Luca di Montezemolo wanted more from Felipe Massa
Sometimes, no matter what one does it is not enough. Moreover, this year it is Felipe Massa who was asked to do more, more and more by Ferrari, and yet nothing was enough.
The driver finished the first race of the 2010 season, the Brazilian Grand Prix at second place, behind his teammate, Fernando Alonso. However, owing to a not very competitive car, both the team drivers saw a lulled mid season.
As the year progressed, the team came up with some very useful developments in the car, which increased its pace and reliability immensely. Finally, the German Grand Prix saw the team return to the tug for the title with full force and a loud roar.
However, this time, the strategy of the team was completely different. As the race reached its final laps, both the team drivers were heading for a certain 1-2 finish, with Massa heading for his first victory while Alonso followed
him for second place. At that point, Massa received a coded message on his car’s radio, telling him that his teammate was faster than he was. Following the message, the leading driver slowed down, letting Alonso embrace the second victory of the season. Although
the team got a penalty of U.S$100,000 for following team orders, strictly forbidden by FIA, it continued with its policy until the end of the season.
Well, that was not all! Besides the fact that the driver was plainly told by the team ‘in a coded message’ to grant his race win to his teammate, he was further instructed to tell the media that he did this willingly to help his
team.
The rest few races saw the team and the driver indulged in a fierce exchange of crisp words. The driver very openly stated that he did not want to be marked as a No. 2 driver while the team principal, Luca di Montezemolo insisted
that whoever races for Ferrari does not race for him, but for the team colours. He was told that he is supposed to help his teammate and needs to steal as many points as he can from his teammate’s rivals. Moreover, Alonso also said that he expects Massa to
help him as much as he can.
With all the pressure, distress and disappointment all through the season and no back up from the team, the driver ultimately finished the season at 6th place with his 144 points. Not to forget, he handed over his only
possible race win of the season to his teammate, and was supposed not to fight for the title, but only help Alonso in his battle.
However, as the season ends now, Montezemolo is the first person to come up and say that Massa could have done far better than he actually did. To be precise, he thinks that the second half of the season saw his ‘brother’ on the
track and not the driver himself. While talking to the media this Tuesday, the Italian said that he is far from satisfied with the Brazilian’s performance. When asked to rate the driver, the team boss exclaimed,
“Less than a seven for Felipe Massa. For some reason we have a problem with the brothers of our drivers arriving during the season. It happened with [Michael] Schumacher, [Kimi] Raikkonen and now Massa. I think Felipe got a bit tired mid-season and went
home, sending his brother to drive. He gets a seven minus but he has promised to come back next year."
On the other hand, while rating the two times world champion, Alonso, he said,
"Nine and a half to Alonso. He did not win, but [the score is] from the point of view of results, character and relationship with the team.”
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