Massa not prepared to be No 2 at Ferrari

Felipe Massa has said he will walk away from Formula One the day he becomes a number two driver.

Just four days after the team orders controversy that dogged the German Grand Prix, Massa was again in the spotlight on his return to the Hungaroring where last year he almost lost his life.

Via coded messages from race engineer Rob Smedley, Massa was forced to hand victory to Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso at Hockenheim after leading for the majority of the opening 49 laps of the 67-lap race.

Ferrari were found guilty of a breach of the rules that prohibits teams orders and were fined 100,000 US dollars.

Ferrari's decision has effectively ensured Massa will now have to play second fiddle to Alonso for the remainder of the season.

But a defiant Massa said: "The time I say I am a number two driver I will not race any more, and I am not (a number two).

"I will fight for the victory here, whatever the conditions."

Asked what would happen if he found himself in the same situation, with himself in the lead and Alonso second, he replied: "I will win."

Massa claims he has assurances from Ferrari, stating: "I've spoken to everybody inside the team.

"I'm not just here to race, I'm here to win, and that's my point.

"Yes, I am working for the team. We know how important that is. I want the best for the team, but I am professional."

But questioned as to whether the incident had changed his relationship with Ferrari, he revealingly replied; "It makes me even stronger."