(from autosport) Ferrari's Felipe Massa has vowed not to change his approach this year as he bids for his first drivers' title. The Brazilian finished in fourth position last year despite showing strong form compared to teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who went on to take the crown in the final race of the season. Massa won three races in 2007, but he believes he was not lucky enough to be able to fight for the championship in the end. "If you look at last year's championship, at the Monza Grand Prix I had some seven points more than Kimi and I had everything to fight for the championship," Massa told reporters during testing at Valencia. "But I had a problem in Monza and I lost the chance. I don't think my championship was bad. I think it was very, very good and I will do the same. "To win the championship you need a quick car, a consistent car, but you need to be lucky as well. I think one of these points was missing for me last year so I won't change my approach this year." The Ferrari driver also admitted he is pleased with how the Italian team's new car is progressing so far in testing. "I think we have found a lot of improvements compared to last year's car and we definitely want more," the Brazilian added. "But I think everything is going in the right direction. It's very important to do so much mileage with two new cars, which is also an improvement over last year. "So I'm pretty happy. For sure we want more, we want to make the car even quicker and even more consistent and we are working very hard to improve every area."
I really hope he can do it. If you look at the odds how hard it is to achieve (sp?) it, it's easy and low to bash the guy for not having won a WDC yet. Like he says you need a good portion of luck to win. He did have a good season last year. I'm proud he drives for Ferrari!
Good man! You know, I thought he was a serious "crasher" when he was initially hired at Sauber, but after his year sabbatical testing for SF, he really came back a different person. I know Schuey has been complementary of most of his co-drivers, but it seemed he took it to a higher level his last year with Massa. Agree with the above post. I'm proud he drives for Ferrari.
+1...he use to drive the ambulance around Interlagos...some just sit around and bark he´s not WDC material...I say he´ll only need the luck he laked last year ,and with the team play on his side...he´ll be the next WDC. Forza Massa!...
I am also happy Massa is confident and happy with the new car, but if Ferrari does not choose a clear number one early on, and let Kimi and Massa split wins, they may have no chance at the WDC. I think Renault and McLaren will have a clear number one this year. (unless Kovalainen is just amazing which I would be very happy if he was better than Hamilton).
Massa is not even close to Kimi. Massa had a brief chance to stake out some ground and that is long gone now
Yea, great to hear him talk like this but his role is #2 guy and he knows it unless Kimi flounders. F don't want to make it seem like there's a boring team order thingy going on either.
I'd be disappointed by any driver that didn't aim for being WDC. I say let them race until one is mathematically eliminated from contention. I'd much rather see this than team orders to bring the WDC to Maranello. Besides if Kimi deserves it so much more than Massa as everyone says then he should have no problem beating him on race day.
It's too bad for Massa that he still blames bad luck for loosing the 07 WDC chase. It would help him more if he'd be honest about it.
I will have to agree with you on that one, it was a little bit of bad luck, but mostly his stupid mistakes that put him out of the chase.
Yup. At Monza he really had bad luck, which then caused the team strategy. But up to that point it wasn't just bad luck that robbed him of valuable points.
How would it help him? If he genuinely believes it was bad luck his self confidence and motivation will still be high and he's likely to perform better than he would if he were to accept that he's just not good enough.
You only learn from your mistakes if you realize it wasn't bad luck, but your own fault that caused the result.
Massa can win the WDC if he can 1) Learn to Pass 2)Not go off the track 3) Stop breaking the car and 4) Sabotage Kimi and McLaren.
I think it is easier, yet harder: He can win the WDC if he makes no mistakes. He has great speed and the ability to put the car on pole. He can win races from pole as he has shown, so he doesn't really need to learn to pass. He also doesn't really abuse the car, so if it brakes, it isn't really his fault. If he beats Kimi and McLaren speedwise, there is no need for sabotage. But he has to be consistent and make no mistakes. That's the hardest part and where I think he will fail.
I met Massa in Indy last year - out at dinner the night before the race - I'll admit to being pretty star-struck (and a little drunk) - almost didn't acknowledge Bernie...he was a super nice guy - always been a Kimi fan - glad he got his - love that he's with Ferrari. Massa is good for the team and has been good for the team all around and I'd love to see him get one - he can do it.
Yes, I accept that. If he is actually deluding himself into believing mistakes were just bad luck, that's not good for him. I don't know if that's what he is doing, hopefully not.
