Massa: We needed to prove we are there in the fight

Felipe Massa and Williams starred on the first day of the final Formula 1 preseason test at Circuit de Catalunya, ending the day comfortably quicker than their rivals, signaling their intent on the eve of the championship opener in Melbourne.

“The car behaved well and when we needed to do a lap time the lap time was good,” Massa told reporters at the end of the first day in Barcelona.

“I think we needed to prove that we are there in the fight, we don’t know how much with Mercedes, but to the others I think we are there.”

Massa completed over 100 laps in the FW37 in which the team showed their hand as the Brazilian powered round in a best time of 1:23.500, which was 0.776 of a second up on the next best and 1.381 up on the next best Mercedes time.

“The consistency is something we have been working a lot on to improve, I am pretty happy, but it is still early. It is too early to be sure and when everyone is on the same fuel and the same tyres at the same time is when we will be sure where we are.”

“On the set up we have been trying the tyres and changing some things on the car and I think it was positive. It was a good day for us and the lap time was good, but we are still not sure where we are in comparison to Mercedes – I am sure they have a good car like they showed throughout 2014 – but I think we are there.”

“However, things change very quickly in this world and when we get to the first race maybe we are not where we expected. But until now we have been doing a good job and are preparing the car in the best way we can,” added Massa who, at the season opener in Melbourne, will be competing in his 13th full Formula 1 season.