Massa laughs at rumours of Alonso discord

Felipe Massa has clarified that his relationship with his new teammate Fernando Alonso is fully intact.

Last week, Alonso played down an erupting controversy between his Brazilian cohort and the Spanish press, following the publication of comments made by Massa.

Massa, 28, denies that his pairing with Alonso could be fiery this year, given their public row at the Nurburgring some years ago, and the Spaniard’s spectacular falling out with McLaren in 2007.

Asked about his reportedly troubled relationship with Alonso, Massa said: “When I read things like that I just laugh, because I know it is invented.

“There is a great atmosphere in the team, and there could not be trouble between us.  Ferrari would not allow it,” he said in an interview with La Nueva Espana.

Massa said he was “positively surprised” by Alonso when the 2005 and 2006 world champion arrived at Ferrari.

“He very smart and quiet, with his feet on the ground, he knows how to work together and learn fast,” the Brazilian explained.

In the same interview, Massa also clarified a paddock myth that his first visit to the paddock was as a food delivery truck driver in 2000, two years prior to his Sauber debut.

“More or less,” he smiled when asked whether the story is right.  “I was already a (racing) driver, but my pass was only for Friday.

“My agent had a restaurant and was doing catering for the Benetton team, so I drove an old van to the (Interlagos) circuit and stayed after that.”

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