• Belgian Grand Prix

Massa wants to build on performance

Felipe Massa made up nine places from his grid position in the race © Sutton Images

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• Report:
• Button cruises to victory after first corner crash
  

• Race:
• Belgian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Felipe Massa

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Felipe Massa wants to build on his strong performance at the Belgian Grand Prix after finishing fifth at Spa.

Having started from 14th place, Massa was only 11th at the end of lap one despite four cars ahead of him being taken out in a first corner crash. Massa explained that he had to avoid the incident which lost him places, and that he felt he could have finished on the podium if he'd benefited more.

"It was a nice race and fifth place is a great result, if you think of where I started," Massa said. "At the start, I managed to pass both Red Bulls, but then I had to move right over to the left side to avoid the tangle of cars that included Fernando and I lost almost all the ground I had made up in the opening metres.

"I was behind a Caterham, so that was a big problem for me because after that the race was very good. I was gaining many positions, fighting with these guys, overtaking cars and I think if I had done a little bit better in the first corner with the accident maybe it would have been possible to finish on the podium today."

Following a strong drive through the field, Massa also acknowledged the importance of his performance in trying secure his future with Ferrari and hopes to build on the result.

"It's obviously important. I push hard, just concentrate on the race and concentrate on the good results, concentrate on Monza now to make everything right. I was very disappointed yesterday and started 14th at a track (Spa) I love and I track I won at so I was always very strong here. So now let's concentrate on Monza to make everything right, start from the right position, hopefully finish with both cars - me and Fernando - in front of those people hopefully on the podium; that would be fantastic.

"I'll never give up, I'll push hard until the end and then at least at the end of the day you can say 'OK, I never give up' and that's the most important thing."

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