The Ferrari thread !

[quote=Mr Alca-Tazizzle][quote="Mia 01":33yp1ske]It seems as Felipe isn´t such a bad driver afterall.[/quote]
I don't think many of us thought Felipe was a bad pilot. On the contrary when Massa is on form no one is faster IMO. He is just inconsistent and couldn’t come to terms with something less than a very good car, which let his current team mate makes him look quite ordinary in most of the time. It is the general opinion of those in the know that if he could Ferrari would have a couple more WCC's. I hope he hooks up with a team that can give him a competitive car, because it would be great to see Felipe hit his stride again.

A pretty interesting read IMO
[url="http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/3213/8997837/Ferrari-failed-to-deliver-a-good-car-"]http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/3213/89 ... -good-car-[/url][/quote:33yp1ske]

Pretty good post. Before his accident, Massa was finding his stride. He had learnt from The Shoe when they drove together and was really doing well until he had THAT incident that nearly ended his career. He just hasn't been the same Massa since then :(

[quote=555-04Q2][quote="Mr Alca-Tazizzle":1lmcccdg][quote="Mia 01":1lmcccdg]It seems as Felipe isn´t such a bad driver afterall.[/quote]
I don't think many of us thought Felipe was a bad pilot. On the contrary when Massa is on form no one is faster IMO. He is just inconsistent and couldn’t come to terms with something less than a very good car, which let his current team mate makes him look quite ordinary in most of the time. It is the general opinion of those in the know that if he could Ferrari would have a couple more WCC's. I hope he hooks up with a team that can give him a competitive car, because it would be great to see Felipe hit his stride again.

A pretty interesting read IMO
[url="http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/3213/8997837/Ferrari-failed-to-deliver-a-good-car-"]http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/3213/89 ... -good-car-[/url][/quote:1lmcccdg]

Pretty good post. Before his accident, Massa was finding his stride. He had learnt from The Shoe when they drove together and was really doing well until he had THAT incident that nearly ended his career. He just hasn't been the same Massa since then :([/quote:1lmcccdg]
I think his accident has affected him, but not as much as many think. We've seen him perform in races lately pretty strongly until tyres and team mates get in the way. I think with the current regs, we've seen sprint drivers like Felipe struggle. He had awesome cars throughout '06, '07, and '08 and was able to dominate on his day. The 2008 Ferrari was the marginally better car of that year and with re-fuelling, durable tyres and a less unstable Ferrari team, he got very close to winning the championship. Development struggled the following year with the introduction of full slick tyres, thinner, taller wings and the loss of aero gadgets. Alonso is also a tough team mate to have both on track and politically. The focus has shifted away from Felipe in recent years and knowing how weak he can be mentally, I think his mindset has suffered rather than his outright ability. He appears to be driving better since the news broke he is leaving Ferrari. Perhaps knowing he has to fight for a drive elsewhere and finally knowing where he stands within the team has woken him up? he's been very loyal to Ferrari and its often sad to see a minority of the tifosi slag him off. Not suggesting anybody here, just a general feeling overall. I can see him in a Sauber or Williams next year and hope he gets the drive. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by henners88

I think his accident has affected him, but not as much as many think. We've seen him perform in races lately pretty strongly until tyres and team mates get in the way. I think with the current regs, we've seen sprint drivers like Felipe struggle. He had awesome cars throughout '06, '07, and '08 and was able to dominate on his day. The 2008 Ferrari was the marginally better car of that year and with re-fuelling, durable tyres and a less unstable Ferrari team, he got very close to winning the championship. Development struggled the following year with the introduction of full slick tyres, thinner, taller wings and the loss of aero gadgets. Alonso is also a tough team mate to have both on track and politically. The focus has shifted away from Felipe in recent years and knowing how weak he can be mentally, I think his mindset has suffered rather than his outright ability. He appears to be driving better since the news broke he is leaving Ferrari. Perhaps knowing he has to fight for a drive elsewhere and finally knowing where he stands within the team has woken him up? he's been very loyal to Ferrari and its often sad to see a minority of the tifosi slag him off. Not suggesting anybody here, just a general feeling overall. I can see him in a Sauber or Williams next year and hope he gets the drive. :)

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Fair post :)

I too think Felipe is unfairly criticised. I mean he has raced for Ferrari for 8 seasons and all but won a title and has beaten Alonso at times in Quali this year.

He has had Schumi, Kimi and Fernando as team mates which most drivers would struggle with. Have many drivers had 3 such top level team mates?

I too hope he gets a drive next season somewhere to have some fun and race hard without being in Alonso's shadow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by steveaki13

I too think Felipe is unfairly criticised. I mean he has raced for Ferrari for 8 seasons and all but won a title and has beaten Alonso at times in Quali this year.

He has had Schumi, Kimi and Fernando as team mates which most drivers would struggle with. Have many drivers had 3 such top level team mates?

I too hope he gets a drive next season somewhere to have some fun and race hard without being in Alonso's shadow.

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And not just 3 top teammates, 3 WDC teammates, two of them multiple winners.

I see The Scuderia is still beating a dead horse. Here is a pic from Abu Dhabi of the new flow conditioners on the side pods Fred’s car.
It must really suck to have worked so hard on a car that is basically a failure. :smokin:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BX5yLuZCUAIukNY.jpg:large

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle

I see The Scuderia is still beating a dead horse. Here is a pic from Abu Dhabi of the new flow conditioners on the side pods Fred’s car.
It must really suck to have worked so hard on a car that is basically a failure. :smokin:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BX5yLuZCUAIukNY.jpg:large

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To be fair, they are trying to secure second place in the Constructors Championship so it makes sense to try and get something extra working better to try and achieve that :)

Of course, and it has probably been in the works for a while.

But you are right too, it must suck for them flogging the old girl like you said earlier :)

They need some good finishes from both drivers to get 2nd in constructors points..... I can't fault them at all. It's not as if any other team is going to lay down and make it easy. Though Seb and RB have dominated the year, the rest of the pack is much closer.