Felipe Massa has suggested that F1 title rival Lewis Hamilton should have waited longer before passing Kimi Raikkonen after making a mistake in their battle for the lead of the Belgian GP.
Felipe Massa has suggested that, while he feels some sympathy for Formula One title rival Lewis Hamilton, the Briton could maybe have handled his recovery from a trip across the Bus Stop chicane a little more sportingly - and, therefore, kept his victory.
The Brazilian, who revealed that he was about to leave the circuit when he learned that he had been promoted to first place by a stewards' decision to penalise Hamilton for 'gaining an unfair advantage' by not following the road at the final corner two laps from home, was not in position to win on the track, having failed to live with either Hamilton or Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, but was gifted victory when the McLaren man was handed a retrospective 25-second penalty.
Massa had already inherited second place when Raikkonen spun out in increasingly tricky conditions brought on by late-race rain, but was facing an extended eight-point world championship deficit, with five rounds remaining, when news of the stewards' decision reached him.
"A few hours after standing on the podium, I learned that I had actually been declared the winner," he revealed, "I was in the team motorhome, saying goodbye to everyone and getting ready to leave the circuit, when [team principal] Stefano Domenicali informed me that the stewards had penalised Lewis for his overtaking move on Kimi and that I was now the winner.
"I drove my race to finish, thinking about the championship situation - and I did the right thing, because I gained one place after Kimi's crash and then, after the race, came another move up the finish order. I am happy with that because the championship is really open now."
Despite his obvious enthusiasm for being moved closer to Hamilton in the points race, Massa still showed signs of sympathising with his rival after what was, essentially, a racing incident. However, he did admit that the Briton could perhaps have handled the situation a little more wisely.
"Immediately after the podium ceremony, we knew the incident was under investigation and my first reaction was to find out what had actually happened, as I didn't see it when I was on the track," he commented.
"What Lewis did is the sort of thing that can happen, but I think he was maybe a bit too optimistic in thinking he could just hand back the position, albeit only partially, to Kimi and then immediately try and pass him again.
"Incidents like this have often been discussed in the official driver briefings, when it has been made absolutely clear that anyone cutting a chicane has to fully restore the position and also any other eventual advantage gained. If Lewis had taken the chicane correctly, he would never have been able to pass Kimi on the very short straight that follows it. That was my immediate opinion after seeing the replay.
"Maybe if he had waited and tried to pass on the next straight, that would have been a different matter."
The Brazilian also showed some empathy for his team-mate, despite the championship standings potentially favouring him in Ferrari's eyes.
"While I am pleased to have won, I have to feel sorry for Kimi too," Massa said, "I know what it is like to be leading a race and then losing it with a few laps to go. He was in a different situation to me when the rain came, as he was fighting for the win, so it is very frustrating for him, especially after he drove a great race."
The championship chase now heads to Ferrari's home turf, at Monza, where the team will be doing its utmost, not only to please the tifosi, but also to keep McLaren in check at a circuit that is expected to favour the MP4-23.
"It is now looking very interesting in terms of the championship, as I am just two points behind, but there are still five races to go and we need to do a good job," Massa admitted, "I am really motivated to have a great race there, especially in front of all our home fans, but we need to concentrate and be strong all weekend.
"Arriving at Monza as the winner of the last race is a boost, and we also had a good test there the week before Spa. We did a lot of mileage, which was important from the reliability point of view, especially on the engine front, which will be a key element for the coming races. We also did a lot of mileage running the low downforce Monza aero package, and I think the results were generally okay. Thanks to some changes on the suspension, we managed to improve the way the car works over the kerbs, which is so important at this track.
"Let's wait and see what happens. Personally, I can't wait to be back on the race track after that unusual Sunday afternoon in Spa."
Comment 1 - 12 of 32
Honestly. What else is Massa going to say?
F1 is not a sport anymore, my wife Edith says it's all back room dealings (we know about those), Italian politics and a hilariously funny FIA president from the script of my beloved Allo Allo. Do the stewards work for Herr Flick???
Oh eck!
Yours
Rene Artois
massa you dont deserved to win
nicely said graham.. now all the lewis fans will understand why kimi forced lewis on curb.. he was just protecting his position, lewis should step on his breaks that time and wait for another opportunity to overtake kimi..
As a avid fan of F1 since the 60's I have not had such an exciting sunday afternoon in my armchair for years's thank's to Lewis and Kimi, But on the other hand very dissaponted yet again at the ridiculus outcome from the Faceless IDIOTS from the Fia JUDGES I might be wrong but I did not see one of them reading there findings to the public at large, Cowards!!
We fans, spectators, are loosing interest in the sport because of rediculous rules and conclusions they are coming out with it HAS TO CHANGE OR I'M OUT
FROM RDW
I am disgusted with all of the whining from Lewis Hamilton fans. Clearly the only way Lewis can win is by cheating. Hamilton has ruined F1 with his wreckless driving and dirty tactics.
John I'm sorry but this is not Massa's fault he happened to be in second at the finish it could just as easily been Heidfeld who after changing to inters was lapping over 30 seconds a lap faster than any of the cars who had elected to stay on slicks and Heidfeld finished a mere 9.3 seconds behind Massa who was slick shod. All Heidfeld needed to beat Massa was slightly heavier rain! such was lewis' on the road advantage, which is testiment to his skill and speed in the wet while on slicks that even with the time adjusted result Lewis was only classed as being 10 seconds behind Massa, and only just over a second behind Heidfeld. Gil g ultimately your right, the question of when a race result is actually a result needs to be addressed, Personally, I think the stewards got it wrong, the result should have stood, If it was deemed that Lewis did take an advantage, I don't think he did, it was a racing incident with a 50/50 responsibility split, but thats my opinion, then he should have been penalised at the next race... and not just Lewis this should be applied to any driver who commits this type of offence. Mel, What you have to remember is Lewis and Massa are friends, so I don't think Massa is sitting on the fence, he's being publicly diplomatic, but behind closed doors he's probably very embarrased, no competitive driver wants to win like this, but he can't say it in public for obvious reasons. Nxxx your comments regarding the use of puncture spikes and compulsary tyre changes are ridiculous this isn't death race 2000 can you not see how unbelievably dangerous it would be, the tyre change idea is misguided as each car has an allocated number of sets of tyres for a race weekend so its not feasable to impose such a penalty! Andrew Kimi didn't bash Lewis he simply braked later and took his line, he was racing Lewis and kimi is an agressive hard racer, he was protecting his position thats all any driver as we have witnessed would do the same thing.
I am very dissapointment with Massa, I thought he was mor sport man, no doubt, if he wins the championship it will not be fair!!!
There's none so blind as those who will not see. The apparently omnipotent Stewards, (who should not have that level of authority but that's another story), now Massa, indeed everyone it seems ignores the fact that it was Raikkonen who bashed Hamilton into the corner cutting option, which was therefore not an option at all in practice. Where in the rules does it say that the "advantage" Raikkonen forced on Hamilton must be handed back for any particular duration? It does not. The result should stand and the opportunity taken to strip Stewards of their privileged position. There is far too much money at stake, as well as lives, for the status quo to be maintained.
Previously I have suggested that puncture spikes should be placed around the edge of the track to make drivers stay on the track as the drivers in the old days at The Ring and other tracks with street furniture, trees and other items unpleasant to hit had to.
Why not institute a rule that any driver straying over the outside edge of the kerb during the race, be required to pit and change all four tyres within three laps.
Drivers trying to overtake on the outside of corners might realise that the driver in front can chose their road position.
Of course a farrari driver is going to sit on the fence and give an un biased view!
I think they were side by side going in. So lewis did drop back sufficeintly.
What a Brilliant sport thats being spoilt by W++++rs in suits.
Yet again a huge cloud hangs over F1
It really leaves so many questions hanging when a race is won and lost in the way that happened in Spa. Ultimately, however, what is important is that the stewards' decision was based on the prior clarification of how a driver should respond under such a situation. If Hamilton erred against clear-cut, standing guidelines, then of course he should be penalized. He'll just have to accept the consequences of such an error. Hell, after all, how many seasons does he have under his belt? and already, he is without doubt the top driver in F1 today. More power to him! We'll all get over this one.
Massa was never a winner in this race, he was outclassed and should have refused the first place. But, he is a Ferrari driver so decency does not apply.
I am disgusted with the whole F1 scene, fortunately we had many years of a good clean sport run by enthusiasts, now it has all ended.
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