Breaking news
Formula 1
Barrichello, Alonso hail 'fastest' Massa
Felipe Massa is being praised for his speedy lap at Red Bull Ring.
GMM
Edited: Jun 22, 2014, 6:30 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Jun.22 (GMM) Felipe Massa's first pole in more than five years was no surprise to Fernando Alonso.
It was the thrilling finale in Brazil, 2008 - where for an instant the Ferrari camp thought its Brazilian driver had pipped Lewis Hamilton for the title - that Massa last started a Grand Prix from the very front.
"It's the first time since 2008," he confirmed on Saturday, after surprising the world of F1 by leading a Williams one-two at the Red Bull Ring.
"Being the quickest on the track against everybody, it's always the best feeling a driver can have," the emotional Massa, who was ousted by Ferrari at the end of last year, added.
But even before qualifying, when it was clear Williams' car was highly competitive on the Austrian layout, many were placing money only on Massa's teammate Valtteri Bottas.
"Everybody was thinking 'Here is a chance for Williams with Bottas'," said Massa's friend, countryman and former F1 driver Rubens Barrichello, in Austria to commentate for Brazilian TV.
"Then Felipe went out and did it after so long. I'm happy to be here for it," Barrichello told Brazil's Totalrace.
Polesitter Felipe Massa, second place Valtteri Bottas, third place Nico Rosberg
Photo by: XPB Images
"After so long without being in front, Felipe had to believe in himself," he added.
"To feel wanted by the mechanics, his new team, was a very positive thing for him to be able to work better on the mental side.
"There will always be people wanting to be negative. He has to rely on himself," Barrichello said.
Also not surprised on Saturday was Spaniard Alonso, who for the past four years was paired alongside Massa at Ferrari.
For 2014, Ferrari replaced Massa with Kimi Raikkonen, but so far Alonso has utterly humbled the struggling Finn.
"I always said that Felipe is very, very fast," Alonso said after Massa's Red Bull Ring pole. "Few people believed me, but I still think he was the fastest teammate I've had."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Austria raises alarm for once-dominant Mercedes
Next article Austria's place on 'stable' calendar secure - Ecclestone
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Felipe Massa
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Formula 1
Formula 1
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
Formula 1
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
More from
Ferrari
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc completes perfect Friday by topping FP2
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc completes perfect Friday by topping FP2
Exploring Ferrari's 'less than a tenth' US GP update package
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
6 h
Exploring Ferrari's 'less than a tenth' US GP update package
Latest news
NASCAR Truck Series championship down to two with two to go
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck 13 min
NASCAR Truck Series championship down to two with two to go
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez recovers from crash to take pole at wet Phillip Island
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez recovers from crash to take pole at wet Phillip Island
No factory Honda bikes in Australian GP as Luca Marini withdraws due to virus
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
No factory Honda bikes in Australian GP as Luca Marini withdraws due to virus
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe