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[EwanM]

Since the embarassment of Hockenheim. Who could have predicted Massa's return to form.
He hasn't just beaten, he has destroyed his seemingly uninterested Team mate, and if not for reliability would be leading this world championship.

He carried his frorm over in the first day of the Monza test:

Massa maintains form in Monza test

By Simon Strang Wednesday, August 27th 2008, 16:44 GMT


Felipe Massa picked up where he left off after his victory in the European Grand Prix at Valencia as the Ferrari driver set the pace on the first day of testing at Monza.

The Brazilian began work developing the Scuderia's aero package for the Italian Grand Prix, concentrating on setup. Massa completed three long runs, which he declared himself satisfied with - ending the day with a lap time of 1:23.428.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, in low-downforce trim, was just over a hundredth slower, as was the Williams of Nico Rosberg - boding well for a competitive race at Monza next month.

Sebastian Vettel continued his and Scuderia Toro Rosso's impressive form with the fourth fastest time of the day ahead of Rubens Barrichello's improving Honda in fifth.

Mark Webber was sixth fastest for Red Bull.

Nick Heidfeld embarked on the first of two days at the wheel of his BMW F1.08, testing mechanical setups for Spa and Monza as well as suspension, aero and gearbox ratios.

Vitantanio Liuzzi returned to the cockpit of the Force India car, completing 99 laps and lapping less than second off Massa's pace to go eighth.

Jarno Trulli was ninth for Toyota while Nelson Piquet completed the runners in tenth.



Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:23.428 101
2. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:23.439 78
3. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:23.461 60
4. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:23.691 99
5. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:23.827 85
6. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:24.005 96
7. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:24.075 77
8. Liuzzi Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:24.239 99
9. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:24.510 92
10. Piquet Renault (B) 1:24.546 117

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70099

Now this title isn't over and you cannot discount a fight back from Raikkonen, however if Massa carries his form into Spa and wins on a "KIMI Track" - Is it safe to say Ferrari may have to back him for the title?

And can anyone really believe he could be this years World Champion, even after his accident in Malaysia which saw many,(including myself I must add) questions his ability?

[McLaren Fan]

I question his ability. I always have done and I probably always will do. I do not, however, question his worth ethic and attempts to improve himself. A lot of drivers, particularly one who drives a red car, whose surname begins with R and hails from Finland, could learn a hell of a lot from him. Massa deserves to be ahead of Raikkonen in the championship, and out of the two Ferrari drivers, Massa is the one who I would like to see win the title.

Personally, I believe that Spa is Raikkonen's last chance to get back into the title fight, and I would guess Ferrari's management are thinking that, too. Raikkonen needs to get as many points as he can in Belgium and put in a very good performance. If Raikkonen cannot do well in Spa, a track that certainly favours the F2008, and is probably Raikkonen's favourite circuit, then he will do well nowhere.

Hopefully Raikkonen does stay involved in the championship battle. It will be good for Formula One, not to mention McLaren's chances in the drivers' title.

[EwanM]

I completely agree, as does Ted Kravitz

http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type ... z&id=43747

Ascribing emotions to Kimi Raikkonen is impossible because he doesn’t really have different emotional states.

He let out an unexpected laugh when I asked him on Thursday whether he felt he was back on form.

Clearly this amused him; I got the feeling I had just asked the same thing his boss had just asked him, or I had inadvertently reversed the situation and it’s not down to him at all, but down to the team not providing him with a fast car.

Or has he found out that Fernando Alonso or Robert Kubica have signed for Ferrari, with the deal to be announced at Monza?

Whatever, Kimi hasn’t won a race for eight events now, since Barcelona in April.

More significantly, he’s only scored 28 points since that race, compared to Felipe’s 46 and Lewis Hamilton’s 50.

Kimi should be strong next time out at Spa. If he doesn’t win there, he’ll struggle to retain his title.

Its like Kimi just doesn't care anymore eh?

[Hanwombat]

thats because he doesn't.....

[Rob-F1]

What amazes me is less than 2 months ago, we all hung our heads in shame as Felipe made a complete idiot of himself at Silverstone. Hockenheim didn't help either when he seemingly gave up the lead of the grand prix to Lewis. Now... after two superb drives, he is now seriously back in the title hunt, more so than Kimi who looks like he dosen't give a fu*k anymore.

[f1ea]

I also believe some of Massa's mistakes in Silverstone and Malaysia were... humbling. But as MFan says, his work ethics, determination and commitment are unquestionable. This, and some unlucky situations for Kimi, is perhaps what has allowed him to work his way up against Raikkonen, who despite his abilities and maybe even commitment has found himself in a similar struggle as Heidfeld.

I do not think Kimi will be able to bounce back this year. He can of course, still be competitive with definite possibilities to win races... but his qualifing troubles, where on the other hand Massa has done superbly, together with Mclaren's form will probably leave Kimi behind.

Like most have said, Spa is the crucial race for Kimi.

[Mikep99]

Poor Massa, what does he have to do to be taken serious

[texasmr2]

!! I agree with you, where is that billboard from?

[bud]

thats from Bahrain thats from yonks ago

[Mikep99]

:yikes: !! I agree with you, where is that billboard from?

Bahrain

[bud]

Zoom
Hill won his last race a decade ago at Spa

Felipe Massa is definitely a contender for the 2008 world championship, 1996 title winner Damon Hill believes.

However, the retired 47-year-old Briton, whose most memorable battles were against Massa's former Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher, admits he often wonders precisely how the 27-year-old Brazilian is a Formula One frontrunner.

"What I don't quite understand is how Massa gets the lap times he does when he so often misses the apexes of the corners," Hill told The Guardian.

Messy or not, Hill thinks Lewis Hamilton's six point advantage in the drivers' standings is not safe, given Massa's current form.

"What really does impress me is the fact that he displays a determination not to be counted out, or overlooked, when it comes to fighting for the world championship. No question about it, he is a contender," he added.



There is no doubt Massa is a far cry better than his early days in F1, when he was derided by Jacques Villeneuve for not being able to drive 'in a straight line', before losing his Sauber seat.

Hill said: "What you've got to remember is that people evolve and Felipe has demonstrated quite a strong determination to make the most of his opportunity as well as showing a willingness to take advice, particularly from Michael Schumacher, which has to be a positive thing."

i agree with Damons summary Felipe is evolving quite nicely this season isnt he

[AKR]

I just hope that after all Massa has done this season so far that he can end up being World Champion. However he has 2 major obsticles and 1 minor obsticle to overcome or beat first. The 2 major ones are Lewis Hamilton and the need for a reliable Ferrari. The 1 minor one is Kimi Raikkonen. The reason why I suggest that Kimi is a minor obsticle because if it comes down that Massa is a better chance for the title, Kimi will actually help Massa out.

[McLaren Fan]

Zoom
Hill won his last race a decade ago at Spa

Felipe Massa is definitely a contender for the 2008 world championship, 1996 title winner Damon Hill believes.

However, the retired 47-year-old Briton, whose most memorable battles were against Massa's former Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher, admits he often wonders precisely how the 27-year-old Brazilian is a Formula One frontrunner.

"What I don't quite understand is how Massa gets the lap times he does when he so often misses the apexes of the corners," Hill told The Guardian.

Messy or not, Hill thinks Lewis Hamilton's six point advantage in the drivers' standings is not safe, given Massa's current form.

"What really does impress me is the fact that he displays a determination not to be counted out, or overlooked, when it comes to fighting for the world championship. No question about it, he is a contender," he added.



There is no doubt Massa is a far cry better than his early days in F1, when he was derided by Jacques Villeneuve for not being able to drive 'in a straight line', before losing his Sauber seat.

Hill said: "What you've got to remember is that people evolve and Felipe has demonstrated quite a strong determination to make the most of his opportunity as well as showing a willingness to take advice, particularly from Michael Schumacher, which has to be a positive thing."

i agree with Damons summary Felipe is evolving quite nicely this season isnt he

I, too, agree with Hill on this one. He has hit the nail on the head. I still have some doubts about Massa's ability, but, as a result of his hard work, he deserves to be where he is in the championship and Ferrari's number one title contender (thus far anyway, but I don't see this situation changing anytime soon). Raikkonen deserves the contempt he has received. He was not up scratch at McLaren (nor were McLaren up to scratch either, which could be a part of things, but certainly not all) and has not done as well as he should have done at Ferrari. I think McLaren and Ferrari have the right to feel short changed.

[darwin dali]

Have to agree with DH's comment. Anybody have any insight on the missed apices?

[racechick]

He gets a little excited sometimes? then has a magic button to shoot him out of trouble