Massa: A real improvement in car performance

Felipe Massa rushed from the team motorhome to the media motorhome to avoid the pouring rain, as he went for his usual Thursday appointment with the press. He was asked to sum up the first half of the season.

“We have not had the results we expected and in particular, the last three races were the worst,” began the Brazilian. “What makes them really the worst is that we had all the potential to pick up a big number of points. But looking at the positive side, over the last two races, we saw an improvement in terms of car performance that will be useful of course for the second part of the championship. I hope we have a better time from now to the end of the season. Yes, there has been some bad luck and I believe in good and bad luck – what else would you call what happened to me at the final corner of the 2008 championship? But luck only plays a secondary part. In terms of my own difficulties on track, I have found it tough racing on the hard tyres, although much easier on the soft ones and I have tried to adapt my driving style accordingly. I prefer to drive a car with a lot of front grip, so even if I find a car with a lot of oversteer, but the front end is working properly, then I can work with the engineers to improve the rear end of the car. That is how I have always driven and this year’s narrow tyres have not helped my driving style.”

Even though this German GP weekend has not even started in terms of track action, the Scuderia Ferrari driver was asked what it would mean to him, returning to Hungary in one week’s time, to the scene of the accident that ended his 2009 season. “It will be something special, because of what happened to me last year, so I am really looking forward to going back to Hungary,” said Felipe. “It will be important on a personal level also, as I plan to go back to the hospital in Budapest, where they looked after me immediately after the accident. They took good care of me and I want to say hello to everyone and enjoy a conversation with them. If that sounds emotional, it is, because what happened to me last year was a significant moment in my life, a big thing and in one way very special from a human point of view.”