( CNN ) -- Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has defended the Italian constructor 's decision to retain the services of Brazilian driver Felipe Massa for the 2013 season . Massa 's future was the subject of much speculation after he failed to score a point in the first three races of 2012 and went on to collect just 25 points prior to the sport 's annual midseason break at the end of July . But Massa , who has been with Ferrari since 2006 , recovered in the second half of the campaign to score 98 points and record two podium finishes , ending the year seventh in the drivers ' championship . Domenicali is convinced Massa has turned the corner , showing the form he displayed before fracturing his skull when a spring struck his helmet at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix . `` I think the toughest part of Felipe 's career is now behind him , '' Domenicali told Ferrari 's official website , when asked about the 31-year-old . `` After last summer his approach turned about and , as a result , his performance on track changed and he managed to show just how talented he is . `` I 'm sure his problem was not linked to his contractual situation . Personally , there was a lot of pressure on me regarding possible changes , but in the interests of the team , I preferred to wait and today , I 'm convinced that keeping Felipe in the Ferrari family was the right decision . '' Massa signed a new one-year deal with the most successful team in F1 history in October , although he admits he did consider turning his back on the sport when he was struggling for pace . `` I thought about so many things , '' Massa , who lost out on the 2008 world championship on the final corner of the final race , told BBC Sport . `` I thought maybe I was finished . I thought about not staying in Ferrari . I did not know what would happen . So many things were inside my brain . `` Many people said I was just using fuel at the beginning of the year and then after they want me to stay in Ferrari because it was the best option . It is important to work to get the good result . If you have that nothing else is important . '' Massa and teammate Fernando Alonso , who lost out on the 2012 drivers ' title to Red Bull 's Sebastian Vettel on the final day of the season , will be hoping to make a strong start to the 2013 campaign when the season begins in Australia in March .
Stefano Rossi says Ferrari ` ` right '' to keep Felipe Massa as a driver . Massa struggled in the first half of last season , but picked up 98 points from September . The Brazilian signed a three - year contract extension with Ferrari in October . The 2013 Formula One season began in Australia in March .