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Massa shrugs off mounting pressure to perform
ESPNF1 Staff
February 25, 2012
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Felipe Massa: "To be honest I never drive thinking about my future" © Sutton Images
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Felipe Massa is not thinking about what might happen to his future in Formula One if he fails to perform this year.
Massa has struggled to match team-mate Fernando Alonso's pace since the Spaniard joined Ferrari two years ago and he has not won a race since 2008. Earlier this month Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo warned his driver that he "has to do something great, and something special, after a non-positive season".
But when it was put to Massa that this could be a make or break year, he responded: "To be honest I don't care. I start the season in the best way I can to be competitive and do the best I can inside the car and go outside of the car happy with myself.
"To be honest I never drive thinking about my future. I always drive thinking about the best result and thinking about the most important thing which is what I can do on the track. I think when you drive thinking about something else you cannot do your job. So I don't care to be honest."
But when Massa was asked if he could rediscover the form that saw him challenge for the title in 2008, he said it was too early to tell.
"I hope. I think on the test it is very difficult to say. You only know how good the car is when you get to Australia and take part in qualifying and then you're pretty sure how good your car is. We are working to have the best car to fight for the wins and the championship, like we did in 2008.
"I hope we can be like that, but until the first race it is very difficult to know. Last year we were leading many days of testing and then we arrived at the first race and the first qualifying and we were more than a second off. It's really very difficult to say, we wait to Australia and then we will know."
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Comments: 12
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ESPN Staff
Since I started following F1 back in the 60's, everybody new that a great car had to be signed by a brit engineer. I`m not talking motors, but chassis, aero stuff, etc.. Remember the Cooper! Any Ferrari just isn[t up to the task. Their car sucks. Felipe is not a mediocre driver but he is not in the Alonso[s category. Perhaps only Hamilton can beat the spaniard. But, I would like to see Alguersuari in the second Ferrari.
Posted byMassa was never the problem. Indeed Fillipe was very strong in 2010 but was constantly discouraged by the ever discouraging 'team-order' tendencies of Ferrari. I would lose morale under similar circumstances! I urge Massa to believe in himself. He can do it
Posted byget rid massa now , before it's to late, don't wast your time with him!, and wast money
Posted byFelipe has lost the plot...Ferrari are wasting a seat in 2012 with this guy, hopefully he retires and gives the seat to a young driver with more talent and worthy.
Posted byhehehe... felipe, don't you think you're going a bit too easy about it!! We know that drivers like you are more "tempramental" than "consistant" :P :P
Posted byActually Felipe won German GP in 2010, but the team ordered him to give the win to Alonso! - Won? I'm looking at the record, it says, Fernando Alonso. Forza!
Posted byIf Massa wasn't the best of the rest he wouldn't be in a Ferrari. Hulkenburg? Please! Massa could drive circles around him.
Posted byI like Massa o.k. but he should either fire it up or let somebody else sit in the shiny red car!
Posted byI like Massa, but I wish he were sounding a bit more rough and ready..more positive..c'mon!
Posted byI can't wait to get rid of him and start developing a young talent like Hulkenberg. Fernando could be a great mentor to any promising and ambitious youngster.