Forza Felipe

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:21

Felipe Massa has announced his departure from Ferrari.

2006: 3rd
2007: 4th
2008: 2nd
2009: 11th (injury)
2010: 6th
2011: 7th
2012: 7th

Some BBC videos of a few of his best races.

Massa's first win
First home win
A cruel fate
I can't believe that's still his last win
Did he deserve it, or not?
One of his better recent races
That move!

Best of luck to Massa and family

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:24

Even though I know it's the right decision, I still feel sad for him. He seems like a really nice guy and although his form has been erratic I don't think his effort ever has been. He was absolutely robbed in 2008.

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:36

Good for Felipe to finally see that enough is enough at Ferrari

I will remember the good years at ferrari and the great drives pre 2009- Brazil 2006,2008

However he may have stayed a year too long in the end but thats that really.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:37

The question is, and a mate asked me this at work today, will he go somewhere else, and if so, where?

Eifelland · Post by **Eifelland** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:40

Unfortunately for Felipe, it make sense for Ferrari to do this. It's a shame to think that for a few brief seconds he was a world champion, and that his form/ability was cut short in horrific circumstances, but you can't justify having a place at a top team on occasional flashes of brilliance. I'd like to think that had Fernando not been faster, and had he been allowed his moment, 365 days after his accident, it might have shown him that he still had what it took to be a top-end driver.

Would that have happened? I don't know. Raikonnen will do well during his return, I'm sure, and from Ferrari's perspective, it's a great signing. I can't help agreeing with people here, and think they should have gone for the long-ball game, but if they revive their fortunes under a Alonso-Kimi pairing, you just know they could have ANYONE (Vettel, Hamilton are you listening?) they choose when the time comes to replace their squad.

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:40

AndreaModa wrote:The question is, and a mate asked me this at work today, will he go somewhere else, and if so, where?

I can't see it- The only place he could go is Sauber and I think he would be reluctant to do that- I think it would be best to retire from f1 like Webber

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:44

Felipe could be untouchable on his day but since the accident and Alonso's arrival he has been a mere shadow of the man who dominated the Turkish GP in 2006 2007 and 2008 and of course the man who was robbed of the title in 2008 when he deserved to win it. The Pirelli tires and the Fernando is Faster than You debacle have reduced him to the Barrichello role in my eyes and I always wondered why didn't Ferrari sack him after either the end of 2011 or after Spain 2012 where his DBTMOTY status was more brutally exposed than it was in Malaysia because it was in pure dry conditions?

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:46

AndreaModa wrote:The question is, and a mate asked me this at work today, will he go somewhere else, and if so, where?

Maybe Sauber, nowhere else though.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:54

FullMetalJack wrote:
AndreaModa wrote:The question is, and a mate asked me this at work today, will he go somewhere else, and if so, where?

Maybe Sauber, nowhere else though.

Sauber would welcome his experience considering the rumors over Sirotkin and whether he gets a Superlicence.

I predict that Kimi will rejoin Ferrari, Hulk will join Grosjean at Lotus, Either AFDC or Nasr will partner JEV at Toro Rosso and Massa will have a last year at Sauber. Also this really feels like 2007 doesn't it with the elder statesmen either moving out (Webber Massa) or only being around for a few more years (Raikkonen Alonso Button) while we have Hulk Ricciardo Grosjean and co becoming the new leaders

Eifelland · Post by **Eifelland** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:55

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Also this really feels like 2007 doesn't it with the elder statesmen either moving out (Webber Massa) or only being around for a few more years (Raikkonen Alonso Button) while we have Hulk Ricciardo Grosjean and co becoming the new leaders

That would be awesome, but is that actually happening?

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:57

Eifelland wrote:
Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Also this really feels like 2007 doesn't it with the elder statesmen either moving out (Webber Massa) or only being around for a few more years (Raikkonen Alonso Button) while we have Hulk Ricciardo Grosjean and co becoming the new leaders

That would be awesome, but is that actually happening?

I bloody hope so. The order at the top has been stale for years now so we need a refreshing change

Eifelland · Post by **Eifelland** » 10 Sep 2013, 19:58

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
Eifelland wrote:
Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Also this really feels like 2007 doesn't it with the elder statesmen either moving out (Webber Massa) or only being around for a few more years (Raikkonen Alonso Button) while we have Hulk Ricciardo Grosjean and co becoming the new leaders

That would be awesome, but is that actually happening?

I bloody hope so. The order at the top has been stale for years now so we need a refreshing change

I love Grosjean, and it pains me to say it, but I think that Grosjean is the new Felipe. But equally loveable.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 10 Sep 2013, 20:01

I hope Massa secures a Sauber seat, at least. See him outside of ferrari, with no pressure or whatever, is going to be good.

Also, I hope Massa starts to put pressure to Alonso and starts to disobey Ferrari's team orders.

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 10 Sep 2013, 21:03

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
Eifelland wrote:
Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Also this really feels like 2007 doesn't it with the elder statesmen either moving out (Webber Massa) or only being around for a few more years (Raikkonen Alonso Button) while we have Hulk Ricciardo Grosjean and co becoming the new leaders

That would be awesome, but is that actually happening?

I bloody hope so. The order at the top has been stale for years now so we need a refreshing change

Good for you, Kimi. No one has mentioned that until now. The talent comes in what seems to be generations, and every generation has its talents show up and disappear.

I wish Felipe best of luck in the future, and hope he stays in F1 a bit longer.

lgaquino · Post by **lgaquino** » 10 Sep 2013, 21:12

LellaLombardi wrote:He was absolutely robbed in 2008.

not really. He lost the title by his own doing
here in Malaysia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX1obxJnFrA
and also here in Australia: http://mais.uol.com.br/view/hni1j3wq59i ... 6?types=A&

His Ferrari carreer was way longer than it should've been, performance-wise. Even for a very co-operative #2, he stayed too long really.

SgtPepper · Post by **SgtPepper** » 10 Sep 2013, 21:36

Massa is a very interesting phenomenon. In the otherwise incredibly cut-throat world of F1, where even great drivers are sometimes dropped for rich, mediocre ones, this guy has managed to hold on by his fingernails in a top team for years, while performing either erratically, or just poorly, on what seems to be on nothing but virtue of his incredible likeability and sympathy concerning an awful crash. I really hope he gets a drive in a mid-field team, and we see something of the old Massa come out again, plus would be sad to lose him from the grid (as I was Schumacher in 2012).

However, I can't help but feel that perhaps the last three years wouldn't have gone quite so awry if Alonso had had a more competitive teammate to help bring down the might of Red Bull...

James1978 · Post by **James1978** » 10 Sep 2013, 22:18

If he does (hopefully) get a seat at another team, I hope Rob Smedley goes with him - I really cannot imagine Smedley ever being race engineer for anyone else!!

apple2009 · Post by **apple2009** » 10 Sep 2013, 23:06

James1978 wrote:If he does (hopefully) get a seat at another team, I hope Rob Smedley goes with him - I really cannot imagine Smedley ever being race engineer for anyone else!!

I second all of that.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 10 Sep 2013, 23:15

Massa was one of my favorite drivers in the field (except for a few races in 2008 when he shafted Bourdais), but post-2011 it became painful to watch his efforts. He seems like one of the truly nice guys in the F1 field, and I hope Ferrari treats him well, because he did a lot for that team with little complaint.

James1978 wrote:If he does (hopefully) get a seat at another team, I hope Rob Smedley goes with him - I really cannot imagine Smedley ever being race engineer for anyone else!!

Somehow I feel likewise, but even if Massa goes to another series, it will be odd not to hear Smedley on the radio with him.

AustralianStig · Post by **AustralianStig** » 11 Sep 2013, 00:41

Things I want to see happen by the end of the year:

1. See Webber win a race.
2. See Massa win a race.

Good luck for the future Felipe - unfortunately I don't think he'll get a chance to win another race after this year, but he's certainly been an enjoyable driver to watch.

The cynic in me is wondering if Ferrari dumped him following the incident with Alonso on Saturday, when he didn't give Fernando a tow down the straight...I hope not but I just wonder...

DOSBoot · Post by **DOSBoot** » 11 Sep 2013, 03:07

lgaquino wrote:
LellaLombardi wrote:He was absolutely robbed in 2008.

not really. He lost the title by his own doing
here in Malaysia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX1obxJnFrA
and also here in Australia: http://mais.uol.com.br/view/hni1j3wq59i ... 6?types=A&

His Ferrari carreer was way longer than it should've been, performance-wise. Even for a very co-operative #2, he stayed too long really.

He should have won at Hungary, but his engine blew. Trust me, he was robbed. While it's a shame that he leaving Ferrari, it's for the better. He just hasn't been the same since 2008. He's pretty much a shadow of his former self now, and was at Ferrari a year too long. (It's a miracle he wasn't sacked in 2012.) It's time to move on. I don't know where he'll go after that, so I wouldn't be surprised if he retires at the end of the year. I think Massa would be a modern day version of Michele Albereto. Put some brilliant drives early in his career, made it to Ferrari, put on a title challenge, but lost out due to bad luck, and never seemed to have that edge again.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 11 Sep 2013, 07:14

Sometimes F1 can be a bit spooky at times. In 2008 he nearly wins the title and the next year he has an accident from which his ability seems permanently affected. A shame.

James1978 · Post by **James1978** » 11 Sep 2013, 12:25

I think the worst driver for Smedley to get would actually be Kimi - Kimi would tell him just to shut up and leave him alone.

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 11 Sep 2013, 12:26

James1978 wrote:I think the worst driver for Smedley to get would actually be Kimi - Kimi would tell him just to shut up and leave him alone.

The mind boggles at the thought of Smedley and Kimi together!

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 11 Sep 2013, 15:17

James1978 wrote:I think the worst driver for Smedley to get would actually be Kimi - Kimi would tell him just to shut up and leave him alone.

I doubt Raikkonen will need quite as much guidance as Massa did.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 11 Sep 2013, 16:31

AustralianStig wrote:The cynic in me is wondering if Ferrari dumped him following the incident with Alonso on Saturday, when he didn't give Fernando a tow down the straight...I hope not but I just wonder...

Or...Felipe was informed before the weekend started that he would not be with the team in 2014, and therefore screwed up the tow on purpose?

Post by **mario** » 11 Sep 2013, 17:13

LellaLombardi wrote:
James1978 wrote:I think the worst driver for Smedley to get would actually be Kimi - Kimi would tell him just to shut up and leave him alone.

The mind boggles at the thought of Smedley and Kimi together!

There is a suggestion that Smedley might also be leaving Ferrari too - it seems that he would prefer to continue working with Massa if possible, wherever he ends up, or perhaps even leave the sport altogether.

LellaLombardi wrote:Even though I know it's the right decision, I still feel sad for him. He seems like a really nice guy and although his form has been erratic I don't think his effort ever has been. He was absolutely robbed in 2008.

Top Gear, of all organisations, have pointed out how deep Massa's roots with Ferrari run and how strong his form was before 2009 - he has the second highest number of starts for the team (behind only Schumacher) and in terms of wins is the fourth most successful driver that the team have had.

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 12 Sep 2013, 05:17

Wish the best luck for Massa

. I really hope he would win another race before leaving Ferrari or maybe.... F1.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 12 Sep 2013, 06:45

Jocke1 wrote:Or...Felipe was informed before the weekend started that he would not be with the team in 2014, and therefore screwed up the tow on purpose?

Nah, if he wanted to frig things up for Alonso he wouldnt have let him pass during the race.

James1978 · Post by **James1978** » 12 Sep 2013, 11:09

Just thought......if Massa doesn't get a seat for next year and Bruno Senna doesn't make a surprise comeback, there'll be no Brazilians on the grid for the first time since when - pre-Fittipaldi? Fittipaldi then Piquet then Senna then Barrichello then Massa were always permanent fixtures.

The though of no Brazilians at one point seemed as unlikely as no Italian drivers or no French drivers!

AustralianStig · Post by **AustralianStig** » 12 Sep 2013, 11:14

I read somewhere (I think it was Sky) that it would be the first time since the 1960s since there were no Brazilians on the grid.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 12 Sep 2013, 14:17

James1978 wrote:Just thought......if Massa doesn't get a seat for next year and Bruno Senna doesn't make a surprise comeback, there'll be no Brazilians on the grid for the first time since when - pre-Fittipaldi? Fittipaldi then Piquet then Senna then Barrichello then Massa were always permanent fixtures.

The though of no Brazilians at one point seemed as unlikely as no Italian drivers or no French drivers!

I think since 1970, before Fittipaldi made his F1 debut at Brands Hatch. Brazil's hopes and dreams are potentially placed on the shoulders of Nasr...

apple2009 · Post by **apple2009** » 12 Sep 2013, 21:40

good_Ralf wrote:
James1978 wrote:Just thought......if Massa doesn't get a seat for next year and Bruno Senna doesn't make a surprise comeback, there'll be no Brazilians on the grid for the first time since when - pre-Fittipaldi? Fittipaldi then Piquet then Senna then Barrichello then Massa were always permanent fixtures.

The though of no Brazilians at one point seemed as unlikely as no Italian drivers or no French drivers!

I think since 1970, before Fittipaldi made his F1 debut at Brands Hatch. Brazil's hopes and dreams are potentially placed on the shoulders of Nasr...

Felipe Baby II

Onxy Wrecked · Post by **Onxy Wrecked** » 13 Sep 2013, 15:21

AustralianStig wrote:I read somewhere (I think it was Sky) that it would be the first time since the 1960s since there were no Brazilians on the grid.

This is gonna be strange.

Guzuky · Post by **Guzuky** » 13 Sep 2013, 17:15

The only way a team would take him is for his Ferrari experience - I dont think somebody is expecting him to lead. And now that Lotus has lost two of their Aero Chief for Massa to go there may be a waste of time. I wish the best for him but I recognize that he was not champion material. That's why his 2008 mattered so much to him - he knew that was the only 'chance' to be WC

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 13 Sep 2013, 18:10

A song for Felipe:
http://youtu.be/3S5b-vSsE2U

watka · Post by **watka** » 13 Sep 2013, 23:43

Please, please, please can Felipe win in Brazil?

Also, a Webber win in Korea to exorcise the ghosts of 2010 would be nice.

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 14 Sep 2013, 09:53

watka wrote:Please, please, please can Felipe win in Brazil?

Also, a Webber win in Korea to exorcise the ghosts of 2010 would be nice.

Sebastian Vettel says no

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 14 Sep 2013, 10:16

rachel1990 wrote:
watka wrote:Please, please, please can Felipe win in Brazil?

Also, a Webber win in Korea to exorcise the ghosts of 2010 would be nice.

Sebastian Vettel says no

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... v469YE-ovg

http://picardfacepalm.com/picard-facepalm-hotlink.jpg

I give up I give up

watka · Post by **watka** » 14 Sep 2013, 10:46

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
rachel1990 wrote:
watka wrote:Please, please, please can Felipe win in Brazil?

Also, a Webber win in Korea to exorcise the ghosts of 2010 would be nice.

Sebastian Vettel says no

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... v469YE-ovg

I give up I give up

Is it bad that I recognise the picture as the guy from Die Antwoord?