Massa still positive - 26th January 19:18pm GMT

Felipe Massa described Ferrari's new Formula One car as clearly a step up, despite dumping it into the crash barriers on the final day of testing at Vallelunga on Friday.

A Ferrari spokesman said Massa went off into the gravel after an early installation lap and, because the run-off area at the southern Italian track was so short, an impact was unavoidable. The front suspension was damaged and it took until the afternoon to repair, when a further technical problem sidelined the Brazilian after just a few laps.

Massa said first impressions of the F2007 were good, nonetheless.

"For me we are already a step ahead compared to last year's car, especially in terms of stability," ANSA news agency quoted him as saying.

Massa went on to say that the incident in the morning was not as bad as it looked because the wall was close to the track and the gravel trap did nothing.