Of Felipe and Lewis (great reading from a F1 journalist)

Great article I receive a minute ago:

"A quiet interesting debate took place between Massa and Hamilton at a press conference.

Massa: "Monaco? It's a lottery!"
Hamilton: "No, it's not! I always won there, two years ago on F3 and last year on GP2".

True. But, if I'm not wrong, both years he was the poleman. And in Monaco if the poleman doesn't make a big screw up and the car holds, the poleman wins. It doesn't matter if the guy behind him has a better and faster car and is a better driver. He can't pass.
The lottery is the qualifying part for which you need clear laps, because a slower car will ruin everything. On the other hand Lewis made two poles and won twice in Monaco. How many persons do you know that won the lottery twice in two years?

So, who is right? Felipe? Lewis? Probably both.

Next question: who's more talented, Felipe or Lewis? Who said say both? Maybe me… Seriously, I think that this is an interesting question. Look at their route to F1.

From São Paulo to Maranello, from karting to Formula Chevrolet, from Italian and European Formula Renault to F3000, Felipe had to fight all the way and work like crazy to reach the top. God knows it wasn't easy, but he held like a rock and in the end the work and the talent won. Felipe is a Latin (Italian grandparents) therefore impulsive (hence the mistakes on his first season at Sauber), but every cell of his body, all his willpower tend toward one goal: become F1 WDC. He, the kid of Italian descent, coming "back home", to reach and capture the dream: driving for Ferrari, winning with Ferrari! The "force" is with him and it shows.

Facing him, Lewis. He too reached the dream, but coming from a quiet different path. Somebody spotted his pure talent and from there on he was guided, protected, cocooned. Of course he also worked very hard, but to gain his F1 seat he "only" had to fight on the track which, of course, is not exactly a sinecure. So, while he was being "programmed" to win, he never had to worry, everything was taken care of and he could concentrate on his driving. The "road to glory" was paved. Don't get me wrong, I like and admire the kid very much, he is intelligent, charismatic, a very nice guy gifted with an unbelievable talent.

So, here we have two kids who, through totally different paths earned the bucket seat of the two top F1 of the flock. Same talent, same dream, same goal.

One, Felipe, driven by and driving with absolute passion toward his objective. The other, Lewis, pursuing a predertmined route and goal without the slightest doubt on the issue.

What can make the difference?

In my humble opinion, the teams. And I'm not only talking about technicalities.

Felipe has become (or was born to be) an integral part of Ferrari, he has an absolute faith in his team and has literally "melted" with it. He is humble, listen and he is an incredible fast learner. Ferrari's fans have adopted him, not with the "cold" awe given to MS, but with love. These factors will keep him fighting and going (and winning), no matter what.

Today when you say "Massa" you think "Ferrari", you think red, you think enthusiasm.

Do you think "McLaren" when you say "Hamilton"? No. Not because of Hamilton, but because of McLaren. Hamilton, super talented, mature, intelligent, nice guy is the dream of every F1 boss. But are McLaren and Ron Dennis the dream of every F1 driver? Allow me to doubt it.

Even F1 drivers are human and, in the long run, the human environment makes the difference. Do you think Michael could have had the same career at McLaren, even if they had had the best car?

Maybe, and it breaks my heart to say it, maybe, on pure talent, Lewis has a slight edge on Felipe. But Felipe offset it with the passion, the heart and the enthusiasm that are his trademark. And Felipe has Ferrari. If Lewis dreams of becoming the next MS there is only one way to go, and the way is Red. Unfortunately for him, on this way there is a guy named Felipe …"

 

What a load of absolute rubbish!!

If I remember rightly , Prost and Senna made a big name for themselves in McLaren, and MS would have done so also.

Even if Lewis went to Ferrari he will not do a MS, ie. pull the team out of their unwinning ways, because he does not have to. Thus the best he can do is a Senna or Prost ... no bad thing!

Man some journos are full of BS!
Pete

 

At this point right now, Massa edges Lewis on skill because of his experience. By the end of this season, Lewis will have the experience but Massa will have the overall lead still because of his heart.
Also, you definitely need luck to win Monaco, you need a good qualifying time, you need somewhat not to crash into you, you can't make any mistakes, your team has to perform in the pits, etc. On occasion even Michael Schumacher had trouble winning Monaco.

 

A comparison is laughable. One is a mid fielder the other the next super talent.

Check back in a few years when Lewis has some WDCs to his name while Massa will be driving a Super Aguri or a GT car.

 

Hmmm, I actually think we might be getting a little too excited about Hamilton. He's only done one race where he did anything special, the other races were simply McLarens doing what they do best, playing the top 2 team battle.

Remember guys there are only really 4 cars racing at the moment. Yeah BMW is not far away but not really there. Alonso has always been faster, as expected ... so would it really have mattered who was in the other McLaren?

But yes I do think he might have that extra edge, BUT his second season is the important one (unless he bags the WDC this year).

Remember Button, etc.
Pete

 

Totally concur. I think he's trying to create a rivalry between Massa and Hamilton. They are rivals already, and (while I like Felipe), I don't think "Massa" when someone says "Ferrari". The marque is bigger than most drivers, save Schumacher who definitely became synonomous with the team.

 

What do you mean?

 

Button was the new sensation in his first season with Williams, but could not back it up the next year and then faded to Honda.

Since then he has been nearly there but not quite and I'm not sure if its the car or he's just not got it.
Pete

 

Being totally realistic, though, Hamilton has really been the faster McLaren driver on race day. Anyone watching the races knows that Alonso has benefitted from subtle "team orders". I think the fact that he has the measure of the defending 2X world champ in the same car is why people are really honing in on Hamilton. True, he hasn't really accomplished anything to date (except lead the WDC in his first year), but the writing is clearly on the wall.

 

Gotcha, Button seems to be overrated because of this, despite his victory last year. It has been the car to a point also, last year Honda was close to that top tier of Ferrari and Renault, now they've faded back into Toro Rosso range.

 

I agree, Alonso hasn't done much to prove that he is worthy to be a 2x WDC, while Hamilton is running circles around him, and could be doing better if the team orders didnt exist.

 

I agree, Massa is the new super talent, Lewis is a mid fielder in a superior car. Finally we agree on something.

 

Hmmmm, not really.

At Melbourne Alonso pulled away. Yes the pitstop jumped him in front (probably team orders allowed the pass) but it was obvious then that Alonso was held up. LH actually nearly lost it trying to match Alonso. LH only got in front by a bit of luck at the first corner ... which he admitted (which I give him credit for).

The last race Alonso tried to go around Massa, Massa correctly pushed him off and then Alonso's car was never quite right (I believe).

So I yes he is giving Alonso a push, but I don't think he has Alonso measure ... this is the British press having orgasims
Pete

 

, I dont understand why people underestimate Massa so much. He's won 3 out of the last 5 races you know and probably should be leading the WDC if he didnt try to fly his car over a curb in Australia.

 

True that I was wrong on Button and maybe I was wrong on Nico as well, although I haven't given up on him. OTOH I was right on MS when I watched his debut at Spa.

Honestly I think Hamilton is it. And I'm even a bit of a late cheer leader, other folks like Carol have announced him while I had no clue who he was. But the guy has already written history and done more in his first four races than Nico, Button and MS.

Not true that Alonso has always been faster: So far both have topped the other 2 times, a break even. And Alonso is no slouch, but a 2 times champ.

You mention the McLaren argument. Ok, well let's think back on some of the #2 drivers. Did they even matter? The one that had the best record IIRC was JPM and his record was spotty at best. DC was a far cry from Hakkinen and let's not even talk about all the other stand ins.

 

We are forgetting that he's in a new team with a car designed with little of his input.

Both Alonso and Hamilton are good drivers, and Alonso is a worthy WDC. Remember he beat (most of this sites) God to get his 2 ... that has to be worth something. And yes Ferrari stuffed up one year but he made the best of what he was given ... just like Massa is now, before you jump on that band wagon.

Pete

 

We'll see in two weeks.

 

Couldn't agree more. Which is why Hamilton looks even better by beating Alonso in the last two races.

 

I actually wasn't giving you personally a hard time, more the British press .

Look I really hope he has it, my wife thinks he does ... and she usually is right, even apparently about Kimi!!
Pete

 

Alonso drives for the WDC from the very first race ...

... Remember how fncken fast he was at Suzuka after the championship was decided, it was frightening!!!
Pete

 

This is nothing new. All the media in Europe have been saying the same thing. Irrespective of some other comments here, I would agree with this reporter's assessment. He has more credibility than anyone on FChat. I am still trying to understand the psychology of those not willing to admit that Massa is going to earn the WDC this year. It is as if it is not possible to improve at one's skill. Thank God the world is not like that, otherwise we would have no advancement in technology, atheletes would still be running a 5 minute mile, and the wheel would still be square.

 

That is true indeed.

I think the fact that we're even considering Hamilton for the title speaks volumes about this guy.

 

Yes.

Actually I hope he doesn't bag it ... because it will be too easy. I'd rather he got even better and we returned to Prost/Senna/Mansell driver quality days after the boredom of only one WDC on the grid, MS years ... until Alonso got a decent car ofcourse.

Pete

 

I was only pointing out the BS of this comment:

Which IMO kills credibility right there ...
Pete

 

There isn't anything NEW about Massa. He's near retirement.