Depends, if Massa and Alonso are fighting for the WDCand if you use the same context Ron Dennis used rather then the fanboy twist he might very well say "we are racing Fernando/Massa" depending which media is interviewing him.

I don't think "rather be talking" is a characteristic of an introvert...
Nor is engaging in bizarre animal victory celebration dances

Yes. It beats not being WDC at all, like Massa. For 2007, 08, 09:

WDC, 3rd, 6th (off team) = Raikkonen;
2nd, WDC, 5th = Hamilton;
4th, 2nd, injury = Massa;
3rd (off team), 5th, 9th = Alonso.

I would say that Alonso AND Massa would like to have the stats of either Raikkonen or Hamilton for those 3 years - losing their contract or not. Alonso's contract with Mac ended 2 years early - he already understands how this works. That is why it is suggested that he make the most out of his first year with FER - as Barichello mentioned, they give the driver's everything they want in that first year. You act like being 'fired' makes any difference; Alonso was in an even worse situation, where he felt betrayed and felt it intolerable to stay. Kimi wasn't "betrayed" by a bad car - but FER could have handled his leaving better - and Schumi's actually, remember it was the same (he's being kicked out for Raikkonen). But this is immaterial - Massa would love to be in Kimi's shoes right now.

I just thought I should mention.. The Season hasnt even started. So relax people

I find it rather amazing that people, still after all these years, are using that argument believing it is proof that McLaren was favoring Lewis. If they was so hot on beating Alonso, there was plenty of ways to do that without asking Lewis to push. In reality it is proof of the opposite - Lewis and Fernando raced each other, just as McLaren said they would. During a race, strategies are made and changed depending how things unfold and your target is to win a position, then another one. If whoever was between Alonso and Hamilton was in such a sequence in pit stops that he was not "the next guy" to pass, your team will tell you that and they will give you strategic advice and make strategic decisions to help the driver to catch and pass the next guy. I am sure Alonso got the same information as well, "In front is bla bla, but we must worry about Hamilton coming from behind". That is how it works if the drivers have equal status and are allowed to race eachother. "We" are sometimes the whole team, sometimes the race team for a certain driver. The team for the other driver is "them".

This isn't a thread for discussing other posters - 'they always do this' or 'you only do that' etc. It's about the intra-team battle in the Ferrari garage. Please do not go off topic. Most importantly, REPORT POSTS WHICH BREAK THE HOUSE RULES and use the ignore function for posters you find irritating and cannot find the strength within yourself to ignore.

I'm suprised too. I mean, the accident and not driving for so long must have taken a toll on Massa's his driving ability. But he still beat Alonso

I think Massa was just lucky, or I need to see that doctor Massa goes too!!!

It will most definitely be "Alonso greatness" for them LOL

Actually no..MS did not renew his contract which got over.Kimi was fired from his existing contract.

Why would Massa want to be in Kimi's shoes,he is in F1 and Kimi is not.

Today's qualifying doesn't say that much. Alonso lost some tenths somewhere and this thread doubles in size.

Alonso will be fine. Nothing has been lost today and he knows it.

Maybe. It might also be possible that he is happy to see his son showing that he is really ok after almost being killed in action less than a year ago.

Of course, the fact that he showed it by beating the Santander guy probably made his sigh of relief a bit extra visible.


I have nothing against Alonso, but I hope Massa will humiliate him this season so that I can enjoy the comedy from Alonsos fans.

I really need to repeat this on the same page of the same thread?

Posts have been deleted

lobato's blog

massa's ended up 2nd and for the first time today has been able to beat fernando in q3. until then the spaniard has always been faster. I have been confirmed the brazilian is very nervous, very on pressure for the arrival of fernando, but I guess that finishing today ahead would have been a moral injection, few more to say, his lap was better than fernandos who went wide in the 2nd sector, stained of dust the tyres and lost time for a few meters..

bring on the race tomorrow!

Seriously?

Massa would like to be WDC. That is all I was talking about - I have no idea if Massa likes to rally, lol. The point is, if Massa and Alonso can get along, I think that both will be much further ahead in the end. The only other point I was making is that if FER behaves as they did when Kimi was there, then Alonso will likely be set up to try for another WDC - whereas Massa will again be left empty handed. That is just my prediction - of course, anything can happen!

i am truly happy that massa has recovered fully from his accident, but the reaction of some people in this thread based on a single qualifying performance is somewhat over-enthusiastic.

I think your right about Massa's dad, from the footage I saw he was very quick to embrace Felipe's wife in the garage - I think it was more like that he is chuffed to see Massa back being competitive after the extremely difficult time they all went through after Massa's accident. Probably a big sense of relief for them. Sadly there are always those who look to overanalyse and twist everything into something more sinister than it really is.

That's funny. In which way did FER behave so that Massa came out empty handed? I always thought they really treated both drivers equally and I hope, and think, they will do the same now. Unless of course one of them gains a distinct advantage and becomes The Man for the title quest.

Yes. It was obvious that it was not ordinary happiness, he was close to tears. I think he has been worried, all his family has been worried, but not about Alonso but about him. They have seen it all, the coma, the recovery, every little step. There is always doubts. I guess there will always be doubts, but at least he has proved that as racing driver, he is recovered.

Who knows? Without his accident perhaps he would have beat Alonso by a second?

Maybe 2 seconds

2 seconds and 6 tenths to be precise

Hairpin, I hope that everything goes as you wish - I am neither a fan of Alonso or Massa, so I don't really care. But I would have to disagree that FER treats its drivers equally. It favored Schumi over Chello and Massa I am sure you will agree. Barrichello said that FER gives its incoming drivers whatever they like at first and I think that was pretty evident with Kimi in 07 and so I believe him. In 08, it seemed as though the focus was more upon Massa, which makes sense if Chello was correct. So if they continue doing business in that manner, then it makes sense that a lot of focus would be on Alonso this year - and that doesn't mean Massa won't also do pretty well, as he did in 07. Then next year, depending on how Massa does, the focus would likely shift to him again. If Alonso doesn't make WDC this year (and Massa either), which is very possible - I'd even say likely - then all bets are off and it is hard to say what would happen.

So that is what my thoughts are based on. If you want the interview with Barrichello's thoughts, I have it somewhere...

maybe, but not very likely.

lets wait and see tomorrows race to finish that very first impression.

It is not much left of the team in which Rubens drove. Yes, they were 100% focused around Schumacher but I never saw Ferrari as being 100% focused on Kimi. Rather something like... maybe 90% on both him AND Felipe? I never really felt that Ferrari was 100% focused on anything 2007-2009. There is so many small things that might cause big effects in F1 so it is hard to tell, but in my eyes Felipe got a fair treatment. In his first year with Schumi, maybe not, but that was never to be expected.

Stop downplaying it. It would have easily been 3 seconds.

One way or another, tomorrow by the time the race ends his thread will become a battleground unfortunately

i guess felipe did get equal treatment after schumacher retired, and i dont doubt for a second that he has no disadvantage now.

yes, but it looks more like a fanboy matter, than a media, or ferrari one.

3? im pretty sure massa could beat Fernando with the virgin...

Massa's lastest surgery was in September? Is he still on medication (painkillers, anti-inflammatory) or a special physical programme?

I wonder if, and if so, for how long, he has been able to do his usual (before accident) physical fitness program. I mean, you can't run a marathon (and I suppose he, like most drivers, could do it before the accident) if you're on meds, right? You can die if you do it on heavy antiinflamatories for instance). I'm a bit concerned about his fitness for the race tomorrow after hearing something around those lines on SpeedTV. I'd love to see a Ferrari 1-2 for a change.

I disagree, this thread was forgotten before the q3, none of the bashers wrote anything until massa beat fernando in q3, if fernando wins it will be as calm as a mexican sleeping siesta under the sun, it might be a battleground if massa beats fernando and all the bashers start getting out of their holes

That might be somewhat connected with reality, but it's only thanks to the messages of overzealous Alonso fans on this board, including yourself.

That's good, he started to crack already.

I think SpeedTV should stick to commenting about on track action and leave medical prognoses to the medical profession If there was any concern whatsoever about Massa's fitness to race neither Ferrari, his doctors nor the FIA would let him near a car.

His last surgery was a cosmetic procedure and its HIGHLY unlikely he would still be on medication for it after this long.

Alonso simply has to beat Massa, to make any justice for his and Santander's position in the team. If Massa keeps beating Alonso it will be funny.

bahrain is usually the 3rd or 4th race, its where he usually gets his season back on track. Lets see how the next few (and the race tomorrow) go and we can judge better. Great quali lap though.

Regarding Massa's health:

On Rede Globo (Brazilian's TV) they said Massa is having a cold (or was it a flu?) this weekend.

I've just seen the Alonso onboard from Q3, and he went wide in turn 16.

Exactly. The guy is a snake.

Where did you watch it?

That's not the point. If you go to the first few pages of this thred you'll see how, almost everybody, was taking Felipe for granted and saying Alonso was going to walk all over him and that was even before they had the first practice together. Fast foward to pos qualy and you'll see that most Massa(and Kimi) fans are saying is that it'll be a tough fight. I didn't see anybody claiming Massa will walk all over Alonso.

He's not beat him yet

Cosmetic? Wasn't it skull reconstruction?

If I ask politely would restrain yourself from repeating here what lobato or the spanish 'press' has to say about either Alonso or Massa ?

Considering this thread is primarily a bunch of fanboy poo-throwing, I'd say it fits in quite well.

He had a small titanium plate inserted over a weak spot in his skull caused by the initial surgery he underwent after his accident in Hungary. The subsequent insertion of the titanium plate was a fairly minor procedure in comparison. certainly not something that would require someone to be taking painkillers for six months later. The insertion of the titanium plate was to ensure he could return to compete in F1. I recall Massa quoting that a normal person wouldn't need it, but because he was a driver it was to ensure he was able to get back to driving without risk. So no it wasn't skull reconstruction as such, more a precautionary procedure to ensure he could compete in F1 safely.

I guess you have a point. I was able to participate in the Kimi x Massa threads because I respect Kimi as a decent human being that he is. Sorry I can't say the same about Alonso so my comments are very negative when it comes to Alonso and this can be taken as flame bait or trolling. I think it's better to stop visiting this thred.

The problem is, the guy probably is Lobato. Several Spanish 'F1 journalists' have been advertising their massive ignorance about the sport on these boards over the past five years. The storm abated for a couple of years while the Asturian prince was cooling his heels in an uncompetitive Renault, but expect a veritable typhoon of 'expert commentary' this year from posters like this otoelpiloto, who poses as an expert, yet claims that this year's "q2 is raw pace...q3 needs of race set-up"....and can't tell the difference between grooved tyres and slicks.

Lobato is a fool amongst fools. Massa is nervous since the arrival of Alonso? We are talking about Massa, a driver whose team mate in 2006 and before was 7 x WDC Schumacher, then came Raikkonen who was touted as "the fastest man in F1" and Massa was neither intimidated by, nor made to look mediocre against Kimi. Now comes Alonso, who no doubt is talented and worthy of his 2 x WDC, but suddenly the Spanish reporters claim that Massa is "very nervous, very on pressure"? Sure, a guy who has raced alongside Schumi and Kimi is now scared of another contender. A guy who has had a bolt fly into his head at high speed knocking him out and hence crashing, requiring not insignificant surgery, missed the rest of the season..and then finally getting back into a F1 car noting the limited testing available, has gotten straight back on the pace and now beaten Alonso in qualifying..is somehow scared of the guy he's proved faster than in Q3 for this race. It can be argued, quite validly, that the possibility exists that Massa is not even at 100% yet given the extensive time he has been out of the car since his injury. In this case, it bodes even better for him.

I don't know who is faster between Massa and Alonso and who will prevail over the other come season end. But one thing is clear - Massa feels no fear nor nervousness against Alonso. Suggesting otherwise is nothing but typical childish fanboyism that we've come to expect from Lobato and other children like him.

Lobato might do good for Alonsos popularity in Spain, but he sure knows how to alienate people from other countries. Would be fun to see statistics over the geographic location of Alonso fans and how it has changed over the years. My guess is that the numbers are dropping everywhere except in Spain. All is not Lobato's fault of course, but the Spanish press in general and Alonso's own behavior is not really doing him any favors.