Massa: Ferrari still back me

Felipe Massa is adamant Ferrari still have faith in him and he will finally emerge from his current slump.

Speculation is rife in Formula One that Ferrari are poised to axe Massa following a woeful start to the season in which he has collected just two points.

In stark contrast, team-mate Fernando Alonso is joint leader of the championship - alongside Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel - with 61 points, notably winning in Malaysia and finishing second in Spain on Sunday.

Ferrari appeared to pile the pressure on Massa earlier this week by calling for an immediate reversal of results.

A statement on their website read: "Everyone, he more than anyone, is expecting a change of gear starting right away with the Monaco Grand Prix."

Following a visit to the team's factory in Maranello today, the Brazilian insists he retains the support of the team.

Asked whether he felt the team has faith in him, Massa replied: "Absolutely, yes, I feel the whole team stands by me.

"Obviously they are not happy with the results and neither am I. We all want to get out of this and return to normal.

"It's possible, and for sure it's what I want and I know that with the team's help we will manage it."

Massa has conceded the current car "is not an easy one to drive", and that more often than not he finds himself fighting it.

Explaining the gaps between himself and Alonso, Massa gives credit where it is due as he said: "At the moment Fernando's driving is amazing. He is on super form, maybe even perfect."

Massa, though, insists his lack of form does not date back to his accident in Hungary nearly three years ago when he came close to losing his life and which ruled him out for the remainder of that season.

Asked as to any doubts in his mind since then, Massa added: "I have asked myself that 45,000 times. Don't think I haven't and why wouldn't I?

"It's not as though I only stuck to asking myself. I went looking for the answer, asking a whole host of questions and undergoing as many medical examinations.

"All the doctors I consulted are prepared to swear hand on heart there are absolutely no traces of the impact.

"As for myself, I don't feel in any way different to the way I was before that weekend.

"For example, if it was true I no longer had the same will to win as before or the same courage, how can one explain the fact that, at the race start, I am probably still one of the best drivers, and I am not the sort to hold back when it comes to overtaking?"