Skip advert
Advertisement

Felipe Massa Q&A

We talk to Ferrari's Felipe Massa about his season so far and his predictions for the British GP

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso

How is the season going for you and the team so far?

“In terms of performance, it's going well. I had three races which were not really great; the first one was Bahrain that I had a few issues on the tyres, a puncture, then I had a crash in Monaco and then another crash in the qualifying for Canada. So taking away these three races, it was good. But now hopefully we can carry on with some good results and [have] no crashes any more.”

Advertisement - Article continues below

What are your predictions for the weekend? Will we see you on the podium on Sunday?

“I hope so! I love the track and our car is quite competitive around this type of track, so I'm really looking forward and we're quite optimistic.”

What's your opinion on Mark Webber's decision to leave F1 at the end of the season?

“I really respect his announcement. I think we all have a time to decide what we want to do in our lives, and he's decided now. He's 36-years old, so it's really a good time and a good period to choose to do different things. I think he's a great driver - he's shown fantastic performance, he's won many races and he's fought for the championship, so I think that shows he's had a great career.”

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

And what are your plans for the next couple of years? Will you stay with Ferrari?

“Well I hope so. We need to wait a little bit, but I think I have the possibility to stay. It's a great team to work with and in terms of the car, it's like a dream.”

What's been your favourite race of your career?

“I think Interlagos [in 2006]. For sure, the first victory is one of the most important ones, which was Turkey 2006, and then the first victory at Interlagos - at home - it's always the most important one. And for a Brazilian, we know how important it is to win at home. It's like our championship, you know? You can even see that Senna enjoyed much more winning in Brazil than winning the championship - you could see it in his face. So the most important race was my first victory in Brazil.”

What's been your most embarrassing moment in F1?

“The embarrassing ones are the very bad races. Maybe one of these was 2002 here in Silverstone. I was very quick but I couldn't stay on the track. It was raining a lot and I spun maybe five times in the race. It was pretty embarrassing!”

Who’s toughest – Schumacher or Alonso?

“I would put both at the same level, definitely. Maybe I had a bit more trouble with Fernando, in terms of performance, as a team mate, but I would put both at the same level.

“For sure, I had a great relationship with Michael and I have a very great relationship with Fernando, but they are completely different, you know. Even Kimi, we had a great time together but he's completely different again.”

And finally, which cars do you own?

“I have a Ferrari California and a 599 GTO, a Jeep Cherokee and a Fiat 500.”

Felipe Massa was talking exclusively to Auto Express courtesy of Shell – supplier of advanced fuels to the Ferrari F1 Team.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

F1 preview 2024: the longest ever Formula One season awaits
F1 - header
Features

F1 preview 2024: the longest ever Formula One season awaits

Our guide to all the teams and drivers for the the 2024 Formula One World Championship season
28 Feb 2024
Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari: F1 ace to swap Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025
Lewis Hamilton sitting next to a trophy
News

Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari: F1 ace to swap Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025

It’s the end of an era in Formula One as Lewis Hamilton agrees to leave the Mercedes-AMG team at the end of the 2024 season
2 Feb 2024
'From Formula E to Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 2023 was full of car-related disappointments'
Opinion - July 2023
Opinion

'From Formula E to Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 2023 was full of car-related disappointments'

Mike Rutherford believes that the last month has provided a constant bombardment of motoring misfortunes
13 Aug 2023

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024