Rubens Barrichello provides advice to Felipe Massa to refocus in the current season – Formula 1
Rubens Barrichello has said that Felipe Massa needs to take it easy and calm down in order to keep his focus.
Felipe Massa has been under tremendous pressure to perform, and has faced criticism from all corners. The Brazilian has not looked the same since his accident in 2009.
Massa had a poor 2011 campaign and the poor performance led to Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo to warn the Brazilian to perform or face losing his race seat.
If his poor form was not enough pressure, his team-mate Fernando Alonso’s win in the Malaysian Grand Prix, has put even more pressure on him to produce the results. It is evident that the new F2012 has got its technical difficulties and issues with the balance
of the car, but Alonso’s form discredits Massa’s issues with the car.
Massa’s countryman and friend Barrichello has suggested that the Ferrari driver needs to relax and rediscover the joy of being a Formula 1 driver.
“It isn't a speed problem, it's something that he has to solve himself,” explained Barrichello. “He has to close his eyes, enjoy himself and remember that he is doing this because he likes it.”
“All of the times when I lost myself a little bit, I had forgotten that and reminded myself that I am doing this because I like it too. So [as drivers], we have to relax - and then we can improve. It's just a moment, and every moment in Formula 1 is a cycle
of life,” he added.
Barrichello added that Ferrari do favour Alonso and they should as well as he is one of the best drivers on the grid right now. This makes Massa’s jobs all the more difficult.
Sergio Perez has already been linked with Ferrari to replace Massa, and even though both parties have denied any such moves, it may be disturbing news for the Brazilian.
It will be interesting to see how Massa copes with the issues on the grid and the pressure off the track. So far, one thing seems to be getting much more imminent that Massa is heading to the end of the season with his contract with Ferrari ending as well.
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