Ferrari's Massa quashes Toyota rumours

FUJI, Japan, Sep 27 (Reuters) Brazilian Felipe Massa has rejected Formula One rumours linking him to a move from Ferrari to Toyota.

An apparent sighting of the driver and his manager in the Toyota motorhome at the last Belgian Grand Prix, triggered media speculation Massa might be forced out of Ferrari to make way for double world champion Fernando Alonso.

Alonso, winner of the last two titles with Renault, has fallen out with McLaren bosses in a season marked by a spying scandal and the emergence of sensational rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton.

''I would be very interested to know who saw my manager in Toyota,'' Massa told reporters at the Japanese Grand Prix today.

''Everybody says people saw him there but he was not there. I have never been to the Toyota motorhome either.

''When you have a contract that finishes (at the end of) next year, why should I go and speak with other teams?,'' he continued.

''I don't want to. I am really happy in Ferrari and I would like to finish my career in Ferrari.'' Massa has won three races this year and was seen as a favourite for the title, tipped even by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, before the season started. Big-budget Toyota have yet to win a race.

OFF TRACK Massa's championship bid has been thrown off track by bad luck and poor reliability, as well as the occasional error, and more ill fortune in Sunday's race at the revamped Fuji circuit could end of his hopes for another year.

Massa is fourth overall, 20 points adrift of McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton and seven behind Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen with three races remaining.

Ferrari have already won the constructors' championship, thanks to McLaren being stripped of all their points because of a spying controversy, and are now putting all their efforts into the drivers' battle.

Massa recognised that he may be asked to support Raikkonen's challenge at some point soon.

''If I don't have a chance, for sure I help the team,'' said the Brazilian.

''The team is very fair with me, we had a very good and fair championship in terms of how we work inside the team and I don't have any problem to help the team if I have no chance.'' Reuters BJR GC1630