Engineer says Massa deserves seat

Massa scored on Sunday his maiden Formula One win with a flawless drive from pole position, overshadowing teammate Michael Schumacher in the race.

The Brazilian is yet to learn his future, with his current contract with Ferrari running out at the end of the year.

Smedley reckons Massa has done enough this year to keep his seat.

The British engineer had previously enjoyed victory by one of his drivers when Giancarlo Fisichella took victory at the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix with Jordan.

"But this one gives a different feeling," Smedley told Gazzetta dello Sport about Massa's win. "This time my driver dominated, by getting pole position and driving a phenomenal race, without making any mistakes.

"I'm happy about this win because it rewards Massa's work. I think it's obvious he deserves to keep on driving for Ferrari because more than once he's been able to keep up with the pace of a champion like Schumacher.

"Ferrari's rules are extremely strict: the driver better placed in the race has the right to pit and refuel first."

Ferrari boss Jean Todt has said before that he feels Massa has been under-rated by a media focused on Schumacher's possible retirement and the expected arrival of Kimi Raikkonen, and he was happy to return to that theme.

"It's good to judge a driver when they are not winning, it's better...And I always had the feeling that Felipe was a very talented driver," he said.

Todt's son Nicolas is Massa's manager and he too was convinced the driver had taken a big step forwards both on and off the track.

"He led the race from the first to last and I think it's really good for his self-confidence," said the Frenchman. "When I read the press, I feel that he is completely under-rated.

"He's 25 and he has shown that he has really grown up a lot lately. When you drive for Ferrari and have Michael alongside you, I think you learn much quicker.

"I think that Felipe did an even greater job, taking into account that there was so much talk and so much gossip about whether he will stay or not...he was not in a comfortable situation."