Massa: extra power from the people

Normally, you only have one driver from a team invited to attend the FIA Thursday press conference, but this is Italy, this is Monza, this is Ferrari’s home race, hence the presence of both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa today.

The Brazilian has donned the famous red fire suit at this event since 2006, with the exception of ’09, when he was recovering from his Budapest accident, therefore he is an expert on what it means to go out on track here with a car bearing the Prancing Horse emblem. “The support of the tifosi can do a lot for a driver and I feel it as soon as I come in the park,” said Felipe. “I also know what it is like from my home race in Brazil, that I won twice, partly I believe because of the support from the crowd and the confidence it gives you: you really do get extra power from the people! Seeing everyone dressed in red, waving Ferrari flags is very special.”

Massa is hoping to secure a good result this weekend. “We have struggled because of the cold temperatures at recent races, when you think that even in Hungary, it was only 15 degrees and we had rain. So, here with the current warm weather, I think we can have a good weekend. The track itself is unique, especially from a driving point of view,” he continued. “Because of the low downforce, you have to be very strong under braking, because you don’t have the downforce helping the brakes to slow the car and you also need the car to work well over the kerbs. There might not be so many corners here, but it is not easy to get them all right and put everything together perfectly.”