Every Now and Then I Fall Apart
I think I mentioned in the Canada podcast, that Massa has really taken a step up in my estimation. Previous to this season, I thought of him as a bit of a no-hoper, clinging on to the coat tails of Michael Schumacher. A harsh assumption, but it was just that, an initial opinion based on very little evidence. He came a very second best to Raikkonen last year, and so I’d basically written him off.
Turnaround
So, what’s changed? I’m going to pin it all on Monaco. Massa was having a dire start to the season - three races in, zero points, Raikkonen dominating, not a lot to look forward to. Then Monaco came along and everything was different. It began with the usual pre-qualifying excuses, that he didn’t like the track and wasn’t expecting to do well. But he stormed out there and took pole position, surprising everyone, including himself. I don’t remember the exact words, but afterwards his race engineer Rob Smedley said they had both worked like the devil on the track and on Massa’s mind. It clearly worked and something had clicked.
Total Eclipse
Since then, it’s been all good for Felipe. He may not always take the win, as in Canada, but he’s always there, a thorn in the other driver’s side, challenging them. Whilst everyone was panicking about the track breaking up at Montreal, Massa was there, cool as you like, ready to take it as it comes. The results will surely follow.
With all the rumours about whether Alonso would fit in a team with Raikkonen, has anyone stopped to think whether Alonso would fit in a team with Massa? Raikkonen isn’t exactly shy about letting people know he’s not bothered about the future, and I can’t see Ferrari getting rid of the new improved Massa any time soon. He’s been putting the Finn in the shade recently. Okay, Monaco was a disaster, and Canada wasn’t his fault, but the Iceman looks as though his bravado is starting to melt.
Forever’s Gonna Start Tonight
The real question, I suppose, rests on whether Massa can, to quote Mr Kipling, continue to keep his head, whilst all about him are losing theirs. He’s already battled through the ranks of the championship to be on equal points with Lewis Hamilton – now he has a real chance to fight for the title. This means added pressure, and Raikkonen’s luck can only be bad for so long. Will Massa have the strength, and has he changed enough, to take it to the finish line?
Of course, this is all speculation, ponderings, and musings, because the truth is there’s no knowing what is going to happen. However, it certainly seems that turning up to a race with the right frame of mind can make all the difference in the world.
P.S - That song is totally in my head now.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:20 pmJourneyer said:
Total Eclipse of the Heart? by Bonnie Tyler? Golly. Why THAT song? Fits well with the article though.
Massa is doing very well, esp. in comparison to Raikkonen and Hamilton as of late. But I think he and Kubica (at least this year) will only be champion if Kimi and Lewis keep slipping, which they won’t. Maybe Kimi OR Lewis can slip up, but not both of them.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pmSteven Roy said:
Rob Smedley told him he could brake a lot later for Ste Devote which Massa didn’t believe until he tried it on his final qualifying run.
June 18th, 2008 at 2:42 pmMattw said:
Own up - who thought this was going to be a Red Bull story?
Massa has always been quick, but very inconsistent and prone to crashing.
But he has been getting steadily better year on year. Still, the time to judge Massa’s performance is at the end of the year, for you never know when he going to have a ‘Massa Moment’
I remember before the 2007 season started thinking that it was strange how Alonso had a rookie for a team-mate; Fisi had a rookie for a team-mate, and kimi had a team-mate who drove like a rookie. I was wrong about Massa then, and I’m pleased how he has kept his feet on the ground despite his success.
If he ends up winning the title, I will be really happy.
June 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pmDom said:
Although I’m pleased for Massa as he’s completely turned my opinion of him around, i can help but think Ferrari aren’t quite as happy. If Massa continues to improve on his current form he will be capable of consistently beating Kimi. Although that would provide great racing for us, Ferrari would not like it. In recent years, they’re second driver has been exactly that. They want a world championship driver and a driver that will sit back and help. If he does continue to improve i think the question will not be Which one will win? but Which one will stay?
June 18th, 2008 at 6:29 pmmy FA fantasy aka BOL said:
Hallo, les peuple!
I’m sure you’ll all be glad to know that I entered Renault F1 competition to win a trip to Hungary and hang out with the team. Now, I’m also sure that you all want me to win so click on my name and if you’re a member of RF1 community vote for me/my sketch (the crazy one signed the Blue Orange Lion which depicts a guy with an arrow thru his head), you can vote once per day until the middle of July or something. My dog already voted for me, so I’ve got 3 votes so far. Join the community and help your favourite commentator to make it to F1 paddock. I’m so famous - I can’t believe it! And I’m better than Salvador Dali!
Massa for title!!!
June 18th, 2008 at 7:10 pmRich said:
Thanks Christine for the post on Massa - you are disproving my theory of Eurocentric reporting - but I expected that as you are so professional. I am not a Massa fan, but after a disasterous start he has shown improvement. You can start to see him as a more complete driver. He has also improved hugely in the PR stakes, but I think that might simply be him having more confidence.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:21 pmme said:
consider it done sir.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:27 pmAlianora La Canta said:
I see me has been impressed by Jim Steinman’s song-writing skills (incidentally he wrote a song for Bonnie Tyler to sing called “Tyre Tracks and Broken Hearts” - if that isn’t a title asking to be pinned onto a motor racing analysis item, I don’t know what is!).
My FA Fantasy, I would vote for you if I could get Renault’s site to work long enough to register my opinion.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:29 pmme said:
whilst i am in awe of any man who can say more in parenthesis than he can in actual sentences, christine wrote this one - we gotta make the author more obvious.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pmmy FA fantasy aka BOL said:
Thanks!
I managed to register my dog a couple of weeks ago without any problems - maybe fansite refuses to work today?
June 18th, 2008 at 8:12 pmAlianora La Canta said:
christine wrote this one {me - 2 posts ago}
Sorry! Evidently I got so excited by the song that I wasn’t paying proper attention to the article attribution - very un-librarian-like behaviour…
I managed to register my dog a couple of weeks ago without any problems - maybe fansite refuses to work today? {my FA Fantasy - previous post}
Given my problems when looking at the team sites, I think it has more to do with my computer and Renault’s site not getting on well together in general, rather than today being particularly bad.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pmme said:
hehe, i vote we get christine to write her next post using nothing but steinman inspired lyrics too
she didn’t mention “bright eyes” once!
June 18th, 2008 at 10:02 pmChristine said:
That sounds like a challenge!
June 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pmRich said:
Seconded
June 18th, 2008 at 10:10 pmRich said:
A challenges easily within your potential Christine to achieve. I once did a poster for a science conference where all the headings where song titles - sadly the joke was on me because nobody picked it up - I was soooo disappointed.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:14 pmme said:
ha!
June 18th, 2008 at 10:15 pmRich said:
He has been complaining about it for rather a long time. A bit uncharacteristic but still painful - get over it and think what damage you caused to Sutil and force India!
June 18th, 2008 at 10:17 pmRich said:
Do you really think Ferrari is giving an advantage to Kimi over Massa? If that was the case I would support Massa, if for no other reason, than to annoy Team Ferrari.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:22 pmme said:
i don’t. but it would make their life that much easier if one wiped the floor with the other.
same with most teams these days i suspect.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:26 pmRich said:
Apparently that is how Wurz describes Magny-Cours.
To counteract its inaccessibility Alain Prost has suggested that
Source: http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_3705732,00.html
June 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pmRich said:
Pat Symonds in a podcast last year stated that he believed that having a one and two driver was better for the team - with PKs brilliance this year I wonder if he still thinks this is the case?
June 18th, 2008 at 10:35 pmRich said:
On the subject of Renault F1 - Toso, head of aerodynamic technology, is leaving. Toso is apparently now “seeking new challenges in motorsport”!
Judging my this year’s performance do we think he is leaving a sinking ship - his splendid record is certainly not going to last through this year!
Also sounds that he (or Renault F1) were in somewhat of a rush as he has no plans for where he is going?
June 18th, 2008 at 10:53 pmSteven Roy said:
This move was orignally announced a few months ago but his contract/notice period has just finished.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:25 pmRich said:
Thanks, my mistake, but then why has he not got a job lined up?
June 18th, 2008 at 11:44 pmAlex Andronov said:
Interesting Article. I think that Massa learned that being a bit calmer in Monaco (because he didn’t think he could win) worked well as he was more relaxed. That followed on in Canada (as you say).
The only problem I can see is that this theory works great when you’re not winning. If he keeps doing well I think he’ll become too excited and the old Massa will be back.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:08 amRich said:
I agree with your Alex - I think it is a real risk!
June 19th, 2008 at 2:17 amPink Peril said:
I did try ! I think it’s the work computer settings - so many things just don’t load properly due to the IT restrictions. I’ll try from home tonight.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:50 amF1Wolf said:
Massa has (so far this year) one big advantage over Kimi - qualifying. Unless there is some crazy strategy on cards whoever of the 2 team mates wins the minibattle on Saturday will win it on Sunday too (bar some accident or Massa (Kimi) moment). If Massa keeps beating Kimi in quali he has a good chance to stay ahead of him in championship
His disadvantage - Ferrari will not make Massa (or Kimi) number one until the other one is mathematically out of the fight. Kimi (Massa) will be stealing points from Massa (Kimi) and that is something that perhaps will not be happening to Hamilton with Heikki and to Kubica with Nick …
And then do not forget. A year ago about now people were doubting Kimi. Then he won in France and was all smiles after Brazil …
June 19th, 2008 at 7:11 amJourneyer said:
It could be due to health issues, Rich. He was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago. No comment from Renault on that, so he may need time to battle that.
But much in the same way that most people are doubting Massa now, he could still be all smiles by Brazil, no?
June 19th, 2008 at 8:10 amRich said:
Thanks - that makes a lot more sense - just seemed that either he was bailing out or the French Team bailed him out. This must be Renault’s worst season ever!