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Massa surprised at Coulthard's outburst
FELIPE Massa admitted he was taken aback by David Coulthard's reaction to the pair's coming together at last Sunday's Australian Grand Prix which ended the Red Bull driver's race.
Massa tried to pass the Scot up the inside of turn one as they battled for tenth place at Albert Park, only for the Brazilian's Ferrari to make contact with his rival and bring about a premature end to his afternoon on lap 26.
Coulthard subsequently threatened Massa with violence in the most colourful of terms if he did not apologise for the incident.
But the 26-year-old, whose own participation came to a halt four laps later when his Ferrari retired with engine failure, was as unrepentant sat next to Coulthard in a press conference in Sepang as he was four days ago in Melbourne.
Massa said: "I was a bit surprised to be honest because we are there to race.
"I tried to pass him, I was inside him and he closed the door on me and we crashed.
"Two cars cannot be in the same place in a corner and usually the guy whos outside has more chance of going off, so that's it.
"I didn't do anything wrong. When I do something wrong, I will apologise but this time I don't need to.
"That's racing. When you are quicker than the car in front, you try to overtake. I did a normal manoeuvre, dived inside, and in my opinion he didn't see me. But that's my opinion."
Coulthard, however, hit back, insisting he was not to blame and reiterated if the same situation occurs at this Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, he will not give any ground.
"Felipe is not racing me for the World Championship so he can do the same manoeuvre for the next 17 Grands Prix and it will be the same result because, quite clearly, my eyes point forward, not backwards," said the Scot.
"He's got a much clearer view as to how much space there is and I didnt take a different line to any other lap.
"I was fully prepared for him to pass me at turn three because the Ferrari is a much quicker car.
"He made his choice and if he makes the same choice again, he'll get the same result.
"I can't make my car invisible but I'm not fighting for the World Championship, he is, so next time he should wait."
Massa also moved to dismiss recent speculation he will be replaced at Ferrari next season by Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel, having been forced to endure similar rumours regarding Fernando Alonso last term.
"I have a three-year contract, so I am very comfortable in the team," he emphasised.
"Everybody is happy within the team, everybody, but the last race was not a very fantastic weekend.
"You know that one result is not going to change everything in the team, everybody is happy with the drivers and I have a three-year contract."
Vettel was also quick to play down the link.
"You can ask Felipe, I think he was quite clear on what he said," he added.
2:11pm Thursday 20th March 2008
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