Massa targets top 10

The young Brazilian worried a number of onlookers with incidents during pre-season testing but has thus far been more consistent in race conditions and scored his first point for Sauber in Malaysia.

"In the winter tests I did a lot of mistakes because I had to push and learn about the car," he admitted. "But on the weekend of the races in Australia and Malaysia I was good and I'm learning. I think for my home race I will just do my best and aim to qualify top 10 or top 12. I think it's possible to finish in the top 10 as well. That's the target."

Massa says that driving at Interlagos in the Brazilian Grand Prix is a great moment for him and rather different from earlier visits to the track.

"I first saw a test here with Senna in the McLaren," he smiled, "then in '97 my manager (Ricardo Tedeschi - who has the local In Citta chain of restaurants) was supplying food to Benetton. I came the whole week to deliver the food and was arriving at the track with bananas and everything. It was a good experience just to see the F1 cars!

"Then, last year, I was here driving the medical car from the Hospital San Luis, parked on one of the corners. If there was an accident I had to get there quick but fortunately everything went okay. It will all be a bit different from a Sauber!"