Massa Happy with First Point of 2004

Brazilian Felipe Massa returned to the point-scoring positions on Sunday after a tough Malaysian Grand Prix for the Sauber driver.

Massa had last finished in the points at the 2002 European Grand Prix, where he finished in sixth place, but the young Brazilian scored again today after completing the Sepang race in eighth place. It was also Sauber's first point of the 2004 season.

"I had a bit of a clutch problem from the start of the race, which made all my pitstops a bit nerve-wracking," admitted Massa. "I also found it very difficult on the first lap out of the pits on new tyres. That's why I had that moment in Turn 13 around lap 42 - I just couldn't hold the steering wheel!

"I went right over the grass and luckily Michael [Schumacher] managed to miss me. It was very difficult to try and catch the drivers in front, but in the end this was a really good result for us. I scored my first point here in 2002, so it's good to come back and do the same two years later.

"This was very important for us, to score a point for Petronas."

Massa's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella did not enjoy such a good day and wound up 11th almost two laps down.

"I had some moments in the first two corners after the start and lost a lot of places, so after that we decided to change our refuelling strategy slightly," said Fisichella. "Then unfortunately the engine stalled in the second stop and again in the third, so I lost even more time. The car wasn't too bad in between all that."