It is horrible to see your chances go like that Felipe Massa

Massa, who now trails Lewis Hamilton by 23 points, said: "It's possible but it is going to be very, very difficult.

"I am so disappointed. It is horrible to see your chances go like that."

Brazilian Massa pulled out after 10 laps at Monza with mechanical problems, and Fernando Alonso led home Hamilton for a McLaren one-two.

Massa explained: "There was something wrong with the rear suspension. At first I thought it might be a puncture but after the tyres were changed and it was still undriveable I had to retire."

My neck is not in such a great shape after Saturday's crash in qualifying Kimi Raikkonen

Massa's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen overcame a neck problem to finish the race in third to at least remain in contention in the drivers' championship.

The Finn, who suffered a bad crash in practice on Saturday, is 18 points off Hamilton in the standings with a maximum of 40 points still available, but was more bullish about his title chances.

"We still have a chance," the 27-year-old said. "Of course it's not going to be easy. We lost some points again but you never know what's going to happen in the next races so we keep pushing as long as we have any chance."