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Massa more motivated for 2013

Felipe Massa received praise from Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo for his performances towards the end of the season © Press Association

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Felipe Massa says he is more motivated than ever after his performances significantly improved over the course of 2012.

At the start of the year Massa was consistently off the pace and scored just 23 points from the first ten races. However, towards the end of the year he returned to the podium twice and played a vital role in helping team-mate Fernando Alonso take the title race down to the last round of the season.

"This has been a very difficult year for me, especially at the start, when we couldn't find the right way to move forward with our car," Massa said at Ferrari's Christmas celebrations. "The second part was very different: I was more competitive and, thanks to the strength I got from all of you, I managed to get back to the way I was before. Now I am more motivated than ever: the second part of the season was like a training session for next year. In 2013, I really want to come back to this event to celebrate something even better together with all of you!"

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who had put pressure on Massa when his contract was still up in the air for 2013, said Massa had also played a key role in helping Ferrari take second in the constructors' championship from McLaren.

"I don't know where you went in the first part of the year," Montezemolo said to Massa, "but I am very pleased you came back, both because it meant we were able to finish ahead of major teams in the constructors' classification, but also because it is important for next year.

"Fernando had an extraordinary season and I am sorry not to have given him a car that was quick as well as reliable. But I'm sure that if we had come to the final race with just a few more points, including those we lost along the way, what with a collision or two, then with his ability and that of the team, we could just as easily have won: congratulations to Fernando and thanks for what he did for Ferrari!"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.