Felipe Massa says high rear tyre temperatures was the reason for failing to make it into the final pole position shootout in qualifying for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Massa qualified a lowly 12th whilst teammate Valtteri Bottas was a solid seventh and will start one place higher after Sebastian Vettel’s gearbox penalty is applied.
Massa has never finished on the podium at Silverstone despite being in the sport since 2002.
“I don’t think I could put the lap together, I was struggling with the rear tyres and they were getting too hot. I was really slow on the out lap to prepare the tyres in a good way, but then I was suffering with oversteer and tyre sensitivity and I couldn’t put the lap together. I’m not happy with the qualifying.
“I think what we did during the weekend was helping me to drive the car. I think the rear tyres were so sensitive, that I was struggling to put a lap together. I’m sure maybe the longer runs will be different.
“I really hope the car can work well with race pace rather than a single lap.”
Massa sits ninth in the drivers’ standings, two places behind teammate Bottas.
