Where Would Massa Go?

Good morning Peter - I for one am in agreement with your comment. His time as a test driver has paid off.

I also think Ron is on the mark with his observation per his comment a couple of replies back -> "True, but do you realize how interesting it is that he qualifies so closely to MS's times, yet does not beat his master?" I find that awesome to do, to come so close but not "cross the line!" A friend went to the "Shake down" Ferrari held last January and had nothing but compliments for Massa.

To say Massa is "laughable" is an insult to those who believe in him and make him part of the Ferrari team IMO.

Carol

 

Thanks to you and Tifosiron. Massa could have won the USGP but conceded the lead to Michael on his in-lap. I also recall him getting the jump on MS off the line in a recent race and then allowing Michael to get ahead of him. The reality is a) MS is in a position to claim the WDC, Felipe is not and b) MS is the team's #1 driver. Actually, it's more about point #1, Ferrari is out to win a championship.

While Massa made tons of errors in the first 5 races, he's more than atoned for them with his latest results. I don't think he's botched anything (arguably the French GP) since Monaco.

If I'm Ferrari, I find a way to retain his rights for the 2008 season (considering Schu/Raikkonen rumors are true)

 

Bottom line... if Massa and Schumi are side by side going into a corner, Massa will back down. Many of you hark, "team orders! team orders!" while holding your torches. While that is certainly true to a certain extent, what is blatantly obvious and absolutely true is that Massa has a submissive personality. He'll never be world champion; he might win a few races. He simply lacks the bravado and/or confidence to do so.

You can tell in the post-race interview that he is not all that thrilled with his position as inferior-in-the-team to Herr Schumacher, and was not smiling when Schumi slapped him on the back and remarked how happy he was to have him as a teammate. So, it's good that he is aware enough to not enjoy having the short straw, but it's bad that he's too much of a b!tch to do anything about it.

In order to compete with MS, FA, KR, etc. Massa will first have to grow a sack... not an easy thing to do when you're already 25 or so years old.

 

It's really refreshing and great to see you and Ron and a few others with sensible, meaningful thoughts conveyed on these topics instead of BS attacking the personalities and likes of drivers or non-necessary comments. Keep up the good work guys!

Carol

 

A little harsh dont you think? Maybe you should at least give credit where credit is due. He has been driving great over the last several races, and as I see it, does have the talent to be a number one driver at a good team.

Mark

 

I think that Massa just feels that if it weren't for Ferrari he'd have no career at all and he is right in a way. All he's doing is following his contract. Whether or not he's aggressive or not and all that stuff is not the point. We don't know for sure becuase of his number two status. Given free reign to race the Felipe Massa I remember was a dive bomber. I'm sure that's still there somewhere. He's probably waiting for MS to retire too, lol

 

Kimi and MS on same team would be disaster!!!! Worst mistake ferrari can make.

It does not work, their will be infighting especially given how competetive both guys are. Look at JPM and Kimi.

Have primary and second driver works best.

 

I'd say Massa goes where ever the Ferrari customer engines go next year, as a sort of thank for you service care plan, unless he can land his own better deal. He will be taken care of since his manger is Jean Todt's son.

Massa has always been underrated and continues to be. He has adapted to the team very well and his several of his qualifing laps are within thousandths of a second of MS. He is very much in the mean of F1 for talent/skill, which makes him a far better driver than any of us.

 

I think your point is simply illustrating the depth of the F1 field and the fact that the car is still more important than the driver. Hell, I think half of the field could get a WDC if given the right car...

 

Good topic. I firmly believe that MS is very happy with Massa's performance. He has driven perfectly the past 5 races - what more does Ferrari want out of thier number 2 man?

I also noticed that, when on the podium last week, Michael and Massa seemed genuinely happy to be up there. I think that they make a great team and I'm encouraged that Massa is playing his position so well.

Best,

 

If given a dominant car I think Trulli, Button, Massa, Montoya (I know), Webber, Heidfeld, Barrichello could all win in a dominant car - assuming their teammate wasn't better than them...