Friday 28 March at 09:08 : A Ferrari spokesman has finally confirmed that Felipe Massa's Sepang spin was caused fundamentally by driver error.

The Italian team has been coy as it investigated the incident, which sparked intense speculation that the Brazilian's position beyond 2008 might be in doubt.

Massa's Malaysian retirement followed the earlier Australian grand prix, where the 26-year-old spun into the wall on the first lap before crashing with David Coulthard.

Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni said of Massa's Sepang incident last Sunday: "He went slightly on the kerb exiting turn six and therefore the car stalled (aerodynamically).

"As a consequence, he lost the rear in turn seven and spun," he added.

To the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, meanwhile, Colajanni also had to deny media reports that Fernando Alonso may already have signed some sort of agreement with Ferrari to join in 2009.

"There is no such contract between Fernando Alonso and Ferrari," the Italian insisted.

"We would like to remind you once again that we already have two drivers committed for the 2009 season," he added, referring to Massa and his current teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Denials aside, however, voices from the F1 paddock continue to insist that Massa's recent errors have cast a shadow over his future.

"He has certainly not improved his position," Honda test driver Alex Wurz remarked.