Massa Delighted Despite No Podium

Brazilian Felipe Massa was delighted after finishing in fourth place at today's Belgian Grand Prix, where the Sauber driver scored his best result in Formula One to date.

Massa was one of several drivers who were involved in an incident at the start of the race, and the Brazilian was forced to come into the pits for repairs after BAR's Takuma Sato damaged the rear wing of his Sauber at the La Source corner.

The Sauber driver, however, took advantage of the incident-filled race and fought his way back into a strong fourth place.

"After two laps I was feeling so disappointed," admitted Massa. "I locked up at La Source at the start and didn't see Kimi on the outside until we touched, then Sato really hit the back of my car. I pitted for a new rear wing, but stopped again a lap later because the steering was vibrating really badly.

"After that the car was still shaking but I was able to attack. You might say I was lucky in the circumstances, but I believe that today I was recompensed for all the bad luck I have had in the last five races. The team did a fantastic job for me.

"Perhaps I could have had my first podium here today, but I prefer to see fourth as my best ever result. What made it more special was to have my family here this weekend, and I want to dedicate this result to my maternal grandfather Fernando Coelho dos Santos, who died yesterday."

Massa's teammate Giancarlo Fisichella was also involved in the start incident, but the Italian too managed to recovered and finished in fifth position.

"At the start somebody ran into the back of my car at La Source, and I lost some downforce because of damage to the rear wing and diffuser as a result," said Fisichella. "I was able to fight for points, but it was difficult and on lap 20 I momentarily went off the road in Turn 12 and lost a little more downforce by damaging a front wing endplate.

"It was also tough on the restarts keeping sufficient temperature in the tyres, so I really had my hands full with Klien. But to see our cars finish fourth and fifth was great. We deserved this."