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Perfection needed to beat Alonso - Massa

Felipe Massa: "You're always under pressure because you need to be perfect every day" © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Fernando Alonso
• |
• Felipe Massa

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Felipe Massa says he has to do a perfect job if he is to beat Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso this year.

Massa is in much better form than he was 12 months ago and at the first two grands prix of the season out-qualified his team-mate. In the races he has yet to finish ahead of Alonso but says working alongside the double world champion means he has to be at the top of his game.

"I've had a strong team-mate for most of my career," he said. "Many people say it's not good to have but I think it's positive. It makes you do the best you can because if you don't do the perfect job you know you are going to be behind. In terms of experience you learn a lot working with a good, strong team-mate.

"I think a lot of people around the world talk about him [Alonso] as the best driver so I have a lot to do and a very important job and I think that's good. You're always under pressure because you need to be perfect every day. I like it, I think it's nice and we always need to grow and get better and that's what I try to do every day."

Massa said he is more comfortable with this year's Ferrari and that he is able to push harder as a result.

"Since last year we have learned a lot about how to work with the tyres and the car and the direction to improve the car and the tyres. This year I'm very comfortable inside the car and when you are comfortable you drive automatically so you can do a better job with the car. I think this was a job we have been doing since last year and I think our work has all been in the right direction."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.