Massa seeks answers to woeful form

Felipe Massa has abandoned plans to return home to his family in a bid to improve results and potentially save his Ferrari career.

Instead of returning home to Brazil as initially planned, Massa yesterday headed to Ferrari’s base in Maranello to assess where it has all gone wrong for him in the first two races of the season.

In contrast to championship-leading team-mate Fernando Alonso, who took the chequered flag in Malaysia on Sunday, Massa has so far failed to score at the opening two grands prix.

That has sparked speculation the Brazilian, in the final year of his contract, could be replaced sooner rather than later.

But Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has offered some hope to his driver by comparing his current plight with his start to the 2008 season, when Massa ultimately came within seconds of being crowned world champion.

“I well remember four years ago, Felipe was more or less in the same situation as today,” said Domenicali.

“The papers were demanding his immediate replacement, but he managed to react in the best way possible, thanks also to the support from his team.

“We remember how that particular season ended, with the Brazilian actually world champion, even if just for a few seconds, while we took our 16th constructors’ title.”