Massa and Alonso to start as equals 2011

dannyjo22 · 2 Nov 2010 at 11:00

Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali says Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso will start on level pegging next season, with neither driver given preference by the team.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali says that Felipe Massa will not be made to play the role of number two driver next season, despite the dominance of team-mate Fernando Alonso over him in 2010.

Massa has publically been seen to play the role of a team subordinate to Alonso's title push even before his own title chances were over, notably being ordered to make way for the Spaniard whilst leading the German Grand Prix.

"Our drivers have to know what is in the interest of the team," Domenicali told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper. "I can confirm that Felipe will be able to start from scratch in 2011, but always knowing that Ferrari is the most important."

Massa has struggled to match the pace of his team-mate this season but Domenicali denied that his problems have only been due to Bridgestone's tyres.

"I trust him completely and want to make clear that he is a great team player and a great driver. I think that when you do not have a perfect season, you have to look at yourself and react. Felipe knows that the team is with him. He knows we are here to make him the best driver he can be.

"I don't think his performance is related only to the tyres. We have to put all the pieces together and try to understand the reasons for him not having the best possible season."

The same stuff they used to pedal out to Rubens, he will be an equal right up until the first practice session.

Duke · 2 Nov 2010 at 11:02

They will be equal until Alonso destroys him again.

Memphis · 2 Nov 2010 at 12:57

dannyjo22 said:
he will be an equal right up until the first practice session.

I would doubt even that, especially if Alonso takes the number 1 plate into next year. Which is a shame, I like Massa.

GravyMonster · 2 Nov 2010 at 12:59

I wonder if he even believes that himself.

utajoker · 2 Nov 2010 at 13:06

dannyjo22 said:
Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali says Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso will start on level pegging next season, with neither driver given preference by the team.

BahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaBahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaBahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Ofcourse they will.

Wicksta · 2 Nov 2010 at 13:08

How many times have we heard this from Ferrari over the years. Pull the other one Stefano.

Wicksta · 2 Nov 2010 at 13:09

Where is the article from by the way?

Glaucus · 2 Nov 2010 at 13:10

I have no doubt they will, it's unlikely they will have any last minute updates that they only have one part for and Alfonso will quickly outstrip Massa in the first few races, then they will say Alonso has a significant lead, we are backing him.

Dup · 2 Nov 2010 at 13:29

So we can take this as Massa not moving anywhere then?

dannyjo22 · 2 Nov 2010 at 13:31

Wicksta said:
Where is the article from by the way?

http://en.espnf1.com/ferrari/motorsport/story/32610.html

Dup said:
So we can take this as Massa not moving anywhere then?

He never was, he signed a deal and in reality who would have him unless he bought money to the team. The other top teams have better options and even the midfield runners would struggle to open up a seat for him.

mmj_uk · 2 Nov 2010 at 13:53

He will be an equal for about 5-10 races and then they will start gifting Alonso undeserved points again.

dannyjo22 · 2 Nov 2010 at 14:00

The current championship standings show it was the right thing to do. I hope he wins the title by less than 7 points to give people something to whinge about.

Dutch Guy · 2 Nov 2010 at 14:23

This thread needs a pic of the Iraqi minister of information, lol

Haiku · 2 Nov 2010 at 14:40

dannyjo22 said:
The current championship standings show it was the right thing to do. I hope he wins the title by less than 7 points to give people something to whinge about.

That would be delicious.

They should just bring back overt team orders, or rather make them legal again. It's ridiculous that teams feel obliged to make statements like this. No one takes it seriously, as demonstrated by the reactions here.

pcoltrane · 2 Nov 2010 at 14:49

Duke said:
They will be equal until Alonso destroys him again.

Indeed. I have no doubt that they will have equal chances at the start of the season as they did this (Alonso spent at least 2 races held up behind Massa where it would have been much better from a team perspective to allow Alonso to pass).
Things will change once one of the drivers asserts himself over the other with more points and pace in the new package. Unfortunately for Massa even with Pirelli tyres I just can't see him coming out on top!

Duke · 2 Nov 2010 at 15:06

Dutch Guy said:
This thread needs a pic of the Iraqi minister of information, lol

Dutch Guy · 2 Nov 2010 at 15:16

@Duke, for sure that is brilliant

Bennah · 2 Nov 2010 at 21:12

Haha brilliant picture

No great surprise that Stefano has said this. It'll be the same for every other team at the start.

I can't really see Massa keeping up with Alonso. Yes there could be a few occasion's where due to failure or weather conditions Massa pipping him for points but on a level playing field you just can't see him beating Alonso.

This will yet again end up with the same situation as we have now. I can see the Schumacher year's happening all over again.

I can see Massa and Rob Smedley leaving after 2011.

sunama · 3 Nov 2010 at 19:19

dannyjo22 said:
... he will be an equal right up until the first practice session.

I think (like this year), if Massa is holding Alonso up in the first few races, they won't ask Massa to pull over. But if Ferrari are in with a title shout come the middle of the season, they will have to start giving Alonso preferential treatment.

The problem with Massa is that as he he has fallen further and further behind Alonso, it seems as if he is completely broken. It's almost as if all the fight has been knocked out of him. The Massa of 2010 certainly isnt the Massa we saw just before his accident, when he was consistently outperforming Kimi.

dannyjo22 said:
The current championship standings show it was the right thing to do. I hope he wins the title by less than 7 points to give people something to whinge about.

I would love this to happen. Think about all the whinging and whining that we will see on these boards. I'm definitely going to insight more anger, if people moan about Alonso winning the title only because Massa let him through.

Wicksta · 4 Nov 2010 at 08:13

sunama said:
I would love this to happen. Think about all the whinging and whining that we will see on these boards. I'm definitely going to insight more anger, if people moan about Alonso winning the title only because Massa let him through.

Well it will be true won't it, he won't have won the title on merit that's for sure. I'm sure that will eat away at you inside, although with all the cheating Alonso has done over the years maybe you are immune to it now.