Old? He is only a month older than Alonso. Theoretically he should be near his peak physically. Either its a mental issue or he was simply never that good in the first place.
I think he is far better and has more to offer than alot of the drivers on the gird! I dont dispute that he has not maximised his opportunities, but he was unfortunate not to win in 2008 with Kimi taking far more points of him than Hekki did to Lewis! Anyway, the past is the past, and I feel that he deserves a seat in a Renault, Sauber etc where he can just drive and compete without all the politics. However, I think his salary will cause him problems and maybe a switch to play second fiddle to Vettle in 2010 is his only option! In relation to the comments about him making way for a promising youn talent - I find this ironic in the extreme! Why would we want to wish the same treatment that he has been bestwoed upon him to a potential future race winner or WDC competitor? Surely Massa plodding along fo another year as the sacrficial lamb would be far better than ruining a young drivers career?
It's a shame to see someone who's not only competed at the sharp end but shown dignity in defeat and courage in misfortune reduced to this. If it's not having to move over when in a winning position for no gain to the team, it's acting as a slipstream generator for his team-mate in one race and then a tail-end blocker in the next. I presume he's getting fairly well paid, if I was him I'd be inclined to take the money next season, quietly ignore team orders and go out and do exactly what I wanted to do. With the right attitude to ignore whatever is thrown at him inside of the team and with nothing to lose in 2013, he'd have the satisfaction of knowing Ferrari actually can't do much about it. They can sack him and have to pay him what's due or not pay him and be sued so as to reveal the contents of his contract. I think they'd opt for a quiet life. Who'd think the worse of him? Die-hard Ferrari & Alonso fans sure but the rest would be glad to see it done.
I've just noticed, thanks guys for making this an article, and somehow getting someone useless like me onto that newsnow thing. Thats pretty cool.
At least he wasn't told to move over today and did put up a good defence, but it is clear he just does not have the pace anymore.
I'm sorry, but i distinctly remember him pulling away from Alonso until the round of pitstops, where, suprise suprise, he was released into a ton of traffic, giving alonso the edge.
Except in 2006, he likely joined Ferrari knowing he would be number 2 to Schumacher, and still won 2 races. He was probably intended to be used as second fiddle to Raikkonen, but Ferrari royaly screwed Raikkonen over with a trio of understeery cars (the F2007 was excusable I guess, first season with the team and all, but not the F2008 AND F60). Massa showed he was a genuine front runner with the teams support. That is the problem, the lack of support.Last season he was fresh off a huge accident and had to put up with concrete Bridgestone tires he couldnt use. This year, his confidence is shattered and is in a car built soley for Alonso, in a team that completely revolves around Alonso. That, imo, is why he is being hammered. Look at Korea, the two were clearly allowed to race fair and square, and Massa finished what, only 7 seconds behind? People can scream all they want about his charge at the end, and Massa's lack of one (was only loosing 2-3 tenths per lap from what I could see on the world feed, that is normal), but if you qualify behind your teamate whilst using a new front wing and cant get past them even with DRS, then you probably shouldnt be infront of them. Massa was also realeased into traffic twice, including when he needed to put some fast laps in to stay ahead of Alonso, and had the gap he pulled over Alonso mid race cut by the safety car. He may not be an Alonso, but who knows where he could have got to had he not had his accident and remained the focus of the team. Certainly one of the top drivers on his day. EDIT: Completely forgot to answer the topic itself. Should he quit? If Ferrari were to offer him a longer time there, but force him into doing his spare tire work from earlier this year, he should leave and join a midfield team (Sauber?) to assist in development and such. Would help him regain his confidence too. People keep yapping on about how Perez would be a much better choice. Why? I just dont see it. I dont know his driving style, but im pretty sure Massa's is broadly simmilar to Alonso's (understeer based). If you were to stick someone as young and inexperienced as Perez in a car that may be the complete opposite of what he would want, do you really think he would do a better job than Massa (assuming he had to play the exact same role as Massa)?
Great post, but i see Perez as Massa mk2, so a driver swap would not really improve ferrari. I'd consider Bianchi instead
I like Massa, and think he has done enough to keep his seat next season. If he can get some of his confidence back then he will be able to take points off the Red Bulls too. I don't think he's doing much worse than Webber this season. Perez need at least another season before anyone can say if he will fit into Ferrari or not, my problem with him is that he tends to disappear during races, and I think that the Sauber is helping him here being so kind on it's tyres.
He hasn't cut it as a number 2 this season at all, I like him but he needs to be moved on for somebody who will challenge Alonso a little bit more, the situation at Ferrari is unhealthy with Alonso so dominant, even though Massa has arguably improved in the last few races.
He's closer to his team-mate, the 'most complete driver on the grid' than Webber is to the guy who apparently doesn't deserve his 2 titles, in fact, unlike Webber, he's has beaten his team-mate this season. Cue people making excuses for Webber. ( I would've preferred to use a different driver in my example, but hey ho, if the cap fits...)
