Felipe Massa's future

[Lycoming]

he seemed to get along fine in 2008, the first year without TC... he would have won the WDC had it not been for that unfortunate accident with the fuel rig in Singapore. I'm not so sure about that.

However, I do believe there is some weight it that. He also seems to work poorly with the pirellis similar to Webber... he at least managed a few podiums (and what could very well have been a win at hockenheim) in 2010.

[donskar]

Very, very sad to see Massa fall to this level. Let's not forget his F1 wins and strong performances. He was once a top tier driver. Now it's time to go.

[Giblet]

Other drivers have reinvented themselves. Kovy is a good example that the right team can really make the right difference in the right driver, and raise their stock.

[aparajuli]

I think Massa should leave Ferrari and go to another team where he will be considered the #1 driver rather than having to always play 2nd fiddle. Under Schumi, then Kimi, then Alonso. If Perez is going to Ferrari to take Massa's spot then it'll be good to have Massa at Sauber as the main driver.

[bhall]

he seemed to get along fine in 2008, the first year without TC... he would have won the WDC had it not been for that unfortunate accident with the fuel rig in Singapore. I'm not so sure about that.

However, I do believe there is some weight it that. He also seems to work poorly with the pirellis similar to Webber... he at least managed a few podiums (and what could very well have been a win at hockenheim) in 2010.

I don't think the loss of traction control is the culprit with regard to Massa's slipping form. If it's anything to do with the car, I think it's the narrow front tires that were introduced in 2010. It's taken 2+ years for even Schumacher to get a good handle on them, and I don't think anyone would ever confuse Massa's talent for his.

More than anything else, though, I think it probably took Massa longer than he'd like to admit to get over the mental hurdle caused by his accident in Hungary. That is, if he's actually over it. (I see no shame at all in that, by the way. He's got a beautiful wife, a young son and enough to money to comfortably take care of both even if he never turns a wheel in a race again. He'd have to be completely heartless to immediately jump back in the saddle without those factors crossing his mind. And for what it's worth, Brazil 2008 proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that Massa has a big, big heart.)

The problem now is that he's under immense pressure to make up for that lost time when his head and his heart weren't completely in the game. To make matters even more difficult, he's having to do this for a legendary marque in a terrible car against a two-time World Champion who may very well be the best driver in F1 right now. I can't even imagine the weight on Massa's shoulders.

I really like Felipe Massa. I think a Perez-for-Massa trade at this point would be best, and I say that as a Massa fan, not a Ferrari fan. Maybe, just maybe, the atmosphere within Sauber is exactly what Felipe needs to just relax and drive the car and rediscover the form that had him knocking on the door of a World Championship in 2008.

EDIT: Damn, I'm given to write essays. Sorry.

[Jeffsvilleusa]

Don't you think a swap with Perez would be even more demoralizing for Massa?

Anyway, I think so much pressure and attention directed towards him by the press right now is maybe a little unjustified seeing as its the second race of the season. Lots of drivers have ups and downs. Ferrari said last year he has this year to prove he deserves the seat, so lets give him his chance to do it.

[bhall]

Don't you think a swap with Perez would be even more demoralizing for Massa?

No more than being routinely trounced by his teammate and subsequently, the press.

[megz]

he seemed to get along fine in 2008, the first year without TC... he would have won the WDC had it not been for that unfortunate accident with the fuel rig in Singapore. I'm not so sure about that.

Well he needlessly binned it from 2nd in Malaysia in an unforced error during the same year... There are many red-faced moments for the lad through 2008.

[myurr]

Don't you think a swap with Perez would be even more demoralizing for Massa?

Anyway, I think so much pressure and attention directed towards him by the press right now is maybe a little unjustified seeing as its the second race of the season. Lots of drivers have ups and downs. Ferrari said last year he has this year to prove he deserves the seat, so lets give him his chance to do it.

I think the Sauber is actually easier to drive so if they did swap then Massa would probably out qualify and certainly out race Perez in the Ferrari. This will be Fisichella in 2009 all over again.

[myurr]

he seemed to get along fine in 2008, the first year without TC... he would have won the WDC had it not been for that unfortunate accident with the fuel rig in Singapore. I'm not so sure about that.

Well he needlessly binned it from 2nd in Malaysia in an unforced error during the same year... There are many red-faced moments for the lad through 2008.

He was also gifted a whole heap of points by the FIA in Spa.

[FrukostScones]

Don't you think a swap with Perez would be even more demoralizing for Massa?

Anyway, I think so much pressure and attention directed towards him by the press right now is maybe a little unjustified seeing as its the second race of the season. Lots of drivers have ups and downs. Ferrari said last year he has this year to prove he deserves the seat, so lets give him his chance to do it.

I think the Sauber is actually easier to drive so if they did swap then Massa would probably out qualify and certainly out race Perez in the Ferrari. This will be Fisichella in 2009 all over again.

YEs, PEREZ in the Ferrari would be to early, the car is apparently a b#tch to drive and maybe the Sauber is just lovely for PEREZ. So it could be pretty disencouraging for PEREZ in the Ferrari.

To have Alonso as Teammate (I call him the destroyer from now on) and a F2012 that is not very userfriendly would not help his career.
Maybe the ultimate B-Version they will bring in BArcelona ( I read Monaco) is a beast, but keep PEREZ in the Sauber.
They should give MAssa the chance to race the B-spec and then see what he delivers.
If he is bad than just hire Sutil, Buemi, Barrichelo or Trulli) lol or any other topdriver out there but not PEREZ.

Alonso is the reason that Ferrari will never ever win the WCC again while he is on board. He has taken egoism to the next level, I rate him high as driver (he is maybe the best), but I will never be a fan of him again. Like I was from 2001 - 2008. He is causing the mental problems of his teammate's, he is a vacuumcleaner, he sucks in all the good emotions and leaves his teammates nothing but dust. On- and Offtrack.

[munudeges]

I'm afraid that race result, with his team mate first and his prospective replacement second, was the worst possible result Massa could have had.

[strad]

Felipe Massa's future??? Didn't know he had one...maybe Indy car.

[Shrieker]

People point out different reasons but when you look at Hockenheim 2010... The guy had it won on the road, and the accident had happened before that, and also the narrow front tyres had been introduced. I'm thinking now that he never could get a handle on pirelli tyres.

[ringo]

Massa has no F1 future really. He's not bad, but then he's not really a driver any of the teams need for anything.
His retirement is long overdue. After the accident he was never the same.

Massa is damaged goods. Probably has a wealth of Ferrari information, but when you imagine him squirming around on the track, it's hard to make him a number 1 driver in any team.

If i were domenicali i would replace him with Sutil for the rest of the season then bring in Perez for 2013.