A little note to Felipe baby

[Nando]

From a team point of view, what he did at Interlagos was to me simply spectacular.

Anyone saw how he held back the field covering every last piece of tarmac behind Alonso while Alonso was struggling?
Anyone saw how he boxed in Webber and allowed Alonso a clean run down on the inside of both of them?
I don´t know about you guys but to me from a team point of view, the performance he showed at Interlagos was simply spectacular.

I always for some reason get happy when Felipe is doing well on track and it´s nice to see his other qualities as a driver.

Some say he was blocking the train behind him but i disagree, he never cut someone he simply placed his car strategically depending on where Alonso ahead of him was.

Just wanted to give him a little shout-out as we usually don´t see him too often fighting at the top even though it has gotten better then last 3 races or so

[-Tifosi_dude-]

the first 10 laps Massa did most of the work, by lap 9 there were 5-6 cars piling up behind fernando and felipe was blocking beautifully. I really hope he can keep his late season form, iirc, he outqualified alonso on several occasions and has been one hell of a teammate (see last minute gearbox change at COTA)

[sknguy]

From what I saw I doubt that he was blocking by any stretch. He drove a controlled pace and controlled the traffic behind. He placed his car well and had a great drive IMO. You can't say he didn't do his part. You might think it easy to drive defensively on a wet track but you're really putting yourself more in harms way on a slippery surface compared to a dry track. This is very much a peronal opinion but if I were in no real danger of relinquishing second in the driver's title, and seeing how he was quicker, I probably would've allowed Massa to pass for second. Seeing that this was also his home circuit and all. Just my 2 cents though.

[Phillyred]

I'd like to see Felipe at another team like McLaren or Lotus. I hate to have history look back on him as a support-role #2 driver for a majority of his career.

[Cam]

I'd like to see Felipe at another team like McLaren or Lotus. I hate to have history look back on him as a support-role #2 driver for a majority of his career.

Agreed. Massa is lacking so much confidence and that's compounding any smaller issues with driving style he has with Ferrari. That will always be the case while he's on his knees with Montezemolo and bent over for Alonso. What's the old saying, "it's better to die on your feet than live on your knees".

He should've told negotiated with McLaren, told Ferrari to "GFY" and left on his on terms, head held high and taken on Button in a very strong car. Opportunity lost and he'll go down as the Ferrari water boy.

[jamsbong]

Ya, Barrichello is another driver who had his most successful career as a #2 driver.
Barrichello and Massa knew from the start that Ferrari works this way and they obviously agreed to it because Ferrari would have use someone else if they didn't agree.

Barrichello had a chance to be leader in Williams 2011, and the team obviously was not impressed. IMO, you should be yourself, don't pretend to be someone else. If you're meant to be a supporting driver, then do what you do best. That's all.

[PlatinumZealot]

From a team point of view, what he did at Interlagos was to me simply spectacular.

Anyone saw how he held back the field covering every last piece of tarmac behind Alonso while Alonso was struggling?
Anyone saw how he boxed in Webber and allowed Alonso a clean run down on the inside of both of them?
I don´t know about you guys but to me from a team point of view, the performance he showed at Interlagos was simply spectacular.

I always for some reason get happy when Felipe is doing well on track and it´s nice to see his other qualities as a driver.

Some say he was blocking the train behind him but i disagree, he never cut someone he simply placed his car strategically depending on where Alonso ahead of him was.

Just wanted to give him a little shout-out as we usually don´t see him too often fighting at the top even though it has gotten better then last 3 races or so

That was a beautiful sight the way he made that Ferrari dance. It was like an air show or synchronised swimming.

[JimClarkFan]

Felipe is a top TOP driver... absolutely no question about that.

However mentally, with all that has happened in 2008, with the injury, with Alonso being thrust upon him as the number 1 in Ferrari, and with the dominant personality of Alonso I think his driving can be a bit inhibited by what goes on out of the car, and by his past.

If he could block all that noise out, and drive freely, as he did earlier in his career, I think we would see a Massa resurgence...however, I'm not sure he can overcome his demons.

He lost has lost his confidence somewhere, I wonder is it possible for him to get it back. I'd love to see it.

[raymondu999]

I actually thought he's regaining some of his magic. He was always very special into sort of slow-mid speed corner entries. He could trail brake like no other and still make the apex, such as into T1 and T4 at Brazil. Looking at inboards, it looks like some of that magic is back, anyways

[Cam]

Yeah, he has come back a touch. It would be great to see him on his own, equal status, in another good car and allowed to rip it up. He's never had that chance so we've never really seen what he can do - team strings removed. Arguably now, we never will.

[jamsbong]

I think Massa is an unbeatable driver on good days but like many drivers come and go, he has plenty of bad days.

Champions have the ability to be very consistent, and almost always have good days. People often say things like "he is lucky", and the champ would reply, "you make your own luck". I think very very few people comprehend the term 'you make your own luck'.

Massa needs to be consistent. He needs to learn/discover such ability. If he is able to do that, he can beat anyone on track including Alonso. haha.

[Belatti]

He could trail brake like no other and still make the apex, such as into T1 and T4 at Brazil. Looking at inboards, it looks like some of that magic is back, anyways

At least at T4 no one could brake like Hamilton, and I was watching it all 20 metres away from there...

I agree with JCFan about Massa... there was an Argentine tennis player called Gaudio that had a fine technique but a weak mind and there can be an analogy here.

Like Carroll Smith wrote in drive to win, its a 98% mental sport.

[ParanoiD]

Happy to see him for few last races of the season.

It will be interesting to see him back on form next season. What if he is neck-to-neck with Alonso?

[jamsbong]

What if he is neck-to-neck with Alonso?

Theoretically, Massa can even be better Alonso. But I guess Ferrari and Alonso will use their political might to ensure he remains #2.

[siskue2005]

I just hope he can out perform Alonso in the first few races, so that he can go for WDC next year