While I have never been a Massapealer you have to empathise with his situation. He probably wont be invited back to Ferrari next year. He clearly knew and respected his place when Schumacher picked him. When MS was disposed of Flip bent over backwards to prepare the team for Kimi. IMO he thought he and Kimster were equals and good team-mates. Then comes Fred and everyone is quite aware who is #1. Felipe is damaged property attitude-wise and I dont think he can get "IT" back. Not really his fault. Sometimes thats the way the cookie crumbles.
Well, he needs to stop feeling sorry or pity for himself, but instead buckle up and start rattling Alonso next season. He needs to get his quali game up. He can't afford another sh!tty season in 2011 like this year. He'll definitely be replaced if he doesn't up his game.
The contract didn't stop Kimi's departure....I am sure they will simply buy Massa out of next year's deal. With the reported concerns over Renault's future (read commitment) maybe Kubica is still a possibility.....
The difference is that Kimi left before the third year of a 3-year contract, and was a willing party to go and do something else anyway. Massa has just recently been offered another 3-year contract ( if I remember that correctly) and has no other irons on the fire. I can't see Ferrari do a U-turn just a few weeks after confirming its team for the next 3 years! I also don't think that Alonso would look with great pleasure to have a team mate like Kubbica, able to challenge him. If he wins the title this year, it will be because Massa hasn't be able to match his speed. The problem at Red Bull and, to a lesser extend at McLaren, is that they have 2 fast drivers able to win; that may divide points and loose them the championship. Alonso remember too well the year when he was partnered by Hamilton! That may have cost him the title then...
Agreed, I think the problem maybe Massa realizing or having trouble accepting the fact he will not beable to challenge Alonso for a win, not only that but never being able to get a WDC as long as FA is driving at Ferrari, and that really struck home when given the radio message to let FA though. At Mclaren and at Redbull IMO they are going to take it down to the wire to decide who to get behind. Ok Mclaren now has been resolved naturally.
I'm not an Alonso fan but it seems the team has taken him in as their favorite driver and Massa is the victim of this (the intangible part of explaining his current form). On the other hand results count at the end of the day. If his current form continues in 2011 I don't think he'll be back for 2012.
Ferrari are in a difficult position. If a driver is fast enough to be a real improvement on Massa, he'll be too big of a threat to Alonso. The #1 driver philosophy works great for the WDC but not so good for the WCC.
I think that, by now, Massa must have understood that he is Number 2, a back-up driver for Ferrari, but not the Scuderia's favourite, and not WDC material. He may gets the odd win here and there when Alonso isn't in the picture, of if it's no risk to the team's strategy. But what are the options for Massa anyway? At Ferrari he has a good car, a good team and the chance to get podiums regularly and wins from time to time possibly. Moving to an 'inferior' team (Lotus, HRT, even Renault) just to assume the mantle of Number One driver has hardly feasible if he still wants to keep racing seriously. So, he better stay put at Ferrari, play his role with good grace and get the rewards.
I can't argue with that, only I would never REALLY know what it is like to be in that position. Maybe he has had his moment in the sun with a WDC for a few sec's till Ham crossed the line.. and now it seems a million miles away and its still sailing off into the sunset. Still as you said Ferrari F1 rewards hell!! enjoy it while you can.
I don't. He is a midfield driver who got lucky by being invited to drive for Ferrari. Glory, fame, money and all. He was always the #2 driver helping along for the WCC and only because their #1 driver had a fling with Finlandia did it look for a while as if he was actually hot. The Scuderia was gracious in allowing him back after Hungary 2009 when basically everybody thought that he won't deliver the goods after that injury anymore. And he isn't. Time to pull the plug and minimize the damage on future WCC runs.
Sadly, I think that Fillipe's chances of becoming WDC disappeared on July 25th, 2009. He hasn't been the same driver since the accident. I believe the situation to be similar to Richard Hammond of Top Gear. Hamster had his accident and returned to the show the following year, expressing he felt he was back to normal. It wasn't until almost a year later that he admitted to people that he was having serious difficulties focusing his attention and doing small tasks. His own wife had no idea he was having such difficulty. He had hidden it from friends and family because he didn't want to be "injured Hammond" anymore. He has since said that dealing with the fact that he will never be the same person he was before the accident has been difficult. I think something similar is happening with Filipe. His competitive drive got him back in the car, perhaps to soon, perhaps not. I think that Ferrari, the fans and maybe even Filipe himself looked at the numbers he put out and went "ok, he's back and that's that." He hasn't lost the edge, he has just lost the shine off that edge. He hasn't got 10/10ths anymore, he can only go to 9.997. This may present itself in an inability to feel the car the way he used to, leading to less-than-perfect setups, or in personal drive and committment in a losing situation; he just can't push as hard as he used to, especially when he's down the order a little bit. I like Filipe, I felt he was the heir to the moniker of "that nice Brazillian driver" once Reubens left. Now I fear that he's lost just that .003 and has become another mid-packer. This is just my twin Lincolns, and I reserve the right to be totally wrong.
Exactly. The way to prove you're not a number two is to do it on the track. Just look at Webber this year.
Not Kubica. Plenty of decent midfield drivers worthy a shot. Some German names come to mind. First and foremost Sutil, who is waiting to get the 2nd Mercedes seat (which he might or might not). The incredible Hulk. Rosberg. Even Button for that matter. I'm sure the red mist still has its allure.
I suspect that Webber wasn't supposed to be 'that' good and became a fly in the ointment in Red Bull plans. Vettel is really the guy they had in mind to go for the WDC. I may be wrong.
First, although Webber has indicated he will honor his contract for 2011, there is much friction at Red Bull. Second, Ferrari will not protect any driver's #1 position, even Alonso's. That is how they have always operated. Ferrari management would rather see another driver come along to "motivate" their faster driver, so it would not be surprising to see a switch between Massa and Webber. Webber would silently fight for his position, Kubica would be vocal. Ferrari management does not like vocal drivers. Massa is truly and rightfully disappointed with Ferrari. I would be in his shoes. Before that team order BS, he was holding his own despite internal favoritism that has prevailed since day one with Alonso's arrival. He has shown true team spirit, ever since Schumacher left. Yet now, he got stabbed in the back by his own team. He has no reason to bite the bullit. Either he is assured of his position in 2011, or he is already planning a move. Reality, I would doubt there will be changes at Ferrari for 2011, and Renault has indicated they will continue for the next two years. So if there is no Webber/Massa switch, it will be status quo for 2011.
Schumi and Massa have both been eclipsed by their team mates and would like a change of scenery... It looks as if Massa has been gutted by knowing that no matter how hard he tries, he's not going to be allowed to win unless the other driver is out of the running...a move to Mercedes as joint No. 1 driver with Nico Rosberg would get him from out of a situation he does NOT like and who knows what the Mercedes car will be like next year? Schumi has to be shell-shocked by his performance vs Rosberg and also the rest of the field. I don't think in his worst nightmare he could envision not even finishing on the podium in ANY races... Rosberg's speed has probably been a shock as well. If he took Massa's seat at Ferrari I think him and the Scuderia could work something out... After being decisively beaten by Rosberg this year his stock is not as high as it was before this season... he might even be amenable to being No. 2 to Alonso if he is not as fast, but he will be given the chance to fight for the No. 1 position, but he will have to earn it with his foot... I think that would be the ultimate motivation for Schumi... plus Ferrari gets a man that racks up points...very useful from a WCC standpoint. and it would be a marketing Bonanza, with many millions of dollars flowing into the coffers... Definitely something to consider... Frank
