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Massa welcomes Montezemolo's comments

Felipe Massa crashed out on the first lap in Japan © Press Association

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Felipe Massa says he feels reassured about his position at Ferrari after recent words of support from the team's president Luca di Montezemolo.

Over the Japanese Grand Prix there were suggestions that Massa was not living up to Ferrari's expectations after Montezemolo, in the build-up to the race, said: "I have waited for Felipe with great perseverance in the last four races. I want a strong Massa who will shave points off the rivals."

Massa crashed out of the Japanese Grand Prix on the first lap, leading to more speculation about his relationship with the team, which Ferrari was keen to play it down. After the race Montezemolo released another statement that said: "I'm sure that he will be the surprise of the last three races of the season. After this bad day he will be desperately keen to react and we will do everything to give him the possibility to win."

The Spanish newspaper La Razon interpreted it as an "Italian ultimatum", but Massa insists it is a show of support and fully welcomes it.

"Even though I am going through a particularly difficult time right now with a lack of results in the last couple of races, I know I can count on the support of the team, who have always been behind me one hundred percent, especially in the difficult times," he wrote in his Ferrari blog. "I was very pleased to read what our president Montezemolo said after the Japanese Grand Prix. Knowing he has faith in me is something I truly appreciate: he has an excellent understanding of the sport and he knows that you can sometimes go through tough times. The fact his support is always there is very important."

He said he intended to turn his results around in the final three races of the season.

"My desire to do as well as possible for me and for the team is the same as ever and that has been my approach to the sport ever since I started in Formula One," Massa added. "You have to maintain a positive approach, especially as the team is locked into a very tough fight with two goals in mind, even if the situation in the Constructors' championship has become very difficult. Everyone must put in 110% effort in order to succeed and that is definitely what I'll be doing for the remaining weeks of the season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.