Felipe Massa**Spoilers**

I've been pretty pro Massa in general over the last couple years....not a big fan, but he's been fast, reliable and a good #2, although terrible in the rain. Well it looks like the loss of traction control has made everyday a rain day in Massa's world. IMO if he spins again next in the next dry race it's time for him to lose his ride.....

 

You mean when Massa in the fastest (or close) car on the grid sloppily banged around with a noticeably slower car for a couple of corners? Great racing, entertaining, but like Villenueve vs. Arnoux, it highlights 1 driver's skill (in the slower car, both cases) more than the other.

Just my 2 cents, of course.

 

You're welcome Brian - Bahrain should be a good one. We'll be in Barcelona at Circuit Cataluyna that weekend for the Lemans-Series race . . .imagine this 51 cars will be on the starting grid. Going to be an awesome race on that Sunday.

Have a great day.
Carol

 

That sound's good fun Carol, have a great time...

 

I wish Ferrari keep confidence and trust in MASSA, I feel he can still do it, just a bit favor from LUCK

WISH YOU GOODLUCK MASSA

 

I waited till now to log onto f-chat because I knew what the topic of discussion would be. I finally gain the motivation to do so and what is the first thread out that stares me in the face?...You guessed it. Two races don't make a season.

 

I was going to let Massa's performance do the talking but I have to point out the obvious: It is not two races that is creating this criticism, it is his entire career. Do you think we are seeing a sudden drop in Massa's performance or are we seeing his true capabilities unmasked by his loss of electronic aids?

I see so many people here talking about him being a great #2. Well I think he is a shtty #2. He has failed to deliver a WCC to Ferrari in either of his frist two seasons. It took an FIA decision and a ridiculous penalty by the Hungarian stewards to deliver a WCC to Ferrari, it was not won on the track where it should be. You want to see a good #2, look at Rubens, he delivered points when he could, he won races when Schumacher faltered and he finished second when Schumacher didn't. THAT is what a good #2 does. I don't see Massa doing any of that. He didn't help Kimi win a WDC last year, Mclaren did. He didn't help Ferrari win a WCC in either year, the FIA did that. What exactly has Massa done for Ferrari? I have yet to see him do a single thing in that car that Irvine or Rubens hadn't, other than spin off unassisted, costing the team valuable points, two races in a row to start the season.

Massa is a liability to Ferrari, for the second race in a row he screwed up massively entirely on his own. How many more points can Ferrari afford to throw away? How many more unforced errors does Massa need to commit before he is fired? How long must we compete with a second driver that is unfit for the task?

I have been consistent in my criticism of Massa going back to his days at Sauber. I argued against Massa's signing in 2006 and I am vehement that the team must get rid of him before he does further damage to the team's chances. He has been a failure in F1 his entire career, he has been beaten by every teammate he has ever had and he is costing the team valuable points with his mediocrity. It is time to correct this mistake. Fire Massa immediately.

 

Stuying tapes and watching his mirrors.

 

But they insofar as confirm the article I posted about pre-season testing... 1 of the 2 articles during the winter break that I said were actually informative and insightful. 1 being about the new management style at Ferrari. And the other about drivers coping with the lack of traction control. Kimi being effortless in his command of the F2008, Massa struggling and beaching it about 50% of the time. Alonso struggling with the R28 but working his skills to slide the car in a drift as a way to control its' unbalance. Lewis being a bit twitchy in the MP4-23 but still very fast...

After 2 races, i feel this article hit the nail on the head. Kimi's mistakes were not attributed to the car, but rather his over exuberance and mis judgment during overtaking, be it braking distance on haggard tires or (hehe) width of Abert Park. Massa hs confirmed to me that he is still struggling with the F2008 and the ban on TC/Engine braking control.

 

This am Massa issued statement saying he intends to "bounce back". Unfortunate choice of words but good luck to him.

 

I knew you would be the first to jump on my post...lol. I guess I am more sympathetic to a racers pressures to perform. He didn't get there because he lacked talent. To me, it wasn't about the loss of T/C and his reported inability to adjust to it. It's not his lack of talent or car control. I question his thought process in being a smart racer. Why would he drive his car on the limit like that when you have 15 seconds in hand on the car behind you and no chance (another 15 seconds) to catch the car in front of you. And you're well over the half way point in the race. Settle in, drive nine tenths and bring the money home.
So, you have 6 points in hand on me after 2 races?

 

6 pts? P2 scores 8pts. Even more incentive not to ****** it up and lose it.

 

To be honest... I think Massa will be gone in 2009, if for nothing else then Jean Todt being booted (Todt's son is Massa's manager.) I see Alonso/Rosberg or Alonso/Heidfeld team in 2009 (since Renaults will continue to suck this year giving Alonso a chance to get out of his contract.)

 

And what about the reigning WDC? Possible 2x WDC by then. Kick him to the curb? When The new management embraces Kimi as they have?

 

You're the only one who deson't think so. This guy simply cannot keep his car on the track, if that isn't lack of talent and car control, then what is?

I see rookies keeping their cars on the track, surely Massa, the "future WDC" according to some here, could at the very least do the same, yes?

 

C'mon... he was under pressure to be such a nice guy. He is trying really hard! Go Phil!

 

"But I tried my best" is the mantra of losers. In F1 there ought not to be any excuses.

Losers try, winners do

 

and if a frog had wings........................

 

I don't know if it has been mentioned before, but that first corner at the start could have taken them both out if Iceman had not given way...I don't think Massa would have done the same.

Further, if this was a case of trying to make up time on Kimi (i.e. trying to race) why weren't there some team orders given and obeyed?

In a way, I guess I am glad he spun before he could catch up to KR and possible create a two car wreck. I would be pretty mad about the lost WMC points if I were Ferrari.

 

An occasional "off" is to be expected in the heat of battle. The small number or finshers in Oz shows that a lot of guys were caught wrong footed without T/C. Hamilton's brain fade in China shows that it can happen to the best. Its Phil's repeated miscues that have everyone so concerned. Fool me once shame on you, etc.

 

Thanks Brian and Steve. The world of sportscars is so very different than F1, even the forums - no bs on there, absence of trolls on threads and no degrading of people - on one forum, we even have the owner/driver of a Corvette team share his knowledge/info with everyone. Guess it must be the word Ferrari that gathers some idiots. The LMS race starts at 11:35 and the F1 race at 14:30, as I recall Bahrain is GMT+3 and Barcelona GMT+2, nevertheless, I'll try to catch up with you guys using my iPhone on race day (assuming there's wireless internet access at the track). Have a great day.
Carol

 

"No degrading" followed by "idiots"?

 

Surely, you give Ferrari more credence than to be that stupid to get themselves DQ'd.

Per FIA:
Team orders

Team orders which interfere with the race result are prohibited.

Carol