Felipe Massa relaxed about wheel-banging battle with Lewis Hamilton

The pair banged wheels through the last corners as they fought for fourth place, Massa having caught the slowing McLaren as Hamilton conserved fuel. After several brushes between them, Hamilton crossed the line in front as Massa went wide over the run-off through Club.

But the Brazilian was relaxed about their dice despite the contact.

"Well there is nothing really to say," he said. "I was close to Lewis going into the last corner. He went to the inside, I went outside, I went to brake after him and I was able to turn a little bit in front of him and he touched me a little bit, but I don't think it was anything really wrong, in my opinion.

"And then in the last corner I was completely running wide and I had to do an alteration and he was able to put the car inside. He had the better grip and he was able to finish, I don't know the difference, but only just in front."

Asked if he had enjoyed the battle, Massa replied: "Well no because I finished behind him but for you guys I think it was nice. But you always want to finish at the front."

Massa added that he had been encouraged to see his team-mate Fernando Alonso win today with a commanding performance that saw him come through from fourth place to dominate the second half of the event.

"I hope we are better in the second part of the season and we are more competitive, especially compared with Red Bull," said Massa. "This race the qualifying was very close and in the race Fernando was better than them. I couldn't be but it was good for the team and I hope we carry on like that and be fighting with [Red Bull] from now until the end."