• Italian Grand Prix

Result important for my future - Massa

Felipe Massa gave a position away to Fernando Alonso on his way to fourth place © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Italian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Felipe Massa

• Teams:
• Ferrari

Felipe Massa said his fourth place at the Italian Grand Prix was an important result for his future at Ferrari.

Massa put in one of his strongest performances of the season, starting third on the grid and running as high as second before conceding a position to team-mate Fernando Alonso and then being passed by Sergio Perez's Sauber. After finishing fifth in Belgium last week, Massa said his new-found form was important as he looks to remain at Ferrari for at least another year.

"I think it was very important to get results from these two races," he said. "It's very important for the future and now is the time to work for next year and that's what I'm going to try to do. Anyway, the result is what is important at the end of the day so I think that's really important for the next races and also for the future."

Asked if his fight with Perez, who was on fresher and softer tyres, felt like a battle for next year's Ferrari seat, Massa said: "No, I think it was a battle for the track as normal. He did a good job and a part of his good race was his degradation on his tyres, it was really amazing. If he had started in a better position it would have been possible for him to win the race today. I think it was just due to the degradation."

And Massa said he had no problem yielding to Alonso on track, even though he missed out on a podium for his 34th race in a row.

"It's important to do the job for the team and important for Fernando. We know my position in the championship and I don't think really it is bad to do that. We are doing that for a good situation which is helping the team."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.