Thought I'd start one here where we Massa fans can bash all those who think he sucks. Screw you guys. Forza Flippy - the soon-to-be-crowned 2008 F1 World Champion. Scott
He'll win a 4th race, but Kimi will still beat him to the title. He's seriously quick, in the right conditions, but we're talking about Kimi Raikkonen here.
I think Massa deserves support. Maybe not because he's a rain master or totally dominates a championship (like Schumacher did) but because he's a fighter and has the passion that fits a Ferrari driver. I hope he wins the WDC this year. If he does he has earned it the right way. Thanks for this positive thread.
I have never thought that Massa sucked. But soon-to-be crowned 2008 WDC is a bit optimistic. It's statements like that that makes others challenge you with the Massa sucks comments.
Massa has the passion, and the speed sometimes, but last race was just pathetic. I love the guy though, he tries so hard.
where's does all this talk about 'passion' come from? this whole idea that he's the "little engine that could". how do you decide which drivers have the 'right' passion and who doesn't? are you telling me that out of all the drivers in F1, only Massa wants to win, that he's the only fighter out there? I ask these questions because it seems to be a common thread, this whole "passionate driver", "team player", etc, etc etc. and who is and who isn't. bottom line? each driver has their own personalities, but to infer one is more passionate than others, or to say one deserves more support based on one's own 'idea' of what being a 'fighter' ior 'team player' etc, etc, is, doesn't sit right. sure he's done some good things in the Red car, but lets not forget it is one of four cars two years running now, that is capable of consistently winning a race. maybe, just maybe, he doesn't SUCK outright, but he sure sucks big time now and again. Myself, i try to stay away from making defining statements about someone's "passion", their "heart" if you will, because in the end only that person really knows. simply do not have enough to go on in such an arena. Massa's last race (and the first two)? full of excuses, the car, the tires, the rain, etc, etc, etc... But, all is forgiven yes, because he's the "little engine that could"...
+1000 Couldn't agree more What people in the "Massa sucks" thread often fail to realize is that most of us Massa-supporters don't claim that he is the next Schumacher, or anything of the sort. but rather that he is a good driver, worthy of his seat at the Scuderia.
Massa, the great (small) white hype, errr hope. He's not a bad driver, but he's not a WDC caliber driver either. If it were not for Lewis and Kimi being taken out by Lewis' brain fart a couple races ago, they both would be leading Massa by a large margin today. Massa and Kimi have essentially equal cars. Barring some bad luck such as an injury to Kimi, Massa has scant little hope of grabbing the WDC. But I know people like to root for the underdog... and in terms of talent, Massa is very much the underdog to Kimi and Lewis and Alonso and Kubica and Rosberg and Button and several others, so I can see why you guys like to cheer for him. It's called pity
Well, where was the Latin temperament during the 2005 and 2006 seasons? Alonso is latin also, what about the Scuderia Ferrari being a Latin team with, I supossed, Latin temperament, should I mentioned all the latin WDC's? Where is the Interference may I ask?
I agree that Massa is a decent driver and worthy of the #2 seat. My anti Massa sentiments have two sources: a) The Phil Hill Schumassa crowd who claims he learned at the feet of the master and is therefore the next in line. b) Massa refusing to accept his #2 position at Ferrari.
He did learn from Schumacher, that is not a hidden fact, but I do not believe anyone is saying he is the next MS. I am not. No one has yet come up to be the next MS. Not Kimi, not Hamilton, not Massa, not Kubica. He does not refuse to accept second seat at Ferrari, it is just that one has not been assigned. The two drivers would not be allowed to race for the win if it were not a decision by management. Last year, he accepted the second position by giving way to Kimi in Brazil. Ferrari waits until Monza to assign this seat.
I agree that saying Massa is the next in line to fill schumi's shoes is ridiculous, unfortunately I think your second argument is completely unsupported considering Brazil last year.
I don't disagree, but how do you explain one driver getting paid 50 mil a year while the other is like 10 mil (I have no idea what Massa is getting paid, but I know it is a number less than 50 mil)? Based on that, who do you think is the first driver in Ferrari management's mind? At the time of the contracts, neither driver win any WDC, so it is not like Ferrari is paying Kimi that much because he was a WDC.
I don't think Massa is the next MS or Prost but I'm sure and hope he can win the WDC this year. Forza Massa! Season review so far: Qualy: Massa 5 Kimi 3 Race: Massa 3 Kimi 2 FL: Massa 0 Kimi 6
My anti Massa sentiments have one source: The fact that some of his fans on here, continue to bash LH, for quite simply anything. In fairness he is doing ok, needs some MS driving in the wet training.
Massa can beat Kimi on some tracks. That is easily shown. I think Kimi is the better driver, but not so much better to dominate Massa at will. He has to work...and not be unlucky.
Maybe you should re-read my post. I never said that his passion is more than that of other drivers. I also never said a thing about team player but now you mention it: yes he is. Just look at Brasil 2007. I don't care about other drivers. He drives for Ferrari and so as a Ferrari fan I watch him and from the limited sources that I have in hand (reading interviews and articles, watching races on TV) I form my opinion. Maybe he's a dipstick in real live, I don't know. The argument that he has one of the top cars is rather lame. With the very small margins these days it's very unlikely that any of the other eight teams will ever contest the pole on a consistent basis. Even the great Alonso can't do much without a Ferrari or a McLaren. But Massa does drive a Ferrari and he makes the most of it. Like last year he isn't blown away by his team mate. Is that all Kimi's bad luck? Maybe but the facts are that at the half point of the season the are equal in points. Kimi might be the more naturally gifted driver but Massa delivers just as much. And that's what counts. IMO ofcourse.
This is very telling, but not for what is first apparent. For instance, The Races would be Mass 2 Kimi 3 if Kimi hadn't got struck with a flailing exhaust in France. Hell, even Massa conceded this. Another thing would support my biggest criticism of Massa: his lack of racecraft. Qualy: Massa 5 Kimi 3 but Fast Laps: Massa 0 Kimi 6! Kimi is a better RACER. I'm not saying that he's the fastest man on earth, and I feel that Massa can somehow find the fastest way around a track when its completely empty. If he can keep it that way on Sundays like grabbing a pole and running away from the pack, he can win. If he gets jumped on the start or gets lapped traffic when its not planned, he can barely even deal with it, often becoming visibly upset with the other drivers and forcing himself to push too hard and make mistakes.
