The next champion?

“There are many positive elements and I am really motivated to drive the car,” said Felipe Massa talking about the new Ferrari for the 2007 season. And well he may be. After two years of being second-best, it is up to him and his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen to restore Ferrari’s domination. And when one of your predecessors is a certain Mr Schumacher, the task is tougher. But obviously, motivating!

Massa was introduced to Formula 1 when he was delivering Pizzas to the Brazilian GP at age seven. Soon enough, he was karting around and his talent had been amply showcased. A natural progression through the levels followed and by the age of just 17, Massa was driving in the Formula Chevrolet championship in Brazil. He finished his debut season in fifth. More success followed in the Formula 3000 (which he opted for over Formula 3) and he was testing with Sauber. The tests went well, he passed and was signed on by Sauber for the 2002 season!

But the 2002 F1 season was anything but easy. He had pace but lacked control. Some argued that would come with experience but others felt one did not too much experience to practice restraint. Nonetheless, a mildly disastrous debut season saw him spin off the track too many times and also win a penalty for the US GP. And then the nightmare came true: Sauber dropped him and signed Heinz-Harald Frentzen for 2003. Massa was also denied a Jordan race seat for 2003 and he spent the year testing for Ferrari.

Massa showed improvement in temperament through the year and this earned him a seat back with Sauber for 2004. This time around, it was with Giancarlo Fisichella as team-mate. And the improvement was for real. He wasn’t Sauber’s best driver, but he did score 12 points which included an ‘almost-podium’ fourth-place finish at the Belgian GP. Although Fisichella was normally the better and faster of the two, Massa also displayed pace and controlled aggression on occasions. This ensured his place in the team for 2005.

Unfortunately for Massa, 2005 was not nearly as good as 2004. A point less and position lower than 2004 despite finishing all but three races in the season pointed at technical limitations and a poor car rather than lack of driving skill. And despite some poor results, he was offered the place Barrichello left vacant alongside Schumacher.

The difference the car makes to the driver’s performance was visible in all its glory in 2006. Massa, previous best finish in the championship table had been 12th in 2004 won two races, four other podium finishes and completed all but two races. The result, a grand total of 80 points, the third place in the overall standings and another year of racing with Ferrari.

His performances through 2006 had such and impact that Kimi Raikkonen was quoted as saying that “Alonso won’t be my toughest rival, but it will be Felipe Massa, my team-mate”. Glowing tributes to a changed and potentially champion driver. And while the competitiveness would remain, Massa is also hopeful of achieving a good working relationship with Kimi. “It is nice to work with Kimi; we will work together to make the car victorious. We still have to get to know each other, because we just met last week: He looks like someone with whom I can work very well.”

A driver needs skill, some amount of luck and a great car to go all the way. Massa has already spent a full season at Ferrari and is now well-respected. Getting his car to work perfectly should not be a problem for either him or the team this season. But Massa needs to realise that just because he may be the number one driver (let’s face it!) he cannot become reckless again.

He was, however, somewhat guarded when speaking about Schumacher’s involvement with Ferrari in 2007. “Michael will be helpful to Kimi and me. He is happy to be able to help the team. For all of us the collaboration of someone like him will be very important. Obviously Kimi and I have to think about winning, to put our cars ahead of everybody else.”

In 2008, after almost winning the title, Massa must feel hard done. The proposed rule of “most wins” to decide the title would have worked in his favor in 2008. However, there is going to be a tough fight in 2009 once again with the likes of Hamilton and also some of the newer drivers. The F2009 hasn’t impressed in testing and Massa will need a couple of races to get used to KERS and slicks... A good start is essential for any driver, and Massa will be hoping for it. but his team principal, Stefano Domenicalli, has admitted that the Ferrari needs to be more consistent. And this must prey on his mind.

2008 started as a season where he was expected to do badly after two retirements in the first two races of the season. However, with six wins in the season, he proved his worth to the team. While it’s not clear yet who the team’s number one driver is, Massa must command the respect that Kimi was accorded last season. He has earned it.