Massa in Warsaw: We know we must improve in qualifying

It’s always exciting driving a Formula 1 car, even if doing just that has been one’s job for the past ten years and one has racked up tens of thousands of kilometres in the cockpit. It’s also exciting driving it in testing, even the aero tests, when all one does is go up and down a straight, far from prying eyes, but it is even more of a thrill when one is entertaining the crowds on the streets of a big city. It is exciting for all drivers, from the youngest to the most experienced and Felipe is no exception to that rule. That was once again the case in Warsaw yesterday afternoon, where the Brazilian was driving an F60 as part of a Shell event for the launch of the V-Power Nitro+ fuel on the Polish market.

“It was a great day, as it’s always fun driving a Formula 1 car through city streets,” said Felipe. “For me, it was almost like a training session for the Monaco Grand Prix where there too the barriers will be very close to the car! It’s the first time I’ve been to Poland and it was fantastic to see so many people lining the route. There is a lot of enthusiasm here and I think that is partly down to what Robert Kubica has shown he can do: Formula 1 misses him a lot and I hope he can soon get back to racing with us.”

“It’s nice to drive close to the crowds, seeing the people waving to you and taking thousands of photos as you pass by in the car,” added Felipe. “At events like this, of course you are not on the limit, but you are still having fun and putting on a show for the people who have come to see you. This year, I’ve already done an event like this in Rio De Janeiro before the start of the season and now here we are in Poland. Events like this are good for our sport, bringing it closer to an audience that maybe knows little about Formula 1 or doesn’t have the opportunity to see it live. In Warsaw, I found a lot of enthusiasm and the people are very open and polite and it’s a shame I can’t spend more time here. Maybe I can come back some other time and stay longer!”

There are only a few days to go to a unique event on the Formula 1 calendar, the Monaco Grand Prix and the media present today were keen to ask Felipe about the current season.

“Overall, it’s been a positive start,” he said. “In some races we did very well, while in others, Bahrain for example, we had a few problems which cost us valuable points. We have seen an all-round improvement this year, from the car to the way the team works and we have shown we are competitive, but clearly we can still improve, especially in qualifying. We are well aware of this and working towards that goal. I like the Monaco track a lot, partly because it’s my second home race, given I live there. You are always on the limit, very close to the barriers, with no room for error. Grid position is much more important than at any other track and so we hope we can do well right from Saturday. My aim is very simple, to always be in the fight for a podium finish. The tyres? We must try our best with what we are given, that’s it. In Spain, we won with a four stop strategy, but it’s definitely not the first time something like that has happened…”