BUDAPEST: Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said on Friday that he is confident Brazilian driver Felipe Massa will remain with the team in the wake of the “team orders” controversy at the German Grand Prix.

Domenicali told reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix that he also felt Ferrari had been treated unfairly by the media in the storm that ensued after Massa was informed that team-mate Fernando Alonso was driving faster than him in last Sunday’s race.

That message was seen as a coded instruction for Massa to ease off, which he did, allowing Alonso to pass him, take the lead and go on to victory.

Domenicali said he could not envisage Massa allowing his disappointment at not winning to interfere with his relationship with Ferrari, the team and the people.

“No, no, I don’t think so,” he said. “No, I don’t think so because we have always been very happy about Felipe.

“We were helping on the personal side. On the professional side, we are proud of him and we don’t change our view.

“I think that the philosophy of his life is really part of our spirit and we respect that and I think that he respects (that) too.

“At this moment, when you are surrounded by a lot of people that are pushing you – friends, real friends, friends that are not real friends, people that are saying to you something and when you turn your back, they say the opposite – it’s normal that you react with this kind of energy.

“It’s important that this energy has to be not negative. It has to be positive, positive for him, because that’s part of the game, but also positive for the team.”

He added: “No-one more than Ferrari has supported Felipe, every time, all the time.

“As I said, we go back to short memories. A couple of races ago, a lot of people in this room were saying, ‘What’s it all about, what is happening (with Massa)?’ and we always said, ‘No, no, Felipe’s a great driver, he’s a great man.’

“So no-one can say Ferrari have done anything to Felipe.

“We always support him. We feel a lot for him.

“I don’t want to follow this because I don’t think it is correct and I don’t want people to have short memories, because that is wrong, in life and in sport.” — AFP

• Expansion plans for neurosurgery services in state hospitals
• Court rules Chinese Chambers is not owner of RM500mil-land in Sabah
• Seven men acquitted of gang-raping 16-year-old
• Too close for comfort as PKR ceramah turns ugly
• Banks put lid on online scams
• Hectic lives can lead to carelessness, says cyber cop
• Task force: 300 firms guilty of tax fraud
• Malaysia hopes protest won’t hurt ties with Saudi Arabia
• Real-life Dr Dolittle comes to Malaysia
• Hisham pays Nayati and family a visit
• Wan Ifra honours The Star with World Young Reader Prize award
• Win a chance to watch Kara and Bieber live
• Brighter days ahead for bright students on PTPTN loan
• Mukhriz declares himself ready to go for state seat if Barisan wants him to
• Let’s focus on winning first, says Kedah Umno chief

• Affin Holdings Q1 earnings up 56% to RM166m
• UEM Land Q1 earnings up 207% to RM54.17m
• KLCI marginally higher, key Asian markets mostly lower
• IOI Corp plans to relist property business, says ED
• UOB Kay Hian Research: Tenaga may not benefit from lower IPP payments
• Facebook market makers' losses total at least US$100mil
• KLCI cautious in late morning, Asian markets down
• Permaju suspended, plans corporate announcement
• Kenanga Research keeps MBM Resources TP unch at RM3.91
• GLOBAL MARKETS-Shares crawl higher, capped by worries over Europe
• GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks eke out gains, euro falls
• CIMB Research maintains Outperform on Maybank
• Bina Puri to diversify, eyes Indonesian power plant and mining
• Maybank Research maintains unch TP of RM6.80 for CIMB
• Should we pay for hard copy and itemised telephone bills?

• Casey Anthony dad says Caylee died of drug overdose
• US, Australia to add cyber realm to defense treaty
• U.S. warns Pakistan after suspected Haqqani attack

• Furious Taufik bids farewell by blasting team and BWF
• It’s possible to speed up Chong Wei’s recovery, says Ramlan
• Hidayat in a huff before London
• Johnson sets Colonial pace, Dufner one behind
• Malaysians carry huge burden for respective teams
• Sixers force game seven with Celtics to keep season alive
• Williams expects Dragons to breathe fire against Beermen
• Pahang’s Sharanraj bounces back to clinch 5,000m gold
• Westwood wants to win PGA Championship by 10 shots
• Ramdan hopes his struggles will bear fruit in Banting