The two world championship contenders came face to face at Interlagos, and both McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa insisted they are calm and optimistic ahead of Sunday’s title-deciding Brazilian battle
“It’s quite a bit different,” former said, referring to the situation he faced in Brazil last year when Kimi Raikkonen came from behind to beat him by a point. “That is simply because last year we came here and I’d had one bad race, so it was all a bit hectic. The pressure of being at the last race was on me and perhaps it got to me. But this year I feel it’s just another race. We’ve come from a great race in China and I know here we will be just as strong, if not a little bit stronger.”
“There is no conflict of interest. It is quite simple, we are here to win, but the fact we don’t have to - it is not do or die - is a weight off our shoulders.”
“The crowd does help, especially in my favour,” Massa said. “I am a local driver, I am Brazilian, so it does help and I am sure people will be rooting against Hamilton. I have high hopes. I would rather arrive here seven points ahead not behind, but I am optimistic. I hope to have a good race, I want to win the championship but the rest does not rest on me. The optimism is always 100 percent.”
He also dismissed criticism of his driving in the wet, notably at Silverstone where he spun his Ferrari five times, as Hamilton stormed to a majestic triumph. The forecast for the weekend is showers each day.
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