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Massa most disappointing driver of 2011 - Coulthard

"He’s on thin ice at Maranello"

By GMM

29 November 2011 - 10:32

David Coulthard has singled out Felipe Massa as the most "disappointing driver" of the 2011 season.

Brazilian Massa remains under contract to Ferrari for one more season but the Italian team has warned him that, next year, he will be racing to rescue his 2013 seat.

"I don’t want to say (Massa was the) ’worst’ driver of the year because clearly no one driving in F1 is a bad driver," veteran Coulthard, the former McLaren and Red Bull driver and now British commentator, wrote in his Telegraph column.

"But undoubtedly a few drivers punched well below their weight, notably Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, McLaren’s Hamilton and Red Bull’s Webber.

"I’d probably give the (disappointing driver) award to Felipe for no better reason than he didn’t win a race. In fact, he never finished higher than fifth.

"He’s on thin ice at Maranello," presumed Coulthard.

When the season ended in his native Brazil at the weekend, 30-year-old Massa acknowledged he is looking forward to returning to top form in 2012.

"It’s been a difficult year for me and the team and now we can turn the page," he said.

"We must work on improving the car and I will do all I can never to have such a disappointing season again."