(from autosport) (seems like Massa threads are really popular) Felipe Massa believes his Ferrari team are in a stronger position than last year in terms of reliability. Massa's title charge last season was hindered by mechanical problems, and Ferrari have worked hard in order to avoid a repeat with the new F2008. The Brazilian says all the problems that had hampered their winter testing in previous years seem to be gone. He told Autosprint magazine: "Last year, and also two years ago, we always had plenty of mechanical problems in the first tests. Minor things, because both cars were excellent. But you'd get those gremlins and you had to sort them out and change approach. "And then, at the following test, the problem wasn't there anymore but was somewhere else. It was a bit of an uncomfortable situation. "Touch wood, but this car seems a lot more reliable. We are doing well now, we've done plenty of running with the two cars. And we can still make a step forward because there are many developments in the works." Massa finished in fourth place in last year's standings, while teammate Kimi Raikkonen went on to take the title. And although Massa concedes the title may give Raikkonen a psychological edge this year, the Brazilian feels he is in a strong position to fight for the championship in 2008. "There's always an advantage when you win something, as it happened to me when I won my first race," he said. "But from a performance point of you we are equal: to become world champion you need everything, luck too, and he had more than me. "But this year I feel strong and motivated as ever because I know I have everything to fight on an equal footing." Image Unavailable, Please Login
Just as soon as the waters were still................ you have to post this Lets hope its true as far as the reliability goes. Be nice to see silver cars and not red ones with the gremlins!
I personaly like Massa alot and would like to see him win a WDC with Ferrari although I am still worried that his mental state may not allow it. I'll be happy with either him or Kimi winning the WDC as long as it's a Ferrari all is well.
Massa is sounding an awful lot like Coulthard used to. He always started a season off by claiming himself ready to be WDC...
And in 2008 I am ready to have sex with Adriana Lima. Massa and I have about the same chance of success with regard to our respective goals...
Well, if the subject is the *car's* reliability, then the opinion that would be significant would be the driver who does more of the car development. Would that be Kimi? Nah. So .... ... what does Schumi say about it?
Why do you always conveniently forget that Massa saved Ferrari's derriere and image the entire half of the 2007 season? While friggen Kimi got his forzen Scandiavian ass in gear! And then he got screwed by his own pit crew. I know, you bought those sunglasses at the flea market that you thought were UV protective, but you did not realize that in your case that meant Urbrainis Void!! B4 anyone gets upset, Ted and I go back a while, so control your bowl movements.
President Paul, no offense but it seems that with the exception of 3 races Monaco, Canada, and the US, Mr. Raikkonen's @$$ was in gear, showing so by ending the season with 9 straight podiums. Mr. Massa on the other hand "saved" us in Monaco and Spain, where Mr. Raikkonen Failed to Finish (ha ha its a pun ) and came in 8th place. I would say Felipe saved us for a quarter of the season instead of a half, but I'll forgive you because you want to abolish the income tax
For the first HALF of the 2007 season, Massa saved Ferrari's image and collective rear. Kimi could not understand how to drive the car he was given. If it were not for the factual mistakes made by Massa own crew, he would have been in the running for the WDC until the very end. Without his help, that Scandinavian would never have won the championship in 2007. NEVER. But, as an aside, this is Ferrarichat, supposedly a website for Ferrari fans. So I do not understand the moronic attitude of putting down a member of the Ferrari team that has proven without fail his ability to add to the team's success. Massa still leads the season in fastest single race laps. He ain't no slouch. I hope he beats his drunken teammate and every other F1 jerk to the WDC this year. Why not? He drives for the Scuderia. And he is a real team member. If you understand the meaning of the word "team". That is significant. What is wrong with all of you? And without income tax, how do you pay for the services we all are used to and want? What is really needed is a tax that is fair to the lower and middle class, and does not give advantages to the upper income jerks that take advantage of the rest of the population. Quote me. Geez, I am so tired of this BS.
I do give you that, Massa was necessary/vital for Kimi to win the WDC and could not be done without him, so thank you Felipe. Felipe isn't that bad of a guy anyway, plus he's usually sober like his Finnish comrade.
It's been three months since the last F1 race and we're starting to hallucinate. Plus, we hold the Ferrari drivers to a pretty high standard, one little mistake=15 FChat threads criticizing the driver (and people who like the certain driver).
Ron, Half this board was calling for Kimi to be fired from the team 4 races into his Ferrari career. And MORE than half announced their intention to no longer support Ferrari if Alonso were to join the team, including you. It is convenient to pull the Tifosi card when it supports one's argument but there seems to be an awful lot of conditional support for Ferrari from the pro-Massa crowd. They are Ferrarif ans when it suits them but they are remarkably quick to turn their back on the team and its #1 driver. I support Ferrari, regardless of who drivers for them, and I want them to win, which is why I think Massa is the weak link. He failed to deliver the WCC in 2006 and failed to help his #1 to the title (which is the job of the #2 driver) and he would have failed to deliver the WCC in 2007 had McLaren not been penalized. As for his helping Kimi to the title, I would say that McLaren's internal squabbles contributed a hell of a lot more to Kimi's win than did anything Massa could have done. Massa is a liability to Ferrari, plain and simple. He will fail to deliver a WCC in 2008 and his performance gap to Kimi is going to widen significantly this year. With the loss of the electronic aids, it is a very real and very significant possibility that he will never again achieve a pole position or a win in his Ferrari career. He is not going to see out his contract and I would not be surprised if there is speculation in the F1 press that he is going to be replaced by the team before we hit mid-season.
