Worried Massa puts in overtime

Massa is coming under increasing pressure at Ferrari (GETTY IMAGES)

Felipe Massa has abandoned plans to return home to Brazil in a bid to improve results and potentially save his Ferrari career.

He headed to Ferrari's base in Maranello yesterday to assess where it has gone wrong for him in the first two races of the season, in which he has failed to score.

That has sparked speculation the Brazilian, in the final year of his contract, may be replaced sooner rather than later.

But Ferrari team principal, Stefano Domenicali, said: "I well remember four years ago Felipe was more or less in the same situation as today. The papers demanded his replacement but he ended up world champion, even if for just a few seconds."