- 24 Aug 08, 21:43#61596
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
Ferrari should consider playing his so-called engine 'joker' after quickly remedying the car's reliability problems, Valencia winner Felipe Massa said on Sunday.
From F1 Live:
After the Brazilian's V8 unit failed within three laps of the chequered flag in Budapest three weeks ago, team-mate Kimi Raikkonen had a similarly smoky exit to the European Grand Prix.
The rules in 2008 allow each driver to make one unscheduled engine change without incurring the ordinary penalty.
Playing his 'joker' ahead of the forthcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps would allow Massa, who began a new two-race schedule with a fresh engine at Valencia, to benefit from any remedies to the problem put in place within the next two weeks.
"We need to work very hard and see if it is important to use or not to use the joker if we really have a problem," the 27-year-old told reporters.
Raikkonen's failure, while on course for sixth place on Sunday, drops him seven points behind Massa in the drivers' championship. His deficit to title leader Lewis Hamilton is 13 points.
Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International
It may not be a bad idea to play their 'joker' at the moment. They'll need their engine to be on top form at Monza as well, but, on paper anyway, Spa is where Ferrari stands its best chance of a win, so it's probably best to ensure they get the victory there and pay the points game at Monza, rather than risk losing their chance of doing damage to McLaren at Spa and then being double-whammied should McLaren win at Monza.
From F1 Live:
After the Brazilian's V8 unit failed within three laps of the chequered flag in Budapest three weeks ago, team-mate Kimi Raikkonen had a similarly smoky exit to the European Grand Prix.
The rules in 2008 allow each driver to make one unscheduled engine change without incurring the ordinary penalty.
Playing his 'joker' ahead of the forthcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps would allow Massa, who began a new two-race schedule with a fresh engine at Valencia, to benefit from any remedies to the problem put in place within the next two weeks.
"We need to work very hard and see if it is important to use or not to use the joker if we really have a problem," the 27-year-old told reporters.
Raikkonen's failure, while on course for sixth place on Sunday, drops him seven points behind Massa in the drivers' championship. His deficit to title leader Lewis Hamilton is 13 points.
Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International
It may not be a bad idea to play their 'joker' at the moment. They'll need their engine to be on top form at Monza as well, but, on paper anyway, Spa is where Ferrari stands its best chance of a win, so it's probably best to ensure they get the victory there and pay the points game at Monza, rather than risk losing their chance of doing damage to McLaren at Spa and then being double-whammied should McLaren win at Monza.

Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008