Malaysia Grand Prix 2012, Kuala Lumpur - Race 2/20
- Thread starter Duke
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I've always liked Felipe, he comes across as a genuinely likeable fella, but I have to wonder how he landed the Ferrari seat in the first place. He failed to set the world alight at Sauber in his three seasons with them, yet walked into a prime seat at a top team, once there he faired better than I expected - initially, at least.
He did well partnering Schumi's last red season, was outshone by Kimi in his second Ferrari season and very nearly clinched the championship in 2008 - albeit, flattered by Kimi's failure to perform. Let's not forget, either, that he was outscoring the great Alonso until his accident in 2009.
But after his accident?
He's seemed a beaten man, an empty suit trundling round with less and less pace and passion. I respect the Ferrari brass for sticking with him, but the time has come for the inevitable. Massa just isn't delivering, and he must go.
His manager is Nicolas Todt, say no more, I agree he was a bizarre choice in 2006 but I think Rubens suddenly leaving left Ferrari with a problem, I guess that Massa was just gonna be a stop gap but then MS retired and Massa did okish in 2006, then he beat Kimi pretty much and seemed to be doing fine till the accident.
I think his turning point was Germany 2010. It was when he realised that he was never going to get another 2008 moment while Alonso was in that team. Since then it just hasn't felt like his heart has been in it.
NK has a habit of getting in the way though, he's the definition of mobile chicane. Still, HRT did finish on the same lap as the junior Marussia, which is a significant step up from not qualifying at all...
But a significant step back from where they ended last year. They just seem to reset every winter and start the season from square 1 again.
Mr Men, the Ferrari car is a dog of a car. Massa is showing that. Also, don't forget the Alonso in qualifying, was about 1s/lap slower than Hamilton. This alone tells me that that car is terrible. The commentators who have watched Alonso and Massa drive the car have also stated that the car is very difficult to drive.
I can't see how Ferrari can make up 1s/lap, any time soon.
What you saw today was arguably the best driver in F1 able to flex his muscles on a wet track (where car advantage counts for less) and driver skill counts more.
A lot of people are pointing out that Massa is doing a bad job. IMO he is doing an average (not bad) job. When compared to Alonso, virtually any driver is going to look ordinary. [Analogy: Would you sell Ronaldo, simply because he doesnt play as well as Messi? Or do you accept that Messi is the best in the World and that Ronaldo is actually doing a decent job (albeit, not as well as Messi)?]
I do feel that Perez can do a better job than Massa. The major reason why I believe this to be the case, is tyres. The Ferrari is harsh on tyres. Perez is one of the best drivers in F1 when it comes to tyre management. For this reason alone, I believe it would be beneficial to replace Massa sooner rather than later, with Perez.
He is a nuisance, but it's nothing compared to Rene Arnoux in his later years and Andrea de Cesaris though!
I agree.
In regards to Alonso, I think he showed skill when it was wet, but in the dry the cars true pace was shown. I think people got to caught up in what was going on to realise that what was actually happening was a Sauber on hard tyres was faster than a Ferrari on soft tyres by over 1s a lap. This was reflected by people questioning why Alonso was quite restrained in his interview. The guy is well aware that this is not a result that the car would usually be capable of.
And I agree about Massa. The guy isn't doing a bad job, just a bit of a pointless one. But my main question is wether his performance or development ability are going to actually help Ferrari sort this out, or weather he is just a dead weight they are dragging around.
Apparently they had difficulty paying their contractors in Germany which is why the second car was late. Kind of a vicious circle. As Caterham are discovering, even with good backing and experienced highly rated personnel like Gascoyne, modern F1 is a tough business to do well in.
de Cesaris was fast but reckless (when in a capable car), and matured when at Jordan\Sauber in his twilight years. Narain hasn't shown any consistent speed since he was in British F3. Why do you think Monteiro was the one stayed on with Midland in 2006?
Never said it wasn't terrible did I? they have problems with lower fuel loads and traction out of slow corners they are aware of it, and off course they can make up some ground if they can get on top of those issues which they are hoping to do in China and then use the Mugello test to hopefully get back to the Jerez test exhaust which will give them a good chunk if they work it out. I said if they get it close to the front Alonso will do the rest, just like he nearly done in 2010.
Race pace of the Ferrari with fuel is pretty decent, they have the potential there to unlock, to say they can't is pretty bold. I think it will be much easier for Ferrari to find time than the likes of Red Bull and McLaren. From the opening 2 races I would not say the Ferrari is particulary harsh on their tyres either.
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Caporegime
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But Hamilton on softs was also slower than Perez on hard's, and infact couldn't make the slightest dent in Alonso's lead in the dry, and Webber caught up for a while then slowed down to the same pace, maybe cause he realised there wasn't enough time, but realistically there was, more like the tyres slowed dramatically.
Hard vs Soft in race conditions are much closer together, I think more than anything Alonso/Perez simply had nothing to lose and went just about as fast as they could go on inter's, if it was still raining they'd have lost all traction but inter's often have races where they do great turning essentially into slicks as the track dries. I think a large portion of Alonso/Perez doing so well was simply not conserving tyres just in case it rains and switching to dries would have killed you(if you needed to pit again instantly).
Had Hamilton/Vettel/Webber had the balls to pit 3-4 laps earlier(and they have FAR more manageable cars than Alonso for instance at much higher speeds) they could have all moved up.
As for Massa, he was 3tenths down on one of the best 3 drivers on the field in qualifying, which isn't even remotely bad, considering that is a pretty usual time for Button to be behind Hamilton but Button is the bestest, its a bit of a joke gap to blame on Massa being crap.
Race pace, has a huge amount to do with luck, and Massa has a much newer chassis/wing combo which being new likely has had very little setup time, and in a race with wet/really wet/wet/almost dry/dry conditions well, Massa was likely to suffer from that as badly as anyone out there. Alonso's chassis while slow and older and not at all great, is at least predictable for Alonso.
Massa doesn't look really up with Alonso as he did before the accident, but being ahead of Alonso, getting injured through entirely no fault of your own, coming back, having obviously a tough time coming back from a serious injury and having everyone decide you're crap and crucially the team clearly handed over the team to Alonso in the meantime, will do that to probably anyone.
People shouldn't forget that Massa got injured while giving his all AND doing excellently FOR FERRARI, the same team shouldn't screw him.
Caporegime
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Schumi has been driving fine, and Grosjean hit him out of the race, the car hasn't go the race pace qualifying suggests, same way Mclaren SEEM to be seconds ahead of Ferrari/Red bull in quali yet are almost on top of each other in race pace. Think in Merc's situation this is again because they are horrible on tyres, of the top 10 its ALWAYS the Merc's tyres who drop off first, hard, and go from unpassable to the back 6 being able to breeze past them over the space of a couple laps.
How on earth can you blame Schumi for someone smacking him and causing him to spin, in the opening corners which meant a HUGE drop down the field, completely not at all his fault. Schumi is looking better and better, easily better than Rossberg this season with a "real" car. Remember he used to drive when cornering took skill and overtaking in corners was a key part of racing.
What have we already seen this year, Hamilton improve, Alonso improve, Schumi improve, for me all the best drivers have got cars that driver skill makes a huge difference for this year. Last year was a lot about luck, a good qualifying session, car limits rather than cars limited by drivers, this season seems a vast turn around and Schumi has come alive....... says a lot to me.
There is improvement yes, but I'm sorry, imo, Schumi will never be a world champ again, in any car, so what is the point. Merc would be better off investing in a hungry young new driver such as the likes of perez if they want to see real results. Schumi is 43 years old. How can someone twice the age of most of the others have the aggression, daring and sharpness of the likes of Hamilton and co? Schumi should have stayed retired just like other great sportsmen normally do when they've peaked.