Brazilian Massa came third behind McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, although at one stage it looked as though Finn Raikkonen's tactics would get him onto the podium.

"There was big pressure," Massa admitted. "Kimi was on different tyres to me and he had better grip at the end of the race.

"The degradation was not incredible compared to the hard, which was just sliding around - it was difficult to keep the rear on the ground.

"Kimi was very much able to close the gap, and was very quick, so it was very difficult for me to keep him behind."

Massa added that a quick start was integral to usurping his partner, who slipped from fourth to sixth at the first corner.

"I had a good start, he didn't, and I managed to make a good gap there. When he got close, it was after the last pit-stop.

"I managed to keep the car on the track, not making mistakes, and just kept him behind."

Asked if there were any specific instructions from the team to hold position as the Finn followed close behind towards the end of the race, Massa said the only command was "to race".

Massa is now seven points ahead of Raikkonen in the drivers' championship as he sits third, but 19 in arrears of leader Hamilton with Alonso in between