Following a string of disappointing results in the early season, Brazilian Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa has been smiling a lot more since the last few Grands Prix.
“It’s true, I’m much happier, because I can drive the Ferrari F2012 much more in the way I like now,” Massa said to Ferrari web site.
“This means I am much more pleased with my driving, and with the balance of the car and the pace I can run at. When that happens, of course, you feel good and for sure, all the modifications and updates introduced on the car helped in this process, but also important was the way we worked on the set-up with my engineers. We changed many things in terms of the balance and found a good direction that suits me,” he said.
Massa admitted that the set-up that suits his teammate Fernando Alonso does not necessarily fits him. “Every driver has his own style, the way he turns the steering wheel, or uses the throttle pedal and if you don’t feel comfortable with something then it definitely doesn’t help,” Massa added.
“You know how it is with Formula 1 and in fact, not just F1 but all sports at the top level, it involves working on the very small details. When something is not working for you, you move away from the right direction and lose performance, as you are not operating at 100% yourself.”
The Ferrari F2012 has improved considerably in recent weeks, however, it is still not the quickest car on the grid. However, Massa is pleased with the current rate of development work.
“For sure, we have many new parts, compared to the beginning of the season when we were far from how happy with our development. In the last three races, things have started to move much more in the right direction, with the right level of development producing a good level of performance. We have seen that in Barcelona, Monaco and Canada and from now on, I know there are many more updates coming and I expect that improving trend to continue,” Massa explained.
The recent good from of the F2012 is not only due to running soft tires.
“Certainly, if we could choose, we still prefer soft tires,” conceded Felipe.
“This year the tires are much softer than last year, but anyway this year’s car struggles much less than in the past when it comes to bringing tires up to temperature quickly. So, running the medium and soft this weekend in Valencia should be fine for us.”
“It’s true, I’m much happier, because I can drive the Ferrari F2012 much more in the way I like now,” Massa said to Ferrari web site.
“This means I am much more pleased with my driving, and with the balance of the car and the pace I can run at. When that happens, of course, you feel good and for sure, all the modifications and updates introduced on the car helped in this process, but also important was the way we worked on the set-up with my engineers. We changed many things in terms of the balance and found a good direction that suits me,” he said.
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| Felipe Massa (Photo: Ferrari) |
Massa admitted that the set-up that suits his teammate Fernando Alonso does not necessarily fits him. “Every driver has his own style, the way he turns the steering wheel, or uses the throttle pedal and if you don’t feel comfortable with something then it definitely doesn’t help,” Massa added.
“You know how it is with Formula 1 and in fact, not just F1 but all sports at the top level, it involves working on the very small details. When something is not working for you, you move away from the right direction and lose performance, as you are not operating at 100% yourself.”
The Ferrari F2012 has improved considerably in recent weeks, however, it is still not the quickest car on the grid. However, Massa is pleased with the current rate of development work.
“For sure, we have many new parts, compared to the beginning of the season when we were far from how happy with our development. In the last three races, things have started to move much more in the right direction, with the right level of development producing a good level of performance. We have seen that in Barcelona, Monaco and Canada and from now on, I know there are many more updates coming and I expect that improving trend to continue,” Massa explained.
The recent good from of the F2012 is not only due to running soft tires.
“Certainly, if we could choose, we still prefer soft tires,” conceded Felipe.
“This year the tires are much softer than last year, but anyway this year’s car struggles much less than in the past when it comes to bringing tires up to temperature quickly. So, running the medium and soft this weekend in Valencia should be fine for us.”