Massa, back on form?

[ISLAMATRON]

It seems that many on the board think he is not back up to speed. What evidence do we have to support this claim?

I happen to think he is doing about the same but Massa himself claims he is very unhappy with the tires, especially the harder specs.

Is he back at 100%?

[marcush.]

i have the feeling Ferrari did too much in the winter in direction of optimising their setups towards soft tyres.
they could run them for much longer in their longruns compared to others and everybody feared them.
now with a bit higher temps the options do not perform better nor that much longer because the tyre runs too hot anyways.But then on the primes they really are done and Alonso somehow etracts some performance out of them whereas Massa just plain struggles as he seems to lack sensivity for the fine line of their operating window...so every time they are on the harder compounds it is game over for them at least massa is done.

[lebesset]

I think it would be a miracle if he WAS back to speed after what he has been through

but I also think the team is doing it's very best to give him time

of course , if by late in the season he hasn't got his spark back......

you can't afford sentiment in F1

[WhiteBlue]

just what massa needed ; still on the way back from his accident and unsure of his seat at the same time was surely bad for him
I expect he will improve rapidly now

That is an interesting angle. Why do you think that Massa is still recovering from his accident? I thought nerve and potential brain damage would heal much quicker. From that consideration I had expected Massa to keep the form. He should really only improve if there is a technical problem that affects him, like tyres.

[mx_tifoso]

Which there has been, although I don't recall anything recent about the tyre problems. Anyone with recent info on this?

[Giblet]

I have no actual quotes, but I remember reading him having trouble with the narrower front tires.

[mx_tifoso]

Having just read ISLAMATRON's post above, it says that he was having trouble with the hard compound.

http://www.forumula1.net/2010/f1/f1-new ... elp-massa/

[donskar]

RE: several posts above -- is Massa back? / has Massa recovered?

There are two separate questions. I think all of us saw the horrible severity of Massa's injuries. Would anyone be shocked that he never came back 100%. 100% as a human being -- probably. 100% as a racecar driver? That's less certain.

I'll summarize my position on Massa's "recovery" in two words: Stirling Moss

[lebesset]

donskar , your point about stirling moss is well made , prof watkins said that he would not have permitted him to drive for a minimum of 2 years

but massa's injury was not as severe if I understand correctly , but even so a year does not seem an excessive time for him to return to full form...if he ever does ; after his operation the hospital described his brain injury as life threatening which is why they kept him in a coma

much as I am happy to see ferrari take the pressure off him by this move , I am not certain it was a good move for them

[WhiteBlue]

New Massa contract has 'Barrichello clause.
The latest edition of the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell reports rumours that one of the conditions of Massa's contract renewal was that he agree to be the number two driver.

Ferrari going full circle. No surprise there. Domenicali taking a leaf out of Jean Todt's book of strategies. Perhaps Alonso will get the same abuse for it as Schumacher got by his haters. But he may have to win another bunch of championships first.

[andrew]

All teams will have this or something similar so why does Ferrari get singled out?

The thing about Barrichello is that he is a capable no. 2 driver but not a no. 1 driver. He has never once been a serious championship contender though Massa has and can be again. If Alonso is staying with Ferrari, Massa (and Rob Smedley) needs to find a new team. I would say that Ferrari have got it wrong with Massa in this instance, though they were right with Barrichello and Irvine.

[Shaddock]

All teams will have this or something similar so why does Ferrari get singled out?

The thing about Barrichello is that he is a capable no. 2 driver but not a no. 1 driver. He has never once been a serious championship contender though Massa has and can be again. If Alonso is staying with Ferrari, Massa (and Rob Smedley) needs to find a new team. I would say that Ferrari have got it wrong with Massa in this instance, though they were right with Barrichello and Irvine.

You seem to have forgotten last year. Rubens was a serious contender for most of the season finishing 3rd with 77 pts, and had a very good close to the season.

[andrew]

He was not a serious contender when you look at who he was up against. He didn't have a chance.

[ISLAMATRON]

I'm really starting to worry that Massa will never be back on form, very sad to see him stuggle as he has...I hope I'm wrongand he gets back his speed

[Shaddock]

He was not a serious contender when you look at who he was up against. He didn't have a chance.

This was the standings after Italy, looks pretty much in contention to me with 40 points still up for grabs.


1 Jenson Button 80
2 Rubens Barrichello 66
3 Sebastian Vettel 54