Bridgestone on Kimi vs Massa

Jackie Stewart once wrote that anyone can drive a car fast when it is set up properly, the real talent was the guys who could drive around ill-handling cars. Schumacher and Senna were both brilliant at this.

 

Doesn't really come as a surprise, it's kinda in line what we've been saying and seeing here all along: When everything falls into the place and the track suits Massa etcetc, then he puts it on pole and wins from pole. He did that last year and this year. And yes he has clearly beaten Kimi in those races.

And when things don't go his way, then "the other Massa" shows up and drones around.

Nothing new really.

It'd be more interesting if there was a comment on why Kimi is asleep at the wheel 2/3 of the race and then suddenly "awakens". Is it such a difference with the third tire set or something else?

 

Maybe it takes him that long to sober up?!?

 

Agreed with all the comments.

 

Not denying that. That by itself won Damon Hill a title.

But that doesn't make him a complete racer like e.g. Alonso or Schumacher. In the Ferrari history, it puts him somewhere into the Gerhard Berger category.

 

Because some on here put him in the Phil Schumassa category.

 

So to counteract that, thinking they are the voice of reason, some on here put him in the "doesn't deserve an F1 drive he sucks so bad" category...

 

I really like Massa and I always have, I was crushed for him when his engine expired after such a dominant drive. I actually want to see Massa steal the WDC away from Kimi and Lewis.

 

+1

 

Not sure anybody thinks like that. He certainly deserves a drive in F1.

The question is more, whether he should be in the Ferrari or whether there are other drivers better suited.

 

Massa's car has been perfect because he sets the damn thing up that way. Kimi cant set his car up from Friday on in the last while. Why?

 

Well Mr Bridgestone, Ferrari point to your tires as being part of the problem in Germany and Felipe outqualified and scored Kimi. Thats quite a contradiction just in that race about Felipe. Hungary? We all saw that. Very interesting and incredibly speculative commentary from someone who is in the paddock. It doesnt quite add up just looking at the last 2 races.

 

Although I am a big Kimi fan and admit to that prejudice, I think it is mainly a tire/setup issue. I don't believe he is motivated for only a portion of any given race.

 

+1

To me it seems that Massa is still growing and learning while Kimi seems to have hit a certain level and got stuck. We now see Massa competitive on tracks where we didn't expect that. He's also better in the wet than some said before (not counting Silverstone, don't know what happened there, maybe his brother was driving). It's clear that the Ferrari isn't that far above the rest of the field as the Williams was when Hill became champion. Massa isn't third in the standings by default. He had to work for it.

 

From what I've read Massa has an advantage in qualifying over Kimi because of his braking style as he is harder into the brakes and the tires heat up quicker. It seems that the Bridgestones have a very "tight window of opportunity" of once they become heated up gaining full grip before they start falling off rather quickly. Ferrari puts a lot of pressure on each driver waiting till the very last few minutes of qualifying to post times and it has backfired numerous times this year IMHO.

This reminds me of how Senna back in the day visited the tire manufacturer and learned all the intricacies of the construction. Once he did this he was quoted later that as soon as he felt the release agent has completely left the tread he knew he had only one lap before they began to fall off. I seriously doubt anyone in F1 currently has that feel.

 

+1 great post.
Though i would add that Massa is currently exhibiting a drive to continue to grow, learn, and excel, while kimi seems to have a much less enthusiastic attitude...

 

Kimi is the one making the almost constant statements about set up and tires, balance etc. Not Felipe. My comments were off the top of my head without research. Im sure Mr Bridgestone see's alot more than I do. ON the surface though there is room to debate his observations.

 

Interesting post. I think some of the drivers still posses the technical drive or insight. We just dont hear about that faculty over the whose dating the latest pop bimbo story. I would hope some of them do that kind of homework as you mentioned.

 

I dont think any of the current driver's do either atleast to the extent that Senna had.

 

I think its always been a driving style difference between the 2. Massa and Lewis's race pace always drops off at some point when they start conserving the car. Kimi will set fast laps right up to the end.

There are a couple of reasons I see why Kimi is "asleep" for 2/3 of the race.

-He can see the bigger picture. He's won a WDC and knows what it takes. Over Hungary the commentators were wanting to see the "old" Kimi that would fly full throttle into Eau Rouge while his car was falling apart. As great as that imagery is, that never won him a WDC. In fact it lost him WDCs against Shumacher. By mere points. Twice.

-F1 needs to do something (I can't wait for '09) about the aero dependence. Cars can't even get close enough to pass because the airflow from the lead car disrupts the balance of the car behind so drastically. All you can hope for is a mistake by the guy in front, and you have to pounce. Also, there are a host of tracks that make passing all but impossible.



I said this in another thread... why do Bridgestone get to choose the compounds everyone races on? It makes no sense to me. Seeing how light Kimi has become on tires (and machine you could say) That SHOULD hold a huge advantage over other drivers because he can run on softer compounds for longer distances. I think that they should assign a coloring system to every compound, and let the team/drivers chose what works best. If its super hard, then so be it. If you can manage super soft, be my guest. This would visually show the fans the "strategy" and compound choice of their favorite drivers, but it would also allow for more integration of driving style. Kimi on Super Softs coming up behind you and your car or driving is hard on tires like Lewis, Massa, or Alonso? Watch out. There you would see guys taking risks and getting rewarded for it.

 

You have two different drivers at Ferrari with two different styles of driving. That means that one or the other should excel at certain circuits where the other is not as comfortable. The two drivers get along very well, one having helped the other win the 2007 WDC.

At half way through the season, they are both easily in the hunt for the WDC, Ferrari leads the WCC. Massa´s car showed superiority over the McLarens at Hungary until it retired, Raikkonen set fast lap of the race.

I do not believe that Kimi is sleeping or not motivated, nor do I believe that Massa is not capable of winning the WDC. I do not consider either one of them on the level of Schumacher, but then with constant growth, who knows. But I do consider them to be as good as any other drivers currently in F1.

I absolutely do not subscribe to the notion that allowing a faster car go by you without a fight is a problem. This is F1, big bucks, large manufacturer following, at the end of the year, all that matters is the WCC, and second the WDC. Driving smart should not be a point for criticism.

I also do not subscribe to the notion that when a driver has a bad weekend, he must be a bad driver. I watched Schumacher break a leg or ankle or something, along with a few other miscalculations. Senna, Prost, Alonso, Villenueve, etc, all had bad weekends. I watched Schumacher flounder around in a bad handling car, letting a lot of slow cars pass him. I do not understand the comments that do not take into consideration that a chassis was not set up pròperly and even someone like Alonso loses it and hits a wall in the rain. It happens, it isn´t always the driver.

I am not sure of the negativity I read here, but Ferrari looks to be in pretty good shape at this moment. Being F1, things can change in a single race, but I have faith that the Scuderia will put this together.

This is still the best team in F1. And that includes the people at the pit wall, the garage, and back at the factory.

 

Given Felipe's performance at tracks that normally werent "his" he has definitely improved over last year alone. A bit better than Berger and he appears to be improving as this year progresses. Kimi needs to set it up and step it up or he will not be ahead of Felipe in the very near future. He may not be complete Felipe, - but is more so than last year IMO.

Less talent with Felipe possibly, his drive and determination are admirable. He has shown he wants the title. Thats what racers do. He is brave in the face of the criticism he has earned in some respects and in others does not deserve, to ignore it no matter, and continue to press for a WDC title. I find it very exciting Frankly his stock has risen and I would think other teams would be pleased to have him. He has earned his seat at Ferrari this year. He is deserving of it. Evidently Ferrari agree and continue to employ him. Is there any rumor at all about him leaving next year? I dont think so. That says it all.

Who knows maybe getting married helped him out LOL