Massa plays down pressure

Eurosport - Thu, 16 Oct 15:23:00 2008

Ferrari's Felipe Massa has played down the pressure of a Formula One title duel that could see him crowned Brazil's first world champion since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991.

FORMULA 1 - Felipe Massa - GP Singapour 2008 - 0

Massa is five points behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who can clinch the title in Sunday's penultimate race of the season in China to prevent Massa making the most of home advantage in Sao Paulo two weeks later.

"When you become a Ferrari driver you have pressure at the beginning of the season, the middle of the season and the end of the season," Massa said.

"It doesn't matter the position you are in: you [always] have different [types of] pressure."

Massa, who started the season by failing to score points in the first two races, said there was a constant pressure to perform and 23-year-old Briton Hamilton would be feeling it as much as him in Shanghai this weekend.

Both men have failed to make the most of their opportunities this season in a championship that has been led by four different drivers from three teams.

"I would prefer to be leading but I am not, so I think we both have the pressure," he added.

"We both have to think about how the race is going to be and what you need to do to succeed.

"It doesn't matter if you are fighting for the points, or if you are fighting to keep the points. I think both [situations] are quite difficult."

Massa finished third in China last year - Hamilton skidded out without a point - and then anchored championship-winning team-mate Kimi Raikkonen to a one-two in his home country of Brazil after taking pole position at Interlagos.

"For the moment I have no feelings. I prefer to put all my feelings on this race, because this race is very important now," he said of the prospect of Brazil being the decider.

"If we can get maybe more points and if we can recover a little bit more the championship it will be even better for the last race.

"I think it will be very nice to fight for the championship in my home race. I think, for me, for the Brazilians, it is definitely a great feeling."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. MASSA/HAMILTON can kiss hug each other for a picnic on the grass
    leaving pretty ALONSO to win in an unscathed perfect car

    From llorretta22, on Fri 17 Oct 9:36AM

  2. THIS SITE REALLY IS FILLED WITH NONSENSE

    a great place to display your total ignorance

    From zina222@..., on Fri 17 Oct 5:30AM

  3. LET MASSA/HAMILTON CLASH AGAIN LIKE SPOILED PETTY SCHOOLKIDS

    WHILE PRETTY ALONSO SKILLFULLY AVOIDS TROUBLE ON HIS WAY TO WINNING LINE

    From zina222@..., on Fri 17 Oct 5:28AM

  4. When I go to work I only feel pressure when I have to meet deadlines when doing it myself. When people help you out the pressure reduces, and when my boss reduces my workload the pressure is pretty much off.

    I only mention this because I can't help but feel that the FIA are like my bosses and will remove any obstacles to him meeting his targets, obstacles like Lewis being a better driver than him.

    From ginger_gitt, on Thu 16 Oct 10:15PM

  5. Having read several articles on the FIA and stewards, it is a FACT that if the teams are upset (apart from Ferrari), the fans are outraged (apartf from Ferrari fans) and now the drivers (once again apart from Ferrari ones) are miffed; who is left to be upset by this situation and what is it going to take for Max and the FIA to see their system is not satisfactory for just about everyone involved in F1? Yet again, the FIA have failed to provide a system of regulation that is beyond reproach and effective enough to render governance that is perceived as world-class as this sport is. This isn’t rocket surgery folks, why is this and other situations like the Safety Car rule beyond the immediate attention of the FIA and treated with the same gravity the situations warrant. They are drastically affecting the race outcomes and most everyone involved has taken issue with both situations.
    WAKE UP FIA or at this rate, we'll have no F1 to comment on. You are turning F1 into a joke. Ran by a privelaged few OLD, past-it idiots.

    From crispyduck, on Thu 16 Oct 7:32PM

  6. georgenaylor652: You typed a whole load of Bullsh1t there. Name ONE, just ONE example of when the FIA backed Lewis Hamilton on ANY occassion? I can't think of any and I'm sure you will struggle to find one. Perhaps you should investigate your comments before you type them. You came accross as another blinded Ferrari fan there and showed a complete lack of brains. EVERY sensible fan can see that there has been a definate bias towards Massa. The Bourdais and Sutil inclidents are two such cases. What a vvank you are!

    From crispyduck, on Thu 16 Oct 7:31PM

  7. Massa isn't a champ at anything yet. Just a cheating chump. The only reason he is even close to LH is because of the points he has been gifted. LH has had to earn all his points the honest way.

    From Biggles, on Thu 16 Oct 7:18PM

  8. its not mass's fault that he has colected points from hamilton cheating. for once the FIA arnt backing beloved briton lewis hamilton. massa is a deseved champ

    From georgenaylor652, on Thu 16 Oct 6:26PM

  9. Here's some interesting facts for you: At the beginning of the season, Max Mosley personally appointed a guy called Alan Donnelly to oversee the FIA Stewarding at ALL races. Alan Donnelly, The man in the "the new position" which Max personally created - is someone who has no known history whatsoever in motor sport, but who has a substantial private business with both the FIA and Ferrari as his clients.

    Of all the people in this world, why pick as stewards' overseer that has a career as a bureaucrat, professional politician and lobbyist who has no background in or expert knowledge of the sport?

    The guy's company even handles the PR for Ferrari and was responsible for the Ferrari PR at guess where? SPA of all places!! This is no joke but is sure does stink of corruption. The stink of the FIA just gets worse and worse.

    From crispyduck, on Thu 16 Oct 6:15PM

  10. write those stories down on a piece of paper or something and keep them somewhere so that 50 years from now u can tell your children how he never became world champion u bunch of pathetic whiners ... I pity u

    From mauricechlela, on Thu 16 Oct 6:15PM

  11. danluckylarry: You uare forgetting the Valencie pit lane fine of 10000 euros whne he should have had a time deduction or place penalty in the next race, the Sutil crash incident in Singapore, the Hamilton shunt in the last race, Bourdais, Cutting chicane's without penalties etc, etc.
    Has Hamilton been given one sniff at a break from the FIA?.......NO, NOT ONE.
    The FIA stewards that are appointed for each grand prix are chosen and controlled by Alan Donnelly, the on-circuit representative of the FIA and a man whose company – controversially – was revealed to list Ferrari amongst its clients....coincidence? I DON'T THINK SO!

    From crispyduck, on Thu 16 Oct 5:07PM

  12. Well said ClipsyDuck & Cliffe P Lewis has made mistakes where it has lost him points but at least the points he has are down to his performance not like Massa who has been given points he definitely didn't earn or deserve also the penalties that were handed out to Hamilton were a disgrace where as those handed out to Massa were a bloody joke and didn't really impead him hardly at all

    From Wink, on Thu 16 Oct 4:20PM

  13. I totally agree, why is Massa even bothering to try, he's been assisted by the FIA twice this season, they've always got his back and he knows that. 25 sec penalty to be pushed to first in SPA and another 25 seconds to claim two championship points in Japan. Both times blatant cheating by the FIA!!! Japan was even worse, poor bourdais!

    From danluckylarry, on Thu 16 Oct 4:13PM

  14. Bravo Cliffe! Can everyone not see what a shame the FIA have made of F1 this year. I really hope Hamilton does win it because if he doesn't there will be a whole load of people not watching in the future. The decision on Bourdais last weekend was like a slap in the face to anyone not supporting Ferrari.
    Massa still didn't drive that well in the end and wouldn't even have a point from last weekend if it wasn't for the FIA. I don't think there is an honest F1 fan that can't see what's going on here. Suprisingly, Hamilton has managed to keep quiet when surely other men would be vocal about this farse.

    From crispyduck, on Thu 16 Oct 4:01PM

  15. Pressure what pressure The great man does not feel ANY .He knows all he as got to do is keep the car on the Track during the race and the Championship is his. Compare the two protaganist

    Massa is most likely to win becuase he will get help from Ferarri, Riakonenn,Alonso, FIA Stewards & Max Moseley,
    Hamilton is less Likely to win Becuase He will only get help from Mclaren,Big Ron, & Norbert.

    So right now I would say Massa is Firmly in The box seats and its his championship to lose. The only change Lh has of winning is to colour-out the red mist and hope for it to P!ss down in China and Brazil. Just for the record and to illustrate my points.If the Stewards hadn't intervened the score would be 93-73 in favour of hamilton and GAME OVER. Thats how much the stewards meddling has cost Lewis.FACT

    From Cliffe, on Thu 16 Oct 3:53PM
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