FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

By Jonathan Noble Friday, July 11th 2008, 09:02 GMT

Felipe Massa says he is unmoved by the criticisms he has faced in the wake of his five spins at the British Grand Prix - and insisted his victories this year show he is doing a good enough job for Ferrari.

The Brazilian had a disastrous British Grand Prix, spinning on the first lap and then losing control of his car a further four times to come home last of the classified finishers.

And although that drive has again prompted questions about Massa's ability to cope with Formula One cars that do not have traction control, the man himself says he does not need to prove anything.

"I don't care what other people say, to be honest," he told reporters at Hockenheim. "I know what I have to do, I've won many races this year, and so I don't really care for that."

Massa said that only his first spin at Silverstone was down to driver error, while the others were the result of him being on the wrong tyres for the conditions.

"For sure the first spin was a mistake, definitely, but then every time I was on the track we had the wrong tyres for the conditions," he said. "So I cannot say it was just coming from myself; it was coming from our strategy too.

"We made so many mistakes anyway at Silverstone – we know that, and we are working in every area to not repeat them. It's part of the game. We're not the only team that has made mistakes this year. It's part of the game, and we need to concentrate on the next race.

"The championship is open, we are still in front in the constructors' championship, and so it's nothing to worry about at the moment."

Massa was not the only one on wrong tyres.

[bud]

Massa was not the only one on wrong tyres.

Hamilton was on the same tyres, he seemed to be the only one that could make them work

[8-ball]

bad day at the office for Massa he doesn't seem able to cope with wet weather driving but he has the fastest car so no doubt he is still in the title hunt. He just needs to pray it doesn't rain

[Rivelution]

"I know what I have to do, I've won many races this year, and so I don't really care for that."

Well no sh!t, you drive a Ferrari so its easy for you to say that.

[przemo]

It means nothing for him, because he's still in the championship fight and he can win more races. Other drivers also had bad races, and it was Felipe's turn this time, I guess. The conditions probably made it more possible .

[McLaren Fan]

Driving in the wet rewards the very best drivers. It's being shown time and again throughout history, with folk such as Clark, Stewart, Schumacher and Senna showing that they are a cut above the rest in wet conditions. Massa, no matter how hard he works to improve his skills, which is very admirable, just does not possess that extra special piece of God-given skill that separates good drivers from great drivers.

[texasmr2]

I'm going to have to agree with that MC as Massa has had many year's to perfect his wet race skill's but I have never really seen him improve.

[al4x]

well slap me i was so sure his car had some sort of problem

theirs no excuse for that performance in a ferrari

[scotty]

It's all very well winning a couple of races, but if you're nowhere in most of the other races you're not likely to win the title are you?

And i think Ferrari (or any team) would rather have a driver capable of performing every race.

[McLaren Fan]

It's all very well winning a couple of races, but if you're nowhere in most of the other races you're not likely to win the title are you?

And i think Ferrari (or any team) would rather have a driver capable of performing every race.

I can't remember a driver who was surrounded with so much discussion about whether or not he does or doesn't like the track, or that he must win a particular Grand Prix because there are several tracks coming up which he doesn't like and therefore can't really perform at. Ayrton Senna did not like Donington, but look what he did there in his junior career and in 1993. Professional racing drivers should be able to adapt to rule changes, cars they don't really like and circuits they don't especially like, at least to a reasonable degree. Full marks to Massa for trying and listening to Schumacher's advice, but he just doesn't have the skill of Raikkonen, Alonso et al.. Thankfully for Massa, he does have the right attitude and he's the best car in the grid, so, even if he doesn't like certain circuits, he can at least get some points on the board. As a result, he's still in with a realistic chance of the title.

[racechick]

Driving in the wet rewards the very best drivers. It's being shown time and again throughout history, with folk such as Clark, Stewart, Schumacher and Senna showing that they are a cut above the rest in wet conditions. Massa, no matter how hard he works to improve his skills, which is very admirable, just does not possess that extra special piece of God-given skill that separates good drivers from great drivers.

And Lewis Much as you dislike him, I'm afraid he just joined that club

[McLaren Fan]

Driving in the wet rewards the very best drivers. It's being shown time and again throughout history, with folk such as Clark, Stewart, Schumacher and Senna showing that they are a cut above the rest in wet conditions. Massa, no matter how hard he works to improve his skills, which is very admirable, just does not possess that extra special piece of God-given skill that separates good drivers from great drivers.

And Lewis Much as you dislike him, I'm afraid he just joined that club

It's perhaps a little too early to say he's in the club, but he's certainly walking up the garden path and approaching the doorstep. I will say, however, that out of the current batch of top drivers, Hamilton is the best. The reasons I think it is too early to declare Hamilton a rain master are because he has generally lead from the front and has not had to overtake many people, and has been in a competitive, well-handling car. What Hamilton did last weekend was great, but I'm not so sure it was as great as the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix or the 1993 European Grand Prix.

[racechick]

YAHOOO!!! I'll acept that

[racechick]

I of course think he's up the path and in the door

[Denthúl]

Driving in the wet rewards the very best drivers. It's being shown time and again throughout history, with folk such as Clark, Stewart, Schumacher and Senna showing that they are a cut above the rest in wet conditions. Massa, no matter how hard he works to improve his skills, which is very admirable, just does not possess that extra special piece of God-given skill that separates good drivers from great drivers.

And Lewis Much as you dislike him, I'm afraid he just joined that club

It's perhaps a little too early to say he's in the club, but he's certainly walking up the garden path and approaching the doorstep. I will say, however, that out of the current batch of top drivers, Hamilton is the best. The reasons I think it is too early to declare Hamilton a rain master are because he has generally lead from the front and has not had to overtake many people, and has been in a competitive, well-handling car. What Hamilton did last weekend was great, but I'm not so sure it was as great as the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix or the 1993 European Grand Prix.

The only one race where he hasn't started from up at the front and has had to overtake was Nürburgring last year, though I'm not entirely sure that race is one to base any opinion on.

Interestingly, only two of his wins have been from a position other than pole. I thought it was more than that