Felipe Massa has claimed that he has earnt the respect of his Ferrari team since the end of the 2006 season. There are many who believe that Massa will be a strong rival for his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 and that there is real respect for his talent in the Maranello based team.
“From the middle of last year,” Massa said, “I could really feel that I was earning their respect and that they really listen to what I am saying. I really started getting fully involved in the development process and at the moment, I am feeling really comfortable. I see this as a really good moment for me.”
Massa has also admitted that he learnt a lot from Schumacher before his retirement. “Now I feel like an important part of the team,” Massa admitted. “Michael did an incredible job in all areas; he is the most complete driver I have ever known and I tried to learn as much as I could from him.”
