Q&A: Felipe Massa.

Felipe Massa made an eye-catching debut in the 2002 F1 season, where he mixed crashes with flashes of brilliance and demonstrated to many that he's a future F1 star.

However, Peter Sauber decided to drop the youngster, whose four points put him 12th in the Drivers' championship, from his 2003 line-up and sign up Sauber old boy Heinz-Harald Frenzten instead.

Here, in demand - but currently unemployed - Massa answers questions ranging from his plans for the 2003 season, the rumours of a Ferrari test deal and his recollections of a year under the Formula One spotlight.
Q: How would you sum up your first year in F1?

Felipe Massa: I think it was a good training year for me. I achieved a great deal - four world championship points - and it was a fantastic experience. Naturally, I made some mistakes, but that is all part of learning. I expect to improve a lot more with experience.

Q: How was your relationship with team-mate Nick Heidfeld?

Felipe Massa: Very good. I always got on really well with him right from the first time we had dinner - there was never any problem between us. He was able to help me throughout the year thanks to his large amount of F1 experience.
Q: Did you and Heidfeld share information during practice and before the race?

Felipe Massa: Yes, we shared plenty of information. Sometimes he would also give me advise about the tracks I hadn't driven on before. I would always listen to him.
Q: How would you describe your first experience of F1 - the attention, the tracks, the fame?

Felipe Massa: I found it quite easy to adjust to. Okay the pressure and attention increased as the year went on, but I never had a problem with it - I'd always stop and give an autograph to anyone.

That's because before I was in Formula One I was already a supporter, a fan, so dealing with all the attention was never a problem for me.
Q: How are the negotiations for 2003 going?

Felipe Massa: The negotiations are going well, I now understand the 'business' side a lot more. I had a great year in 2002, and that will help me considerably in finding a drive for next year.

I caught the attention of a lot of people and I'm talking to lots of teams about next year. I'm very confident about being on the grid in Australia in 2003.
Q: If you don't get an F1 deal for next year, will you consider racing in another Formula?

Felipe Massa: No, my main focus is F1. If I don't get a race deal then I expect to be a test driver for a top team.

Q: Can you comment on the rumours that you'll replace countryman Luciano Burti as Ferrari test driver?

Felipe Massa: Rumours always exist. I've lived with rumours for the whole of this year so I don't take much notice of them.

If one day I did become a Ferrari driver then I'd be very happy, but at the moment it's all just rumours.