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Massa feared for Ferrari future

Felipe Massa: "In the first half of the year, I was worried about renewing my contract" © Getty Images

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Felipe Massa was worried Ferrari would not renew his contract earlier this year and believes the added stress had a negative effect on his performance.

Massa scored just 23 points in the first half of the season and did not sign an extension of his contract until October as Ferrari approached other drivers about a 2013 race seat. Massa's performances improved significantly ahead of his contract announcement and he finished the year on 122 points with two podiums to his name.

"In the first half of the year, I was worried about renewing my contract," he said. "I did not think that Ferrari would really wait right to the end of the summer before deciding on the driver line-up for next year."

Massa explained that when he relaxed about the situation his performances improved.

"It's true that ever since I've been at Maranello, there have always been rumours about me: already in my first year there was a list of drivers who were supposed to take my place and it was the same this year, with a lot of names and plenty of speculation.

"At the start, I paid too much attention to these things, but then, in August, I told myself I should only think about racing and having fun and so I began to really drive, to have the right feeling with the car and to drive as quickly as I know how. Now I feel very strong and the results were there to see in the last nine races: so I am optimistic for the future, mine and Ferrari's."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.