he's a very nice guy.

Questions from the floor:

(Bob McKenzie - Daily Express): As drivers do you feel sorry for Jenson and Takuma?

FM: I think the driver is also part of the team. If there is something wrong with the team, the driver is a part of it and, for sure, the driver has less influence, but he is also a part of the team. So… He is not responsible, but the circumstances are the same for everybody.