Defiant Massa: I can still win

FELIPE MASSA has blasted back at his critics by declaring: I can still win races — and the world championship. The Brazilian also insisted he could be quicker than team-mate Fernando Alonso given the right car. Ferrari chiefs have already piled pressure on Massa by saying this season will be vital to his career following two years of under-achievement. And many Formula One fans doubt if he can ever return to the winning ways that saw him challenge Lewis Hamilton for the world title in 2008. But speaking at a Ferrari media event at Madonna di Campiglio in Italy, Massa said he is confident he can deliver. He added: "Of course it is going to be an extremely important year. I see this for myself but it is true for everyone here. "I surely want to do more than what I did last year and in 2010. "I want to be competitive. I want a season which hopefully will not see the odds against me, as happened throughout the last season when very often I started the race and at the end I had much less points than I deserved. "I have plenty of motivation, plenty of drive. I am positive about myself. "Sure I am always under pressure. Driving for a team such as Ferrari you are always going to be under pressure. "But I want to be as competitive as possible, to win as many races as possible and fight for the championship as I have done many times in the past." Asked if he could take the fight to Alonso, Ferrari's perceived team leader, Massa replied: "Yes, absolutely. I am convinced I can do it." And Massa feels confident Ferrari's 2012 car will suit him better than last year's model. He added: "I am sure I can fight against Fernando not just to have the same time, but to make a better time than him, to be even faster than him." Massa insisted that despite the constant doubts that have been expressed about him, he had never thought of quitting Ferrari. He said: "No, first I want to get back to winning races. This is what is most important for me. "If you are happy in the team, then the team is happy with you. I do not see why you would change."