Sauber Praises Massa's Drive

"I am very happy with this result," said Sauber after Massa finished in a season-best fourth place in Montreal.

"Felipe was finally rewarded after two unlucky races. He drove a fantastic, controlled race, particularly in the closing laps."

Massa endured a trouble-free race but admitted he had problems with his tyres when the Safety Car was deployed following Jenson Button's retirement.

"I just couldn't generate enough heat in the rear tyres after the safety car went in, and I had Webber right behind me all the way," said Massa. "They were the toughest 15 laps of my life!

"In the last corner I could see he was going to try something but I was able to discourage that and hold him off. This was a fantastic day for the team, and for me. I didn't make a mistake the whole race."

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who had earned rare praise from team boss Sauber after he qualified eighth, had another afternoon to forget.

The 1997 World Champion, racing before his home crowd at a circuit named after his father, pitted for a new front wing on the second lap and rejoined the race in last place. He eventually finished ninth.

"At the start the grip was poorer than expected and the car just didn't want to get off the line so I lost ground immediately, and then in the second corner Sato came across me and damaged the front wing so I had to pit straight away for a replacement nose section," explained Villeneuve.

"That was effectively it for me because I just lost too much time. That was a great pity because the car was fast today. At the end I could attack Klien, but he was exiting the corners well and I could never quite get close enough to challenge him."