Commentary
Formula 1
Battle brewing as Massa gets upper hand at Ferrari
New old Massa may dafeat his teammate five times in a row next weekend in China
GMM
Edited: Apr 3, 2013, 7:53 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Apr.3 (GMM) The fiery F1 pairing on everybody's lips at present is Sebastian Vettel versus Mark Webber.
But another fascinating battle is brewing at Ferrari.
The sport's journalists are poring over statistics, wondering if there was ever another time when Fernando Alonso - Ferrari's undisputed and imperious number 1 - had been out-qualified by his teammate so many times on the trot.
Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138
Photo by: XPB Images
Some referred to Jarno Trulli at Renault in 2004, others to Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007, but - actually - the five-times-in-a-row defeat in China next weekend would be historic.
In short, after a long slump punctuated by a near-fatal 2009 crash, Felipe Massa is back in the sort of form that almost saw him win the title in 2008.
On the record, Spaniard Alonso insists he is happy that Massa is now strong again.
"It's the best news for the team, because we need to have a competition between the two drivers and now I think all the data that we have is very useful to compare and to analyse to make ourselves better," he said in Malaysia.
Behind the scenes, though, the situation could be more volatile.
"Fernando is exceptional," Sir Jackie Stewart told Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, "but he does not cope well when his teammate is beating him."
At the very least, Alonso can count on the full backing of the fabled Italian team, who have put him on a pedestal rivalled only by Michael Schumacher's a decade ago.
"In the race, Alonso is the best driver I've ever had," Luca di Montezemolo was quoted recently by Spain's El Confidencial newspaper.
The Ferrari president said one-lap pace is more difficult to quantify through the eras, but "in the race itself, yes, he (Alonso) is the best".
If I have any problems, it is not with the drivers
Luca di Montezemolo
However, barely since their partnership began in 2010 has there been another time in which Massa was also leading Alonso in the drivers' points standings.
Referring to the Brazilian, Montezemolo continued: "It is true that at the beginning of last year, something happened in his head and he could not go as (well as) Fernando did.
"But now he is very relaxed, he has been very good, but we should not forget that there were times when he was even faster than Michael.
"If I have any problems, it is not with the drivers," he added.
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 Snubbed di Resta happy to be beating McLaren
Next article Mark Webber at Porsche for Le Mans 2014? We want to believe.
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
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
12 h
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
18 h
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Latest news
Justin Allgaier confirms he will return for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Martinsville II
4 min
Justin Allgaier confirms he will return for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
NASCAR Cup Homestead finale to feature full field of 40 cars
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
3 h
NASCAR Cup Homestead finale to feature full field of 40 cars
Data reveals severity of Carson Hocevar's brake-check: "There's no denying it"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
4 h
Data reveals severity of Carson Hocevar's brake-check: "There's no denying it"
Honda Racing US echoes Porsche urgency over unified 2030 rules framework
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 7 h
Honda Racing US echoes Porsche urgency over unified 2030 rules framework
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