Felipe Massa: What Went Wrong for the Ferrari Man in 2010

Felipe Massa was one of the success stories of 2008 season. He came within a whisker of winning the championship, he defeated Kimi Raikkonen by 22 points and all was looking good for his future. In 2009, he struggled with a poor car and then the horror moment in Hungary.

In Hungary, an 800 gram spring falling off the rear suspension of Rubens Barrichello smashed Massa in the helmet when he was doing 162 mph on the short straight after turn 4. Massa was knocked unconscious with his two feet pressing hard on both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal. He hit the wall doing about 62 mph, but the damage was done.

Massa's skull was damaged and there was severe damage around his eye. The accident had similarities with the accident that resulted in the death of Henry Surtees, son of the 1964 champion John Surtees. Some questioned whether he would be able to race again and some thought the worst after seeing the accident.

Fortunately, after significant time had passed, Massa was announced fit to race once more but not in time to be able to compete again for the rest of the 2009 season. Felipe was looking forward to the 2010 season with his new team mate, Fernando Alonso, and hoping to mount a serious championship challenge like he had done in 2008.

Sadly he wasn't ever really in contention for the title in 2010 and some people were saying that Ferrari should be looking for a new driver. Massa had a very poor 2010, failing to secure a win, a pole or a fastest lap. So what went wrong for Felipe in 2010? Well I think there was three main problems for Massa in 2010.

Problem A) Consistent, but not consistently strong

He had some great performances at the races in Bahrain, Australia, Germany and Italy which seemed to suggest that the old Felipe was back. He did truly deserve the win in Germany and I felt sorry for him when the 'pass' happened. However, he only got five podium finishes through the season and for a Ferrari man, unless they produce a shocking car like in 2009, that isn't enough.

He was off the pace of the other front runners and too often ended up not challenging for podiums or wins but down in the lower points scoring positions. Over the season he finished nine times in between fourth and tenth. So for nearly half of the season he didn't quite manage produce the top notch drives he could that would of put him into those podium spots.

He was consistent throughout the season but sadly for him, he was consistently just behind the other front running cars. He didn't get himself fighting at the sharp end enough throughout the season. He was leading the championship early, not because he was winning races but because others had problems. Once the issues were sorted, Massa struggled to match the others.

It wasn't due to lack of trying either it just seemed like he couldn't quite match the pace of others. In Brazil as he was trying to come through the field after the pit stop issue he ran wide on a few occasions as he was trying to make his way through the field.

He also had a real moment of stupidity with the crash in Suzuka. He didn't make Q3 and then tried to go up a gap that was always going to close forcing him onto the grass before crashing into Liuzzi.

Massa didn't show anything like the form we all saw from him in 2008. By the end of the season many were speculating that Massa could be sacked. With drivers such as Kubica not able to get in the top teams then you have to say being in a top team means you need to perform. If you don't then there are drivers there too take your place. 

Problem B) Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is one of the best drivers of this generation. This year, in a car that wasn't the strongest in the field, Fernando managed to produce a championship challenge that came very close to being successful. Fernando is a very special talent and when he is on form he is the match for anyone on the grid.

But Fernando Alonso does have his flaws. He very much likes to be the number 1 in the team and if he feels that he isn't, his performance drops and can lead to scenes such as the unpleasant ones in 2007 with Hamilton. Also in Abu Dhabi, he showed a reluctance to go for the 50/50 move. He tried once but made a complete mess of it. But considering the championship stakes he should of tried more than once.

This season saw Alonso on good form for the most part, and he was really taking the fight to the Red Bull cars. Alonso out qualified Massa 15 to 4 and one of the times Massa outqualified Alonso was at Monaco when Alonso failed to set a lap due to the accident Fernando had in practice.

Fernando was the better driver in 2010 for Ferrari by a long way. Massa, in terms of performance, was the number two driver. I don't know in terms of equipment if Ferrari favoured Alonso in any way, but would be surprised if they did as they needed to keep Felipe near the front to try and act as a rear gunner for Fernando

Ferrari had to get behind Alonso around mid-season when it became obvious he was the only one of the two that seemed to be able to take the race to the others. Felipe simply couldn't match Fernando.

Which of course brings up the incident at the Hockenheimring in Germany. As much as most (including myself) don't like it, it was necessary in Ferrari's eyes for them to do what they did. It was totally illegal but done in the way it was, unless Ferrari admitted they could do little. They couldn't prove 100% that they put team orders in place, just 99%, and that isn't enough.

There could be a reason if, like Schumacher at Mercedes, Felipe was struggling with a car that didn't suit him and did suit Alonso, then perhaps that could explain the gap. But the gap between Alonso and Massa was even wider than that between Schumacher and Rosberg in the championship standings.

I will say now that for me, Alonso is the better driver of the two. Massa is a brilliant driver but for me Fernando, as I said at the start, is a very special talent. I am not worried about all the defects Fernando is supposed to have as a person, what I am worried about is his performance as a Formula 1 driver.

Problem C) What could go wrong, did

Massa wasn't graced with the best luck during the 2010 season

A Puncture in Britain, Wheel nut cross thread in Brazil, incidents with Liuzzi and Schumacher in Canada, the safety car debacle in Valencia, gearbox failure in Singapore qualifying and the Malaysian qualifying error by the team.

Massa was often behind everyone before the race began. No matter how good you are if luck doesn't go your way then you cant challenge others. But in a season that saw everyone have some bad luck it did seem that Felipe suffered more than most.

When your trying to get the media to stop speculating on your job it can hardly do you much good to have things outside of your control effect your race in a negative way.

Overall

The jury remains very much out on Felipe Massa.

Some people say that he is a good driver and deserves to be at Ferrari,

Some say that while Alonso is there he will be nothing more than a number two driver,

Some are of the view that Massa isn't up to it that he should be sacked

Whatever you view point Massa is with Ferrari for the 2011 season. Lets hope this time next year that Massa is looked upon in a more favourable light