Massa up for the fight

Eurosport - Wed, 08 Oct 13:07:00 2008

Ferrari's Felipe Massa has warned championship leader Lewis Hamilton that the fight for the Formula One title will rage all the way to the wire.

FORMULA 1 - Felipe Massa - GP Singapour 2008 - 0

The Brazilian trails his McLaren rival by seven points with three races left but promised to give the Briton a battle at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

"This season we have shown good mental strength after bad performances," Massa told reporters. "There's still 30 points to fight for.

"We will definitely not give up. We will fight until the last lap of the last race. That's all I have on my mind now."

Massa's title hopes suffered a severe blow after a botched pitstop meant he finished 13th in Singapore two weeks ago while Hamilton banked six points for finishing third.

However, Massa insisted he was more than capable of bursting Hamilton's bubble at Fuji Speedway, where the Briton triumphed in pouring rain last year.

"First of all we need to think about reducing the seven points," he said. "Seven points can be nothing. Hopefully we can bounce back now and win races again."

Massa is hoping to become the first Brazilian to win the Formula One title since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991 but refused to let his thoughts waver.

"We need to think about things step by step," said Massa, whose team mate Kimi Raikkonen, the reigning world champion, has been ordered to lift his game to aid the Brazilian's title challenge.

"First I have to think about this weekend. Then we think about China and Brazil. If we put everything together and make it, it would be more than a dream come true.

"It would be something really indescribable for a Brazilian driver - a great country for motor sports. We had Senna, who was one of the most incredible drivers ever.

"It would be fantastic for my country. But now is not the right time to think about it."

Reuters

Comment 109 - 128 of 128

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. As much as I hate to admit it, Radcliffe you are correct. Hamilton does deserve the title based on his performance the last 2 years.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Thu 9 Oct 1:48PM

  2. Bravo Radcliffe Bravo!

    Someone who post a comment that is intelligent, well spelt, and factual. No hate, just facts and logical opinions.

    Wish there were more like you in here.

    From crispyduck, on Thu 9 Oct 12:23PM

  3. i think in the end all banter aside that the winner this year should be hammilton... he has shown all of us what a real f.1 race should be like.. he has injected some long needed excitment into a sport which was fast becomming a little like watching golf..there have been one or two decisions which where maybe a little bias.. but hes taken it all and still comes out driving. good luck ham.. this one you have earned.

    From wayne, on Thu 9 Oct 10:15AM

  4. Sorry for posting the last message in three bits but that the only way i could get YAHOO to accept the posting..silly really..

    From Radcliffe P, on Thu 9 Oct 9:51AM

  5. FACT: Lewis is in his 2nd Year in F1 and should have won Last year, had it not been for rookie mistakes and team not taking charge.He is the Full Monty on ANY Surface wet or dry. He can and does pass cars when not on pole or finds himself back in the pack .

    From Radcliffe P, on Thu 9 Oct 9:48AM

  6. I've taken this lul in the postings to interject some much needed facts to the proceedings. Strikes me that because we are all passionate about our teams we never let facts stand in the of a good gripe or Bytch..
    FACT:Felipe Massa is not a WDC in the Making.He was hired to be Schumachers Patsy so was never gonna do it then.Last year he only helped Ferrari by letting Kimi pass him in Brazil, He may well end up winning the WDC but that will in part to some favorable decisions to his team (therefore he) has recieved. Think Spa,Think Valencia =20points. He is not a complete driver by any stretch of the imagination. Give him a dry track,pole position,street type Circuit, and its "good night irene" Throw a bottle of Evian on the track and he's like Bambi on ice,put him back in the pack on any surface and its Felipe Who . That is not the M.O of a Champion.

    From Radcliffe P, on Thu 9 Oct 9:47AM

  7. i think it must be time based from YAHOO its the only hting that makes any sense. They allow the most rabid and disgusting racist remarks but "can" the good ones

    From Cliffe, on Thu 9 Oct 8:12AM

  8. yahoo keep saying INVALID to friendly items

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 8:05AM

  9. yahoo keep saying INVALID to friendly items

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 8:05AM

  10. yahoo keep saying INVALID to friendly items

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 8:05AM

  11. yahoo keep saying INVALID to friendly items

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 8:05AM

  12. yahoo keep saying INVALID to friendly items

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 8:05AM

  13. what the phuck is yahoo doing with the phucking INVALID COMMENT are you phucking nut.???

    From Cliffe, on Thu 9 Oct 7:59AM

  14. what the phuck is yahoo doing with the phucking INVALID COMMENT are you phucking nut.???

    From Cliffe, on Thu 9 Oct 7:58AM

  15. allen1967 is a most childish ignorant jerk

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 7:57AM

  16. WHY DOES YAHOO KEEP REPEATING"""""INVALID """" TO REAL COMMENTS ????????

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 7:48AM

  17. WHY DOES YAHOO KEEP REPEATING"""""INVALID """" TO REAL COMMENTS ????????

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 7:48AM

  18. WHY DOES YAHOO KEEP REPEATING"""""INVALID """" TO REAL COMMENTS ????????

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 7:48AM

  19. WHY DOES YAHOO KEEP REPEATING"""""INVALID """" TO REAL COMMENTS ????????

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 7:48AM

  20. WHY DOES YAHOO KEEP REPEATING"""""INVALID """" TO REAL COMMENTS ????????

    From madmassa72, on Thu 9 Oct 7:48AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account