2012 will be a crucial season for Massa
Stefano Domenicali expects a new Massa for 2012, and the Brazilian driver is aware of it. He knows he will have to perform better than the last two years, and his goal will be to be as competitive as possible to regularly join the fight for victory.
After two difficult seasons in 2010 and 2011, Felipe Massa hopes to bounce back in 2012. The Brazilian will be required to return to his best form if he wants to continue his F1 career, as his contract with Scuderia Ferrari will expire at the end of 2012, and for now, there is no indication that he will continue with the Maranello team.
The Brazilian driver is aware of this, but he has complete confidence in his abilities and is convinced he can regain the necessary level to be able to fight for victory in 2012.
Obviously, it will be a very important year, I see it for myself but it’s also true for everyone. It’s a season during which we want to do more, and as far as I’m concerned it will be very important because I want to do better than last year and in 2010, Massa shared at the Wroom.
«I want to be competitive. I want a season that will hopefully not see me plagued by bad luck, as happened throughout last season when very often I started the race and ended up scoring fewer points than I deserved.»
Despite two difficult seasons with few convincing results and despite the criticism he may face in the press, Massa has not lost any of his drive or motivation.
«I am extremely motivated, I want to drive. I remain positive. I am obviously under pressure, it’s true, and driving for a team like Ferrari always puts you under pressure, but it’s better to have the pressure of fighting for the championship than to have the pressure of fighting for your place on the grid.»
His goal for 2012 is clear, to return to victory. The last time he stood on the top step of the podium was at home, during the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix. He has not won a single Formula 1 Grand Prix for over 3 years now, but he hopes to end this drought in 2012.
I want to be as competitive as possible, win as many races as possible, and fight for the championship as I have done several times in the past.
Massa also admitted that he was not impressed by his teammate at Ferrari, Fernando Alonso, and he is convinced that he can beat him, which he managed to do several times in qualifying at the end of 2011.
Yes, absolutely yes. I am convinced I can do it (compete with Alonso), added the Brazilian.
Stefano Domenicali, the director of the reds, also shared the same sentiment: 2012 will be an important year for Felipe Massa. The team expects more from him than what he has delivered in the past two years, in order to allow Scuderia Ferrari to more frequently compete with Red Bull and McLaren.
As you can imagine, this year will be an important year for Felipe. We expect more from him and he also expects more from himself. We have to be realistic, it will be a crucial season for him and for his future, Domenicali said during the Wroom.
As since his arrival at Ferrari, Massa will continue to be fully supported by the team in 2012.
«We will do everything to help him. I am convinced that Felipe will be able to bring out the best in himself because he has very, very good potential. I know that everyone talks about it, but I know that Felipe performs better under pressure and I expect a very good season from him,» added the Italian manager.
