Congratulations Felipe.

[justjesper]

Great to see Massa doing a good job. Firstly it's great to see Felipe back up to speed and making a fantastic qualifying lap then doing a great job finishing the race with some good points.
Sadly we did not see or hear much about his Felipe Massa drive or the Ferrari's radio conversations.
Hopefully we will see Massa back on the podium soon.

Felipe Massa 5th in the drivers standing.

[71dino]

he drove a great race. I think it was possible that had Fernando not retired both of our cars may have been on the podium. together they could have attacked the mercs and then went for the rb's. of course that is all speculation but I am really happy to see Filipe back where he belongs, at the front.

[wisepie]

My goodness, a thread dedicated to Felipe, and about time we showed our support for him. His Malaysia performance came good in the end and salvaged something for the team and himself after our hopes had been raised and then dashed almost immediately. This is racing, there are so many variables on any circuit and in any race that a lot of superfluous discussion is irrelevant sometimes, what matters in the result. And Felipe gave us one, albeit rather less than we'd hoped. keep up the good work, Felipe, most of us are behind you!

[fratelliferrari]

Iam a very proud Massa fan since 2006! Felipe is doing great since second part of 2012 ! Indeed I was thinking yesterday morning only about a 1-2 for the Prancing Horse but everyone knows the story... Felipe struggled with his Intermediates but that's what we expected already. We wanted a dry race and it wasn't in the beginning. When the track started to dry up he had a great pace so Iam confident that we will see fantastic races from Felipe this year! And after the 2013 season Ferrari has to give Felipe a new contract! Forza Felipe!

[zakfourie]

He started 2nd and ended 5th...

Lets hope he can only improve in the races to come!

FORZA!

[Rishu]

He started 2nd and ended 5th...

I firmly believe F138 didn't like rain in Malaysia. It is quiet evident from pace we saw Q2 onwards & then during the strat of the race. Felipe lost too much during the first stint when it was still wet, unfortunately couldn't recover enough later to challenge front runners. I thought he did well to finish 5th.

[SinanOzerS]

5th is the maximum place that he could take.He did a great job.Car is not fast as Red Bull or Mercedes in dry.Hope he'll keep this form.

[SanderV]

Solid race, good job. Nothing more nothing less.

[Forzi]

Won't say we should really be happy about this weekend, but gonna say this:
2009 was a year to forget where Felipe fought for his life, in the past few years Felipe struggled, had to cope with the constant downgrading comments, the list that got bigger and bigger every race with people that will replace him, even him self thought if he really wanted to do what he's doing. Not many drivers could cope with all of these things and let alone get back on his feet. The lad did it. Since last years summer break, he's been improving MASSIVLY race by race, when in the last few races, he actually matched and outperformed Fernando. He made a promise standing on the Interlagos podium to the crowd that was screaming his name after 3 years of not seeing the brazilian on the podium. He said that the end of that season was just the beggining, that it was just preparation for the upcoming seasons, and god damn it he was right. The lads up there, might say even in better form than 2008, since it was a dominant car back then. So yeah, congratulations to Felipe. He shut mouths of millions.

[Kingdom Hearts]

5th is the maximum place that he could take.He did a great job.Car is not fast as Red Bull or Mercedes in dry.Hope he'll keep this form.

The maximun of the car I think it was a little higher but Massa was like P6 or something like that after the first corners, too bad that Webber got a good start.

[SinanOzerS]

The maximun of the car I think it was a little higher but Massa was like P6 or something like that after the first corners, too bad that Webber got a good start.

I don't think so.Yeah he did a bad start,but he was also slow in the first part of the race.

[EL_NANDO]

Massa's performance hardly calls for it's own topic, would you have created this thread if Alonso had stayed in the race and likely finished on the podium?

Massa = Mediocre at best.

[Forzi]

Massa's performance hardly calls for it's own topic, would you have created this thread if Alonso had stayed in the race and likely finished on the podium?

Massa = Mediocre at best.

The point is to celebrate his back in form. Can't recall anyone creating a thread for what he achieved last year and in the first race. It's an unbeleavable turn around, the lad deserves some good words after the harshness.

[ManFromMilan]

Keep pushing Fernando Felipe!

[Corey]

Didn't Massa say somewhere in the 2011 winter break (going into '12) that he can outrace Alonso, and people were like saying that it was all useless talk? Looks like the boy is finally able to shut their mouths

[F2008]

For sure Felipe is heading in the right direction

[shamim179]

I think Massa's performance was overall okay. He was mediocre with the intermediates losing too many places at the start and thereafter. He was struggling to keep up. He just isn't very good in the rain. Perhaps, he was being cautious to try to bring the car home when you consider that the team had already lost one of their cars. However, when it became dry and towards the end of the race his peformance improved. Massa still needs to improve his game in mixed conditions and changing situations. It is surprising given the level of experience that he has that he isn't able to adapt quickly but it is clear his form is improving.

I think the team got it wrong by pitting him too early. It's as if we were trying to cover Vettel. Why can't we do our own race?

[pericoloso]

Didn't Massa say somewhere in the 2011 winter break (going into '12) that he can outrace Alonso, and people were like saying that it was all useless talk? Looks like the boy is finally able to shut their mouths

Why? When did Massa "outrace" Alonso lately? It appears that Massa performs better when he has Alonso pushing him or when he is trying to keep up with Alonso. Otherwise...

I'm still wondering if or why Massa tried to block Alonso at the start. It looked like Alonso may have been able to overtake Vettel by turn 1 had Massa not gotten alongside him.

[Greig]

Why? When did Massa "outrace" Alonso lately? It appears that Massa performs better when he has Alonso pushing him or when he is trying to keep up with Alonso. Otherwise...

I'm still wondering if or why Massa tried to block Alonso at the start. It looked like Alonso may have been able to overtake Vettel by turn 1 had Massa not gotten alongside him.

Massa never blocked Fernando at all I don't think, Alonso was away very well and alongside Massa as Massa came across to look for the inside of Seb. It's very hard at the start of a race to keep out of one drivers way you have to react instantly to what is happening around you.

[Greig]

This year’s 40 points have been shared almost equally between the two drivers. It’s true that Fernando (18 points) paid a heavy price for his zero from yesterday and he has 17 points less than 2012. But this deficit has been more than made up for by Felipe Massa, who has brought home 22 points whereas he was yet to get off the mark last year. The Brazilian has now taken his run of consecutive points finishes to 12 races, maintaining in this year’s two grands prix the constant improvement that characterised his second half of last year.

[Jas]

massa blocked alonso........the boy is allowed to race guys, it seems me that some want massa to pull over on the side of the road when alonso is within a 100m radius.....pathetic!!!!!!!

[Nero Horse]

Massa is absolutely great! I'm so happy for him that he's back on form and driving superbly. An on form Massa is as fast as anybody on the grid.

Gooo Felipe & Forza Ferrari!!!

[Hornet]

The point is to celebrate his back in form. Can't recall anyone creating a thread for what he achieved last year and in the first race. It's an unbeleavable turn around, the lad deserves some good words after the harshness.

I agree with this. But I think the OP probably quoted the wrong example I'm sure last weekend was a race even Massa himself would want to forget. There are other more memorable races for Massa like the 2 podiums he won last year.

What's supposed to be celebrating Massa's return to form ended up looking like a celebration of P5 in the OP, so that's probably where the confusion came from.

[Rob]

Why? When did Massa "outrace" Alonso lately? It appears that Massa performs better when he has Alonso pushing him or when he is trying to keep up with Alonso. Otherwise...

I'm still wondering if or why Massa tried to block Alonso at the start. It looked like Alonso may have been able to overtake Vettel by turn 1 had Massa not gotten alongside him.

He came over to try to block the fast starting Webber and Mercs behind. Also, when he see Fernando coming along side he haulted his move and stayed there.

Think he got hung out to dry in turns 2-3 and lost places, that is hurt his race really. As the the temps started go up later in race Felipes pace came up aswell. All in all, good weekend, and another good race by Felipe.

[ferrari4life]

5th is the maximum place that he could take.He did a great job.Car is not fast as Red Bull or Mercedes in dry.Hope he'll keep this form.

wow so now we are slower than Merc as well?

[wisepie]

He came over to try to block the fast starting Webber and Mercs behind. Also, when he see Fernando coming along side he haulted his move and stayed there.

Think he got hung out to dry in turns 2-3 and lost places, that is hurt his race really. As the the temps started go up later in race Felipes pace came up aswell. All in all, good weekend, and another good race by Felipe.

You're right, Rob, once he saw Fernando beside him I think he eased off to let him across into the gap behind Vettel, realising that his poor start had not allowed him (Felipe)to challenge into the first turn. He's a real team player and deserves our thanks for at least giving us 10 points. It could have been worse.

[Alonsomaniac]

This Alonsofan says: NOTHING WRONG WITH FELIPE MASSA!

I really don't understand the continuous critisism. Yes, I am an Alonso and Ferrarifan, but I appreciate Felipe Massa very much. He is a very fast driver who outqualified Fernando FOUR times in a row. Besides that for me he is still the true champion of that so unlucky ending season....
Felipe may not be the allround driver Fernando is, but he is certainly a Ferraridriver and a good one too!

[Suzie]

Massa's performance hardly calls for it's own topic, would you have created this thread if Alonso had stayed in the race and likely finished on the podium?

Massa = Mediocre at best.

If you don't like it, you don't need to read or comment in the thread. Also, there is zero stopping you from creating a thread about Fernando, if you so desire.

[Suzie]

Won't say we should really be happy about this weekend, but gonna say this:
2009 was a year to forget where Felipe fought for his life, in the past few years Felipe struggled, had to cope with the constant downgrading comments, the list that got bigger and bigger every race with people that will replace him, even him self thought if he really wanted to do what he's doing. Not many drivers could cope with all of these things and let alone get back on his feet. The lad did it. Since last years summer break, he's been improving MASSIVLY race by race, when in the last few races, he actually matched and outperformed Fernando. He made a promise standing on the Interlagos podium to the crowd that was screaming his name after 3 years of not seeing the brazilian on the podium. He said that the end of that season was just the beggining, that it was just preparation for the upcoming seasons, and god damn it he was right. The lads up there, might say even in better form than 2008, since it was a dominant car back then. So yeah, congratulations to Felipe. He shut mouths of millions.

Great post.

I'm just very, very happy to see him performing the way he is and not having to dread qualifying anymore! It's been a rough few seasons being a Massa fan to be honest; very proud of how he just put his head down, ignored the criticism, and turned everything around. I'm glad that not everyone, including the team, gave up on him when this time last year some 'fans' were saying "Au revoir" and wanting Perez to replace him. Love seeing the affection that he is held in on here too, still

[REDARMYSOJA]

Maybe some are starting to see why Ferrari and many fans stood behind Massa.

Just keep drivin' it like you stole it Felipe!