Ferrari’s post-race blog published after the Spanish Grand Prix has urged Felipe Massa to never give up. But not before it placed his output from the 2012 season to date firmly in the spotlight.
Interestingly, it starts with Team Principal Stefano Domenicali drawing inspiration from Manchester City’s dramatic last gasp victory to claim the English Premier League title. “You always have to believe you can do it, even when the evidence has you believe the contrary,” he said.
While watching the drama unfold in the EPL over the weekend we paused to reflect on Ferrari and Felipe Massa, too. Although, we had him in the role of the red half of Manchester who, for a brief moment, believed they had won the title, only to see it snatched away before the thought of victory had a chance to settle. Sao Paulo in 2008 anyone?
The blog goes on to make the point that this has been a desperately close start to the championship: “With everyone so close the distribution of points is much wider and consequently the leaders have fewer points. Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, the joint leaders of the Drivers’ championship, have 61 points from the first five races, the lowest figure since the new points system was introduced: Button had 70 in 2010, with Vettel even on 118 last year.”
Then it sinks a not-so-subtle boot into Massa’s points haul to date: “As for an analysis of the Scuderia’s performance and its two drivers, Fernando has always maintained a very high level (67 points and second place in 2010, 51 and fifth place last year) while Felipe’s drop off has made itself felt. The Brazilian had picked up 49 points two years ago and 24 the following year, while so far this season he has just 2.”
Finally, some delicate pressure is applied to Massa to increase his performance: “In Montmelo, Felipe was very unlucky, both in the race and in qualifying, but everyone, he more than anyone, is expecting a change of gear starting right away with the Monaco Grand Prix…”
Meanwhile, Adam Cooper reports former Force India driver Adrian Sutil was trackside in Barcelona and is known to have had discussions with Ferrari in recent weeks.
Now might be a good time to pull your finger out Felipe.