Massa encouraged by F60's form

The Brazilian driver, last year's championship runner-up, was the man in charge of taking the new car to the track for the first time at Fiorano, and then worked at Mugello for two days, although the weather did not help the team much.

Despite a technical problem on the final day of work, Massa admitted he was encouraged by the car's performance, although he is aware that it's still early days.

"The car threw a tantrum practically one lap from the end, but it gets thumbs-up without a doubt," Massa told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The choice of Mugello has demonstrated to be the right one and we've done around 1,700 kms in four days, practically without problems, while most of the times in the past after 250 kms something would come up.

"Reliability-wise, also considering the final hiccup, it deserves an eight. Performance-wise, instead, we'll have to wait for a direct confrontation with our rivals, but we're on the right path, we're already setting good laptimes.

"The slick tyres are working even though with these temperatures they couldn't be at their best."

Speaking about the problem suffered yesterday, Massa said: "It was a hydraulic problem, because the differential broke. It's certainly better that than some other important component, like for example the KERS or the engine."

Massa also admitted the car is more enjoyable to drive now thanks to the new regulations.

"Yes, in my opinion," he added. "We left a car full of aerodynamic load and we got to some kind of kart, more difficult to drive, with mistakes more likely to happen, and so with the need of better ability on the driver's part.

"Those stories about difficulties with so many buttons on the steering wheel make me laugh a bit: they've always been there, we are no idiots, there are just two more now."