Massa banking on home advantage

Eurosport - Sun, 19 Oct 14:28:00 2008

Felipe Massa hopes home advantage will help him in the final round of his Formula One title fight with Lewis Hamilton in Brazil next month.

2008 Japanese GP Ferrari Massa - 0

The Ferrari driver finished a distant second behind Hamilton's McLaren in the Chinese Grand Prix and now trails the championship leader by seven points with only 10 remaining to be won in the season finale.

The 27-year-old Sao Paulo driver, who is chasing his first world title, said he had been well beaten by Hamilton and called on his team to provide him with a more competitive car for Interlagos.

Even then, the title will be out of his hands with 23-year-old Hamilton needing only to finish fifth in Brazil to become the sport's youngest champion.

"For sure we are in a difficult position but we know many things can happen in one race," said Massa, whose team mate Kimi Raikkonen made up a seven point deficit in Brazil last year to beat Hamilton to the title.

"We just need to keep our head up. It is not finished yet. We've got to concentrate on our job and try to win the race and then what happens, happens.

"We're still fighting for the drivers' championship ... we're going to everything we can to achieve our target."

Massa has been on pole in Brazil for the past two seasons, winning in 2006 and finishing second last year after allowing Raikkonen to go past and win.

"Always when you play at home you play better," he said.

"I've had a very good experience in Brazil in the last two years so hopefully I can repeat and have a great experience again."

"I'm very optimistic, and we need to be, everybody in the team."

Ferrari had won three of the four previous races at the Shanghai circuit before this year and had been expected to be strong again this year.

Hamilton, however, was much quicker all weekend and Massa said it would need a great deal more than wishful thinking to beat him on November 2.

"Hoping is always important but then you need a good car and I think we can have a better car in Brazil than we had today," he said.

"Today it was very difficult to follow this guy and fight with him."

Reuters

Comment 28 - 47 of 47

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  1. We all know Massa can only win through luck. So he and­ his team should be humble and realistic and stop all­ this talk about a faster car and home advantage. Or is­ there something else fueling their confidence that the­ rest of us don't know about?

    From Ebere, on Tue 21 Oct 7:45AM

  2. ILLEGAL FOR TEAM ORDERS TO AFFECT RACE RESULT

    MASSA­ MUST HAND BACK POINTS

    TEAM SHUD RECEIVE MASSIVE FINE ­ 10 EUROS .,.,!

    From tttobyjug, on Mon 20 Oct 4:18PM

  3. But I thought Keemmee was my friend.

    From chtech06, on Mon 20 Oct 3:09PM

  4. Pond.simba also invited - my pool is filled with­ piranha fish but not to worry they only eat nice­ people.

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 3:07PM

  5. Kimi is a gentleman and won't take out LH in­ Brazil. Did you see him laughing when asked about that­ 'pass' by CHEATA. 1st time I have ever seen­ Kimi smile this year. Truth is KR doesn't care who­ wins - Certainly not CHEATA.

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 3:02PM

  6. Looking forward to Mr.Hamilton's son win the­ Championship in my home country Brazil! After the race­ you are all invited to my house for the biggest party­ in the world, i will provide lots of nice drink and­ food and beautiful Brazilian girls for you to meet.­ Even BeeGees and Jbolan and Touronroute and Rav A and­ all their friends can come so we true F1 groupies can­ laugh at them and push them in my enormous swimming­ pool. See you in Brazil.

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 2:57PM

  7. It was very sad to see Mrs. Massa crying so much after­ the race - was this because she had seen her baby cheat­ his way to another 2 points. I expect so.

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 2:56PM

  8. The race reminded me of the time I used to driver for­ the excellent and honest Fun Team McLaren back in 1974­ when I won my 2nd championship. What fun we used to­ have and Mr. Hamilton's son has brought back the­ good times to honest Mr.Ron.

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 2:56PM

  9. Hello F1 groupies. Your good friend Emerson from Brazil­ here to wish you a good day. Congratulations to Mr.­ Hamilton's son on winning the Chinese GP in such an­ outstanding fashion! None of the THREE Ferrari drivers­ could catch him!

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 2:55PM

  10. Exchange photo album and spend the lonely nights­ ______Wealthy Finder C om_______ for people tired of­ lonely life

    From sexymodel2008d, on Mon 20 Oct 2:31PM

  11. If Massa wins the DC, he doesn't deserve it because­ the FIA have blatantly helped him twice this season to­ gain points.

    It was nice to see Simoncelli win the­ Riders Championship in Sepang though, Go Sic!!!

    From danluckylarry, on Mon 20 Oct 10:15AM

  12. I manage to catch Keemee, maybe he had a problem.­ Biggest problem was going slow enough to let Massa­ catch him. A nice big No 1 on Lewis's car next­ year.

    From chtech06, on Mon 20 Oct 9:08AM

  13. For hamilton to lose, Massa Should Start fourth, Kimi­ 2nd and Fernando 3rd. They should ram Hamilton at the­ start of the race to allow Massa to pass

    From bwakanangtite, on Mon 20 Oct 8:46AM

  14. ILLEGAL for team orders to affect the reseult

    MASSA­ MUST hand back points to Raikonnen & team fined­ 100.000/- euros

    From tttobyjug, on Mon 20 Oct 8:43AM

  15. kubica will win in brazil

    From clement l, on Mon 20 Oct 7:52AM

  16. Force India partnering with McLaren Mercedes next­ season slows down Kimi when he was catching up with­ Lewis at the end of stint 1. What do u folks say to­ that? :)

    From nikkhil, on Mon 20 Oct 5:06AM

  17. The Title has already been won, The FIA won it four­ races ago along with massa second just how the FIA­ wanted it to be,

    From Shane, on Mon 20 Oct 4:13AM

  18. Hamilton champion

    From ManatSt, on Mon 20 Oct 2:57AM

  19. I think what Massa hoping is to bank more points in­ Brazil courtesy of FIA Stewards! He already have 6­ points from Spa & Japan, now he wants more in hi­ home town to seal the crown! Poor Massa! If you want to­ be champion don't accept charity! Work it on your­ own ability, i you have one!

    From Leonil C, on Sun 19 Oct 11:59PM

  20. teams cant give orders during race its up to the driver

    From wayne.self, on Sun 19 Oct 11:05PM
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