Felipe Massa**Spoilers**

+1/2

That was exhilarating to watch and I praised Massa then for his performance and for not wrecking the car. However, after watching that video a few times shortly after, I did notice a few things that worried me...

Thank goodness it happened on a forgiving track because Massa went off 3 times.

Massa pushed Kubica off track twice.

Durring that exchange, Kubica was in a much inferior car yet Kubica stayed right up massa the entire time.

 

I like this idea

 

Well both Kubica and Massa enjoyed that duel, IIRC positive comments about it appeared from both of them. No hard feelings at all. Also - please read my post in light of the post that I quoted.

Were it a different track I think both would have behaved differently.

 

"Ridiculously predictable" is getting epidemic around here.

I'm disappointed with this performance. That kind of mistake should be few and far between. Of course, compared to Shubot, both these boys look sloppy.

Massa had a poor start last year, too. We'll see if he can bounce back again. But I'm hoping Kimi won't have the slump he had last year. Kimi has more experience with the team, now.

But it's odd how both Ferrari drivers were saying that the loss of TC was no big deal. Posing for the press, or was something missing from off-season testing?

But, despite my initial reaction, I'll wait for a wet race to declare Phil unable to cope without TC. He seems to start seasons a bit too tightly wound. So I think the jury may still be out on the TC or nerves question. (Neither is good. Both are resolvable.)


At this point, though, it'll be just as interesting to see whether Lewis can respond to the challenge Heikki is laying down.

And this is the second time the top four cars were four different marques.

So the "ridiculously predictable" seems to be limited to Fchat's new P&R section -- right here.

Odd to hear people implying that Massa is "reckless" while calling for the team to pick up Alonso -- particularly in light of the move Fred put on DC this week.

I can't help but feel that people who only watch to shore up their prejudices are missing some good racing.

 

Another reason why there are officals who hold the power.

 

Well if folk keep shouting of the odd's it's bound to happen.

Some folk must like eating it ,what is you say over there Crow?!!

 

I would like to see that, too, but Marco has never lived up to the potential he showed as a rookie. And he's in a crap series. With gurlz!!

Jack

 

It didnt appear that way, with DC at the Aussie GP..one driver didn't move.

 

$175/ounce, cash in advance.











P.S. I stick by my earlier comments despite the criticism.

 

LOL

 

massa is a great #2 driver if he'd just fully embrace that role with Kimi (w/ schumacher it was easier for him, since well, he's racing with michael schumacher) the team would do very well. I know it sounds stupid but I'd rather be #2 at ferrari than #1 at any other team (except mclaren).

 

Hmm.. maybe I wonder though how that situation would have looked at Monaco (-> by "different track" I meant one with much less space).

 

Massa should die trying to reach his full potential or move to .ch

 

It was a dangerous but fair battle + F1 really needs less micro management.
Those are the memorable moments and ultimately what it's all about.

 

Just had a chance to sign on briefly. I watched the race last night, saw Phil cut over and block Raikko, then saw Kimi turn a blistering lap to pass Phil during pit interval 1. Saw Phil push hard to catch up to Kimi's pace, then loop it about 5 laps into the fight...

I wanted like hell to come on FChat witha "Told you so" but figured I'd hear about abroken suspension this morning. None. So.. I am filled with disappointment that Massa feels his biggest rival is his own teammate.


Call up Badoer, have him and Massa switch places.

 

I'll do it for you for only $169/ounce, cash in advance.

To those who say Ferrari can't win WCC after only two races I say....remember last year. Many on this board said SF couldn't get the WCC nor the WDC and they got both.

Will they have to work hard to get out of their hole they dug for themselves? yes.

Can they do it? Yes.

Will they do it? Only if all of you clap you hands and say "I believe"

I believe. FORZA FERRARI

may the horse be with you.

BTW: it's great to have Ron back. optimism is sadly lacking today. hang in there, Ron. We love you!

 

Marco is a clone out of the Andretti race machine, I'll sorry to say it but Michael was a better driver than he will ever be. And I never like Michael

 

They only got the WCC because of McLaren's exclusion.

 

That is true...and Alonso would have been the 2007 WDC but for the two unwarranted grid penalties he received...

 

As I recall someone did the calculations and F would have gotten it anyway.

 

Thanks Phil. You can't accuse me of caving in to the so-called popular opinion to avoid criticism of my views, or in a couple of cases, criticism of me personally. I have been around motor sports long enough to know that snap judgements, in this case just after two races, is not what is the best interest in any situation for the season stability of a sports team. I won't repeat my comments from my earlier post, but I stick by every one of them.

I am not in bad company with my opinion about Massa, Steve Machette tonight on SpeedTV stated that he felt Massa did a very good job despite the spin. He matched his teammate every lap.

This season is now I think 18 races, not the typical 16. As you say Phil, there is plenty of time for any team to prevail. I just can not understand the blasting Massa gets when you consider the mistakes that other drivers, including Raikkonen, have made in their careers and have gone on to win WDC's. Is this the fate of every #2 driver at Ferrari? I remember the BS I read about Rubens, and Eddie, and Alboreto, the list is endless. Yet Massa has done better then most of them in such a short time, so I don't get it.

Doesn't matter. Massa's fate is not in the hands of the people that have never managed an F1 team venting on some meaningless forum, his fate thankfully belongs to those that are in that little red computer station at the pit wall of every Grand Prix. If they choose to let Massa go, they have a reason. But I am guessing that Massa will be around for the duration of his contract assuming he doesn't lose it at every race the balance of this season. I am also thinking that Massa will learn very quickly from his mistakes, much quicker than 99% of the other drivers.

Maybe those people in the Ferrari pits know something we don't about their team and their drivers? I guess we'll see over the course of the next 16 Grand Prixs. For now, I support the Raikkonen/Massa Team.



(Phil, I betcha my $175 stuff is proportionately better than your $169 stuff. What are we talking about anyway?)

 

Nope. 218 to 204.

 

My feelings exactly until Marco's performance last week at Sebring. Did he turn a page, or a one time thing?

 

I don't want Alonso to replace Phil Massa. I think the Massa bot needs to be sent back to the shop for re-programming with the words "You are a #2 driver. Get used to that and help us win the constructor's title and support Kimi for the WDC" repeated ad nauseum. I think he would be a great #2 if he stayed within his limits and not try to out-drive Kimi. The lack of traction control has really made him a clear #2. I'm sure like Barrichello before him, Massa will win a couple races - he seems quite untouchable in Turkey and Brazil but he is no way consistent enough to be a worthy WDC contender. Alonso is a destructive element if faced with an equal adversary. Maybe if Kimi were to retire, then perhaps I would accept Alonso as a clear #1 or perhaps Heikki/Rosberg/Kubica might have developed into worthy contenders by then.

 

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