Felipe Massa admits that the "tricky time" he is currently experiencing "cannot go on" if he wants to retain his Ferrari seat.

14066 - Massa knows 'tricky time cannot go on'

Massa's form has been disappointing for a sustained period, with him failing to finish higher than fifth in 2011 and yet to score a point this season. Fernando Alonso continues to currently outperform him, and Massa said that he would be looking to match his team-mate's efforts this weekend in China.

"I really hope I can have a normal Grand Prix without problems, right from Friday: that is fundamental to being able to finally get a good result," Massa wrote on the Ferrari website. "I know it won't be easy, also because I don't think we can expect any major new elements, at least in the short term. We will have to try and squeeze every last drop out of what we have, as Fernando has managed to do in both Australia and Malaysia."

In an attempt to put an end to his current problems, Massa said he had been spending a lot of time at Ferrari's headquarters and that he knew he needed to produce results soon.

"I was at Maranello last week too, working on the simulator to be as well prepared as possible for the next two races, studying every minute detail relating to what did not work properly in Melbourne and Sepang, to get it right and be ready for China and Bahrain. It's a tricky time for me and it cannot go on and I really don't want it to that's for sure. I know there is plenty of criticism of me from the outside, but I'm used to that, as it's certainly not the first time it has happened. I feel the team has faith in me and that's what matters. I am well aware, having been through it many times in the past, that it takes very little for a situation to swing from negative to positive."