LdM criticizes Massa

Looks like they're finally gonna sack Massa at the end of this season. LdM publicly stated that he was not happy with the driver's performance last year and if it continues they are looking at alternatives: Button, Webber, Rosberg

http://www.speedweek.ch/Formel1/news/23521/Massa-auf-dem-Schleudersitz.html

I can't wait.

 

Finally. I like Massa, but as a F1 driver you need to give 100%. I feel he only gives 90%. Maybe since the accident in Hungary he's lost his edge. Maybe even before that?

 

LdM mentions that Massa is struggling with the tires. IMHO that's an euphemism for his lack of commitment since the accident.

 

Just to be anal about it: If after a two minute lap, you are 0.1 second behind your teammate, you might not be at 100%, but you are at 99.917%

 

If I'm not mistaken,all three drivers mentioned above recently signed new long term contracts.

 

Didn't Button and Rosberg sign extensions with their current teams that take them well past the 2012 season? It would seem they're not real possibilities as replacements.

Webber wouldn't be any worse if LDM just wants change but how would he like being the official #2 when he already hates being the UNofficial #2?

It's back to the same old problem. Finding a driver as good as or better than Massa who is ok with being Fred's poodle.

 

IIRC Webber's was only for 1 year.

 

Why not put Bianchi or another young guy in the seat?

 

After all of these years, I have learned to assume anything that ****** LdM says as being ridiculous. He needs to run for prez of Italy and move on from Ferrari. He is a big reason why they can not get it right. Just last month he stated he had full belief in Felipe.

LdM just likes to see his name in the press. He is a total loser. Who do you think is the real reason behind Ferrari's success in the last 12 years, and why he and their #1 driver moved on?

Luca is a do*chebag.

 

I did not realize that d-o-u-c-h-e is a bad word.

Sorry. But that is silly. It is the real world, in Latin countries this is the word for taking a shower.

How lame of FChat.

 

i agree.

 

So, Luca de Montezemolo is resorting to the old man's tactics: putting pressure of the Scuderia's drivers by spreading rumours in the press about them.
It used to be Enzo Ferrari's favourite form of 'driver management' at the time, to unbalance the drivers, by setting them against each other, or leaking some form of displeasure to the Italian media.
One thing is sure: Massa will certainly not find another good drive after he leaves Ferrari, but he has been a loyal member of the team and only missed on the world title by a very thin margin, and for reasons beyond his control. Nobody should forget that.

 

I don't think it was a critic, but merely a wake up call. He even acknowledged that Massa was facing some issues to heat up his tyres.

Having said that, if Massa repeats his performance like last season, then i would definitely say that it's time for the Scuderia to dump him.

 

Massa did fine after the accident. In fact i think he was even leading the Championship ahead of Alonso in the first part of 2010. So, the accident theory is just nonsense.

I think it's more of loss of confidence. I mean, he's not the same driver anymore since Germany 2010. loss of self confidence, self esteem, whatever you call it.

 

Kubica in 2013? I do not think Webber would be a good fit for the SF. He is a likeable gent, but IMHO he is a product of the Car that Newey built, not the other way around. Jenson on the other hand makes the McLaren a better car.

 

+1 and this news link and the USELESS words of LdM are seriously old news. He has put this out abotu a million times in the last 6 months.
Its Scuderia Alonso no matter who is in seat 2. I see Felipe being let go no matter but this topic is dead. Next!

 

Cute theory, but not true:

In the first 5 races of the 2010 season Alonso was leading Massa in points in all but 1 race (after his engine blew up in Malaysia). Massa never once lead the championship in 2010.

The accident has taken a huge toll on his performance and Ferrari should have sacked him after 2010. I can't wait for him to be gone.

 

Ferrari the business, and Ferrari F1, have done very, very well under LdM. He apparently doesn't like to lose. Good for him.

 

He spent too long causing problems for Hamilton, instead of looking after his own race.

Smedley should get the boot as well, bleetin down his ear piece with his boneheaded advice.

Having said that, it could be argued that is what a #2 should do.

 

As a Massa fan, I have to agree that his performance was far less than expected this year. While I have sympathy for him, the accident must have been horrific, sympathy won't keep his job. Massa must step it up this year. If he is not able to race with Alonso, or at least within a tenth or two, Massa needs to leave which to me is very unfortunate. Massa appears to be someone who bleeds rossa corsa so I hope he can stay on in some capacity with the team....but I more so hope he gets his edge back.


Mark

 

Firstly, they're not going to sack him - I agree they probably won't give him a new contract going forward, but that's not unusual with any of them.

Here's Luca speaking just before Xmas;

Guess it all depends on who you believe and who's "spin" is being applied

Cheers,
Ian
The full interview; http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96824

 

I agree, BUT his decisions when it comes to piloti aren't as good as perhaps they should have been. Dumping Schumacher for Raikkonen? Paying him outrageously for someone who came across as semi-distinterested and simply didn't put the wins on the board? I accept that the car had (and has) much to do with the results, but there was a certain amount of perceived disdain for hard work and laziness by Kimi. Alonso? Again, richly-compensated, but not bringing home the bacon for the Scuderia.

I don't necessarily have the answers, but I, too, would like to see the Scuderia focus on legitimate, younger talent and develop it. Paying out the nose for 3rd and 5th place WDC finishers rubs me slightly the wrong way to go about this business. Other teams have focused on talent identification and development, and I don't see why the Scuderia cannot.

CW

 

MS wasn't dumped but left the team on his own.

And how you think Alonso is not bringing home the bacon is beyond me.

 

Oh, I'm sure LdM didn't help MS out the door at all...

And, how many WDC's has Alonso put on the board while at SpA?

Don't get me wrong, I think Alonso is certainly one of the top drivers. But, the Scuderia has a history of paying the biggest dollars for the biggest talents. That's fine when the championships pour in. Not so fine when they don't.

But, ultimately, it's Fiat's board that has to be kept happy, I suppose, and not the tifosi.

CW

 

The Ferrari driver selection process is a complete mystery to me.
Put the #1 on a pedestal one year and slit his throat the next.
Meanwhile #2 is hiding in a corner watching in horror and gets left alone.