14/06/2007
NEWS STORY
Speaking ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Felipe Massa is still clearly smarting from the disqualification that cost him a points finish at Montreal last weekend.
The Brazilian, along with Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella, was black-flagged after leaving the pitlane whilst it was still closed, a mistake that saw Juan Pablo Montoya equally penalised a couple of years back.
Although Massa takes responsibility for the mistake, he still feels the decision was unfair.
"I believe rules are the rules," he said, "and so, as the driver, it was my fault because I did not look at the light and it was also a mistake from the team because they didn't tell me to look at the light. "It won't happen again," he promised, "because we have added this situation to our checklist.
"But I also feel the rules are not so clear," he admitted. "They say you have to wait until the last car has passed the line, but as I came out of the pits I was the last car and the light was red, so it is possible that the guy controlling the red light wasn't quick enough, which would also be unfair on me.
"Two cars fighting for a good position were disqualified."