http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4787082,00.html Massa intent on going one better in 2009 Tuesday 13th January 2009 Felipe Massa is confident he can go one better this season by wrestling the F1 World title away from Lewis Hamilton. Last season, in a nail-biting finish that Hollywood could not have scripted any better, Massa took the chequered flag in the season-ending Brazilian GP thereby taking the title by one point as Hamilton was down in sixth place. However, seconds after Massa and Ferrari began celebrating, Hamilton overtook Timo Glock to take the required fifth place and snatch the World Championship away from Massa. But despite the Brazilian's disappointment at the time, he is confident that this year he can put it all behind him and go one better, winning his first-ever F1 crown. "I saw (Hamilton) at the FIA prizegiving at the end of the year, I said 'hi' and congratulated him on the title as I think that's only fair," said Massa. "During the holidays, I had normal thoughts - desire to work and desire to win. "If we didn't win the title, it's not because we did not deserve it - it was just not meant to be. "You learn more from the bad days than you do from the good ones. That day was very positive in a way because I won my home race but also an important day because we learned a lot. "This is a reason to be even more motivated and have even more desire to compete this year. "I am one who looks ahead, not back." Massa had the honour of putting the newly-launched F60 through its paces at Mugello on Monday and hailed the experience. "When you race for Ferrari and you debut the car for the first time on the track it's always quite an important and emotional day," he said. "It's the second time in my career I've debuted the car for the first time and I am very proud." As for the new car, the 2008 runner-up says it wasn't quite what he expected. "I was expecting quite a big car, like it was ten years ago for example, but when I got here the car is very small and compact, especially in the rear. "It looks good and hopefully will be as quick as it looks like it."
I can't believe it either! He must be the only one on the grid planning on doing better than last year.
Yes, he is and always has been a number 2 driver...but one of the best #2s ever. You never know what is going to happen in F1...at least among the top 2-3 teams and top 4-5 drivers. With luck, he actually has a chance to win a F1 title....
Yes he is a very good #2 driver. The only problem is that I think he may have started to think he's a #1 driver, when he's not. It could be a painful lesson to learn.
At the end of the year he was the number 1 driver at Ferrari.. And #2 in the world.. According to Ferrari they don't have a #1.
+1 Well said. Kimi is a proven WDC, has been arguably the fastest driver on the grid for years and has twice narrowly missed being WDC while competing with other drivers like MS and FA. His status as no. 1 (barring no other freakish seasons like last season) will remain. Massa has shown great improvement and his willingness to continue working to better himself as a driver is very commendable. However, as long as he has a teammate that is the caliber of driver as Kimi, Massa will remain #2. IMO
Massa knows how to develop a car, how to go for pole position and how to win. He has a big chance becoming WDC. Some people keep looking in the rear view mirror while Massa actually concentrates on the job at hand and he will deliver again in 2009, for me there's no doubt about that. Forza Massa!!
All the people that say that Massa is #2 apparently have inside information about his contract and that of Kimi, since Ferrari have never published any reports of any hierarchy between their current drivers. As far as I know, both drivers are on equal footing, and only if and when one of the drivers is beyond any reasonable reach of the title, that driver will be asked to assist his teammate.
+1 He'll never be a WDC. I can't say whether Kimi will beat him or not this year, but for sure Massa will not clinch it.
Im sorry Andreas, but that is just a dumb remark. If Glock would've gone a little bit faster in the final race, Massa would have been the champ. You honestly not say about anyone who has come that close that he will never clinch it 'for sure'. That is just ignoring the facts.
Under normal (read unbiased, fair) circumstances Massa's bid for the title would have been over after Fuji. The penalty for Bourdais was ridiculous and a blatant manipulation of the championship.
perhaps, but they were THE FACTS. And how much you want to ignore them or bend them into your favor, they were part of the set of circumstances that determine the outcome of this championship. Circumstances that worked in favor of Massa and circumstances that worked against him. How about Singapore? Massa would have won that one if it wasn't for a freak mistake of a teammember (which Massa handled beautifully). How about Hungary? Alll those circumstances matter. Don't come whining about a penalty Bourdais got, which made Massa gain a point. How you keep daring to speak of "fair and unbiased" is beyond me. Fact is, when he crossed the finish line in Brazil he was the provisional champion. Whatever happened to Glock was out of his hands and it didn't roll his way in the final metres of the entire championship. For you to say he will never win it 'for sure' is just dumb, in blatant disregard of the facts, in no way 'fair and unbiased' and just a sad new chapter to your constant, misinformed Massa-bashing. A moderator should know better. Well, you know how I feel about this. Feel free to give me another 'official' warning if that helps.
Calling a blatant manipulation of the championship "circumstances" is more than naive and blue eyed. Events like Singapore and Hungary don't count because those were actual fate, bad luck if you will. That happens to everybody, just as the good luck part. But Spa and Fuji were manipulations. A very different story. Or to put it differently: Would you actually have been proud of Massa's title if he had clinched with all that FIA help? For sure you didn't get the joke I was making. Nah, believe what you want. We'll continue this discussion once Massa retires from F1. Without a title to his name. PS: If it makes you any happier: Just today I ordered my 1/43 scale 2008 F1 Ferrari and picked Massa as the driver. He did very well and I'm happy to have him in the collection. But he won't win a title.
And thats the problem along with SPA, had he won, he did well but it would have been IMO a total unjust win curtsy of the FIA.
Andreas, that FIA list had Kimi listed as 3, but in testing the F60 Massa's car was wearing the 3. Not sure what is going on.
Good luck. If he doesnt repeat things like last year (the spin at malaysia, opening the gates, put down the bridge and lay down a red carpet for hamilton at germany, his rain troubles) he stands a chance and a halve next season. If kimi can get his **** together he'll be in for a seriously hard time though.
That being said, the car he drove at Mugello had a 3 on it- the higher of Ferrari's 2 allotted numbers, yes?
Lewis is still looking for his pants in Budapest but what do I know. It was just a pass on track that is notoriously difficult to pull off on a good day. Speaking of a good day, Felipe had one there even with the engine failure. Move of the year in my book considering it was called 'Hamiltonesque'. Kimi was my favorite driver, not any longer he needs to regain my respect by driving........ well....like Felipe did. Felipe put his doubters on notice in Hungary and took off and didnt look back. He made me a believer and put Kimi to shame in the same equipment. Clearly Felipe was not intimidated by LH. Felipe is for real and has a passion for Ferrari and winning. Thats all anyone can ask of a driver. He is clearly better than a standard #2 to say the least and the team supports him. LH can and does make mistakes by the way. Canada anyone? Id like to ask those who still hate Felipe to look at Manipef1.com and check the stats. If Felipe has half the year he had last year he has earned respect. This year will be the test. Dont think for a minute he didnt grow and LEARN what it takes to win. His was the drive of the year considering his reputation prior to the start of last year.
