What do you think about Massa at this point?

Question

He has been surprisingly quick at times and very erratic at other times. So what do you think about him so far?

Answer 1

On his day, he's unbeatable - even Raikkonen in equal cars can't keep up with him. What Massa does well is go quickly when he's running on his own; what he doesn't seem to do so well is RACE in close proximity to other cars. A similar charge was occasionally levelled at Ascari and Clark, so that little fault wouldn't be a barrier to greatness...IF Massa was as good as those two, that is.

He can be world champion, he certainly has the speed and the car to do it. What he needs now is some luck and more drives like in Montreal, which was one of the most mature efforts he's produced so far. He shouldn't really be judged on his showing at the British GP - he never got the car set up after his practice accident, and I think that it affected him physically a lot more than the press were told.

Answer 2

Far better than Lewis Hamilton and on a par with Kimi.

Personally I think there was a problem with the car so will wait to read Autosport ( The Unofficial Hamilton Fanzine) on Thursday.

Answer 3

I have mixed feelings for him at this point. On his great days, he just goes off and no one knows what's just happened. Brilliantly quick and flawless. And a complete master of the circuit and the elements, most notably at Turkey.

However, sometimes he just makes himself look like a rookie. Making silly mistakes like going off track, spinning.... showing lack of speed. These make me wonder if he does have what it takes to be WC.

Answer 4

he has improved alot since last season and also is contending to the tittle. he does have his races when he is good and then rubbish but i think that is due to the atmosphere of the race and how he is feeling.

Answer 5

he should improve by the next race. he needs to win in bad conditions, in britian he was always spunning out.

Answer 6

I think this goes to show that Hamilton isn't the only one who can produce moments of pure magic and then have some blips (like you say, "He has been surprisingly quick at times and very erratic at other times"). It's just because Hamilton is pretty much the only hope of England winning the Championship that so much abuse and pressure is thrown at him, even though other drivers can do the same.

Like Hamilton, I think that Massa has a strong chance of taking the cup home. One week he'll do badly, the next he'll do well - that's F1. We're only halfway through the season and with a threeway tie we have no clue who's going to get it. But I have a feeling that the Ferraris are getting pretty serious now, especially since the wake-up call at Silverstone and the comeback at Magny-Cours (the Ferraris had been pretty quiet until that race).

Answer 7

Just when i thought he might be a serious threat to the title, he finishes one lap behind in last place. I like Massa but He's too inconsistent to be taken seriously for the title, he's had plenty of time to sort himself out but he hasn't.   This is not the type of thing we expect from a veteran who is in a top car fighting for the the championship.

Answer 8

A conundrum.

As others have said he can be immense, then a fortnight later put in a poor performance.

To his credit, I think there must of been a problem with his hastily repaired car yesterday, ( again as others have said) at least I hope so!! He had difficult qualifying too.

Still joint championship leader, this is Massa's best chance yet to take the title I feel.

Answer 9

rosbif hit it on the head.  When Massa has a quick car, he is gone, much like Jim Clark.  

The probably with him is consistency.  I think Ferrari has the fastest car this year.  With Prost or Schumi at the wheel, they would have maybe 8 wins and they would be running away with the title.  

Before his pirouettes yesterday, Massa spun off in Australia and Malaysia (he was in 2nd place comfortably and DNFed, 8 pts down the drain).  3/9 races he has not scored points and he has a fast car.  To me that is not a good record.  

I think Massa, apart from his drive in Montreal, is not good at damage limitation.  When things go badly, he disintegrates and usually makes it worse.  Great drivers can get results, points even when they don't have everything go their way!