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[f1ea]

Alonso called a summit meeting with the team after the Australian GP, where he was denied a chance of victory by the team being unwilling to ask Masa to move aside for him.

This is one of the reasons I dislike Alonso as a person; if he is such a great driver; why didn't he simply overtake Massa? If I were Massa I would want out of that situation, he played second fiddle to Schumacher, then Raikkonen and now Alonso. As far as I am concerned; they were racing for position in the second race of the season, no reason for Massa to pull over and let Alonso through. Can Alonso not compete on an even footing with his team mate; does he need preferential treatment?

Ok, this WOULD be a relevant point if the reasons for the part in bold was fact, and not opinion. As far as anyone knows, it is opinion. Opinion in the sense that people assume the meeting was to ask why didnt the team make Massa move over or to ask the team to make Massa move over in the future. We dont know that, and none of the quotes or articles that have been presented are stating a real fact about what the meeting was about and under which conditions it was held.

In any case... Massa has signed a 2yr deal with ferrari.
I dont think he is being disfavoured. i know he has been allowed to race freely with Kimi and also now. It really does look that way. His relationship with Fernando will most likely improve now that he knows he's not getting sacked.

[texasmr2]

His relationship with Fernando will most likely improve now that he knows he's not getting sacked.

Improve in the fact that he can now tell Alonso he will not be his bitch or his #2 and will race him for every pole and win.

[billindenver]

Doesn't really matter what he tells Alonso or why he says it. Massa has never been number one driver material. He has always played second fiddle...because he has always been second fiddle. If you are faster than your team mate, you will always be the number one guy. Massa has never been, because he isn't that kind of driver. If circumstances take his teammate out of enough races, Massa can be competitive on the season but it is never because he is the faster driver. He is a good guy, but Alonso is faster. Alonso can also get more out of a car that is not the best on the grid. In short....Massa is the number two driver for a reason.

[vaptin]

I'm suprised Ferrari signed him up so early, a short while ago it was "theres no rush", although that amount of time is a long time in f1.

It seems, however, that Ferrari have confidence and are happy with him.

[f1ea]

Doesn't really matter what he tells Alonso or why he says it. Massa has never been number one driver material. He has always played second fiddle...because he has always been second fiddle. If you are faster than your team mate, you will always be the number one guy. Massa has never been, because he isn't that kind of driver. If circumstances take his teammate out of enough races, Massa can be competitive on the season but it is never because he is the faster driver. He is a good guy, but Alonso is faster. Alonso can also get more out of a car that is not the best on the grid. In short....Massa is the number two driver for a reason.

Alonso has been CONSIDERABLY faster than Massa. There is no doubt about that. Massa should have finished at least a couple of positions ahead of Fernando in Turkey, given that Alonso struggled and had a bad run in Q, had to deal with some passes in the race etc. Massa is a very hard worker, but it seems Alonso is also (lets say, as opposed to Kimi), so maybe the edges he got vs Kimi will not be as easy to manage with Fernando. So now its all a matter of how they can both work together as a team to move the F10 forward because right now its struggling.

I think they signed him early to help the dynamics in the team... to have less worry for Massa and give him the good support when he and the team needs it (ie needs both drivers working hard to develop the car). Obviously because they are happy with him and think he can do a good job and maybe the other guys available are not comepletely available or are part of some future plans.

[bud]

Basically Alonso is happy with Massa, and feared Kubica beating him on a racely basis, so told Luca to sign the Brazilian easy beat for another year!

[texasmr2]

Regardless if Massa is considered to be #2 etc etc etc I'm happy that his contract was renewed as it adds a platform of stability within the team as a whole.

[racechick]

Doesn't really matter what he tells Alonso or why he says it. Massa has never been number one driver material. He has always played second fiddle...because he has always been second fiddle. If you are faster than your team mate, you will always be the number one guy. Massa has never been, because he isn't that kind of driver. If circumstances take his teammate out of enough races, Massa can be competitive on the season but it is never because he is the faster driver. He is a good guy, but Alonso is faster. Alonso can also get more out of a car that is not the best on the grid. In short....Massa is the number two driver for a reason.

Alonso also makes a lot of mistakes in an off the pace car...four is it so far this year?

[f1ea]

Basically Alonso is happy with Massa, and feared Kubica beating him on a racely basis, so told Luca to sign the Brazilian easy beat for another year!

Alonso is happy with Massa. Not Ferrari (happy with Massa), right?

Anyway, i think its good for this season to have both drivers feeling secure, without speculation about their contracts. Massa really doesnt need this added pressure, and i guess its known he can perform... to beat Alonso or the other front runners... we'll see. Maybe.

[Hexagram]

Alonso also makes a lot of mistakes in an off the pace car...four is it so far this year?

Ya, I'm just waiting for him to run a red light in the pit lane this weekend and take Hamilton out during the race.

[myownalias]

Basically Alonso is happy with Massa, and feared Kubica beating him on a racely basis, so told Luca to sign the Brazilian easy beat for another year!

My thoughts exactly; given Alonso's history in teams; when has he had a truly competitive driver alongside him with the exception of Hamilton? Yes it is speculation on my part about whether it was Alonso's wish to have a slower team mate, but it does seem to me that Alonso isn't great in a team with an equal driver.

[racechick]

Alonso also makes a lot of mistakes in an off the pace car...four is it so far this year?

Ya, I'm just waiting for him to run a red light in the pit lane this weekend and take Hamilton out during the race.

He might as well try that he's what-hit the wall, jumped the start, screwed up in quali and faced backwards in the race. Not bad 7 races in. Rookie errors.

[vaptin]

He's higher in the championship then Massa isn't he?

[racechick]

He's higher in the championship then Massa isn't he?

Yes he is at the moment, three places higher.Its moved around, at one point Massa was leading the championship

[vaptin]

He's higher in the championship then Massa isn't he?

Yes he is at the moment, three places higher.Its moved around, at one point Massa was leading the championship

And thats including an engine blowout, I can't remember any major reliability problems Massa's had (although I have a bad memory).

My point being, Alonso has made mistakes, but has still done pretty well, and is currently doing better than Massa.

Also, I'm not sure how much infulence Alonso would've had over this decision, if Massa's team mate was someone else, would we be suspicious of Ferrari's decision?