Stefano Domenicali says Ferrari will continue to back Felipe Massa this year and believes the Brazilian will pay the team back with results.
Massa has scored just 23 points this year compared to team-mate Fernando Alonso's 154 and at the German Grand Prix suffered another pointless finish after losing his front wing on the first lap. But despite rumours that Massa will be replaced in 2013, Domenicali insists Ferrari has not lost faith in its driver.
"We saw, for example, in Silverstone that in terms of race pace and qualifying he was much closer to Fernando," the Ferrari team principal said. "We need to believe that Felipe can do the right job for the team and that's why we always said there's no pressure in that respect. We want for him to realise that he is part of us and we will protect him in all conditions. I'm sure that he will give back what the team is giving to him."
On Thursday ahead of the German Grand Prix, Massa said he needed to start finishing higher in the points in order to help Alonso extend his championship lead over his competitors.
"For sure he [Alonso] needs me," Massa said. "In a competitive championship like this it's very important to have both cars scoring points and that's the only thing I'm looking for."
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