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

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  1. You can always tell when someone has run out of­ (decent) insults when they start picking up on your­ spelling!

    From tifosi4eva, on Wed 8 Oct 9:44PM

  2. What's wrong with being a "USA American"?

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 8 Oct 9:44PM

  3. r.l.milligan, that was very funny about the Liverpool­ kids. However, speaking from experience, Ferrari does­ not need to look outside of Italy to find a group of­ punks who can take apart a car in less time that it­ takes to say "Ciao bello!"

    From Forza Ferrari, on Wed 8 Oct 9:43PM

  4. really I get bored from these two clowns

    From Brayan, on Wed 8 Oct 9:40PM

  5. Shame on those who're insulting Ferrari !
    JEFF F,­ are you that stupid ?! You probably must be an USA­ american ?! LOL !
    He didn't compare himself to the­ greatest driver ever, at least the fastest ! He said­ that he's got the possibility to be the 1st­ brazilian driver after Senna to win the F1 title ! You­ can't be that fool to insult Massa the way you did­ !?!

    LOL at you !

    From , on Wed 8 Oct 9:36PM

  6. tifosi4eva by the way study up on your spelling that is­ not how you spell connvinient. Learn tae spell ye­ tumshie

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 9:36PM

  7. Hamilton's song:
    Hi ho, Hi ho,
    its off to china we­ go
    with a bust tyre
    in the gravel trap
    Hi ho, Hi­ ho,

    Hi ho, Hi ho,
    its off to brazil we go,
    weve got a­ championship to lose,
    lets just put the car in­ cruise,
    Hi ho, Hi ho,
    Hi ho, Hi ho,

    From tifosi4eva, on Wed 8 Oct 9:33PM

  8. tifosi4eva that is not what he said and however if he­ was as good as Senna he would be in a brick wall?????

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 9:33PM

  9. The Ferrari Formula 1 team fired their entire pit crew­ yesterday. The announcement followed Ferrari's­ decision to take advantage of the UK government's­ youth opportunity scheme and employ young people from­ Liverpool.

    The decision to hire them was brought about­ after their recent comedy of errors in the Pit Lane at­ the last race.

    A recent documentary on TV shown how­ unemployed youths from Liverpool were able to remove a­ set of wheels in less than 6 seconds without proper­ equipment, whereas Ferrari's existing crew can only­ do it in 8 seconds and wreck millions of euros worth of­ high-tech equipment and take other teams at the same­ time.

    UK Prime Minister went on record as saying this­ was a bold move by Ferrari management which­ demonstrated the international recognition of the UK­ under New Labour.

    As most races are won and lost in­ the pits, Ferrari now have the advantage over every­ other team. However, Ferrari may have got more than­ they bargained for.

    At the crews first practice­ session the Liverpool pit crew successfully changed the­ tyres in under 6 seconds, but within 60 seconds they­ had resprayed, re-badged and sold the vehicle to the­ Red Bull team for 8 bottles of Stella; a kilo of speed,­ a Shell Suit, some Furry Dice and some photos of­ Coulthard's bird in the shower.

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 9:30PM

  10. F2007 Ferrari F1 to show up in Gran Turismo 5
    Yes it­ is true! To all Ferrari F1 fans : this is not a joke,­ the F2007 Ferrari F1 car will show up in the next­ series of the Gran Turismo! The car will be available­ at every dealership of the Italian automaker for­ 2,000,000 credits.

    Its the only championship you are­ going to win. Buy it they are going like hot cakes.

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 9:25PM

  11. HI Ho HI Ho
    F1 To win we go
    Ferrari's­ @#$%
    Massa's a Sap
    Hi Ho Hi Ho

    Hi Ho Hi Ho
    Drivers­ Championship
    We Go
    bilal m's a dummy
    Run home to­ Mummy
    HI Ho Hi Ho

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 9:22PM

  12. r.l.milligan, isnt it convinient you never saw the­ article when hamilton said 'I know I am as good as­ Senna was'

    From tifosi4eva, on Wed 8 Oct 9:21PM

  13. Another comment worthy of posting by Bilal!

    From usalien1967, on Wed 8 Oct 9:18PM

  14. bilal m crawl back into your burrow or tree

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 9:18PM

  15. FELIPE IS THE BEST HAMILTON GO AWAY

    From kvaza123, on Wed 8 Oct 9:07PM

  16. hope that its not you r.l.monogoian and­ uselessbrain1967 dummy heads

    From Brayan, on Wed 8 Oct 8:59PM

  17. I have heard Lewis show respect for Senna (in my view­ misplaced but hey its my view).
    I have heard Lewis show­ respect for Senna.
    I have not heard Lewis compare­ himself to Senna.

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 8:32PM

  18. Jeff, You are complaining about Massa comparing himself­ to Senna but how many times have we heard your precious­ lewis do the same? And in fairness to Felipe, his is­ the first Brazilian with a genuine title chance since­ the late and great Ayrton.

    From tifosi4eva, on Wed 8 Oct 8:16PM

  19. Totally agree Forza. May the best team win without­ controversy

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 8:03PM

  20. Who stole bilal m's dummy????

    From r.l.milligan, on Wed 8 Oct 8:01PM
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