Massa blames puncture for loss of win.

Felipe Massa was left to rue a slow puncture for losing a potential win in the Japanese Grand Prix, the Brazilian being forced to pit earlier than intended and giving Fernando Alonso the chance to capitalize and eventually take victory.

Having converted his pole position into an early lead, Massa wasted little time in signaling his intentions to help team-mate Michael Schumacher to the title by allowing him through after just a few laps, with the Brazilian continuing to circulate closely behind his fellow Ferrari.

However, Massa crucially proved to be the first of the leading runners to pit on lap 13, appearing to prove he was on something of a low-fuel strategy in qualifying. It turns out though that Massa was suffering a puncture in his right rear wheel, causing him to gradually slow and prompt Ferrari to bring him in three laps earlier than planned.

Returning to the circuit directly behind Nick Heidfeld's BMW, the delay was all that Alonso needed to grab the initiative and jump up into second place, leaving Schumacher exposed to the Spaniard's attack.

Schumacher's eventual retirement though promoted Massa back up into second, a result that also moves him into third place in the championship again. Nonetheless, he couldn't help wondering what might have been had he not had to pit early or be stuck behind a slower driver.

"What happened to Michael when he was leading is a great shame. I also had a problem in the first stint, with a puncture in my right rear wheel, which had led to a slow but gradual loss of air. As a precaution, the team brought me in for my pit stop three laps earlier than planned.

"I went out on track behind a slower car and that cost me my chances of staying ahead of Alonso and, as things turned out, of winning the race. We can still win the Constructors' title, even if we know it is very difficult. For my home race in Brazil, I will give it my all to achieve that."