Formula One news

Massa happy with McLaren punishment

Felipe Massa says he is happy with McLaren's punishment of being thrown out of this year's constructros' championship. The Brazilian driver, who now lies fourth in the drivers' battle says the constructors' title win is no less significant just because the team ahead of Ferrari got thrown out.

"Our first and second place finish in Spa was really a great result for the team and then a week later, the news that McLaren has not appealed against the World Council decision means that once again Ferrari has won the Constructors' title," Massa said. "It is a good thing for our team. My personal feeling is that the others probably realised it would not be a good idea to appeal. Usually, in any sport, if you do something wrong you have to pay the penalty and I think the decision that they did do something wrong is reinforced as being correct exactly by the fact they did not appeal. Ask me if it is a fair punishment, if it is enough, then that is difficult to say, but at least they are paying for their mistakes."

"If we have won the championship because another team has not followed the rules, then we can say that at least we did follow those rules and we won," Massa added. "I feel the whole team deserves this for the job they have done so far this year. As part of the Scuderia, I am pleased with this result, even if it would have been better to win in a different way, but the final outcome is another Constructors' title. The team, at the track and in the factory, has done a fantastic job, fighting hard all through the year and so they deserve this success."

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