Ferrari in Competition: Felipe Massa Reflects on His Turbulent Reign
Felipe Massa Has No Doubts About Turbulent Ferrari Stays
Felipe Massa recollects his time at Ferrari sharing the team with Michael Schumacher in 2006, and later partnering with Fernando Alonso. In an exclusive interview, Massa shared his thoughts on this period, stating that he fared worse with Alonso despite being a talented driver.
Differences in Performance
Speaking about his first year at Ferrari during Schumacher’s final stretches, Massa emphasized that it was a mutually beneficial situation. Ferrari invested more in him, and Schumacher was nearing the end of his career.
However, things took a grim turn when Alonso joined the Ferrari team in 2010. Alonso pulled off an exceptional season, securing six victories, while Massa failed to add to his tally. This disparity amplified in the following years, with Massa struggling to keep pace with Alonso under the Italian car’s challenging handling
Data Supports Massa’s Claims
According to the data, their performance gap widened significantly. Felipe Massa finished 108,118, and 156 points behind Alonso consecutively from 2010 to 2012. Alonso also dominated victoriously, securing 11 overall wins in the four-year span whereas Massa failed to replicate his 2006 success finishing with a dismal 8-3 record in favor Alonso.
The Power Equation
Massa acknowledged Michael Schumacher’s influence; as the team’s number 1 driver, Schumacher wielded significant power within the F1 team. This dynamic caused Massa to face challenges, endure frustration, and occasionally have difficulties adapting to the team’s dynamics While Alonso’s arrival exacerbated these constraints, Massa believes that the differences in performance were more exacerbated by the emotional toll of competing.