Last week we asked you to send us questions for Felipe Massa. Here are the Williams driver's replies...
Friday 10 July 2015 12:11, UK
While Felipe Massa wasn't quite able to match his Austrian GP podium finish at Silverstone, he still had a big part to play in the race - what with that lightning-fast start of his and then leading the opening laps.
But before all of that, the Brazilian sat down with us last week to answer your questions...
Dear Felipe, what is your favourite race in your Formula 1 career and why?
Jack Browes
Felipe Massa: “It was my first victory in Brazil (in 2006). I think for a Brazilian driver it was like a dream – to win at home. Definitely it was the most amazing race and it was like a dream come true.”
As many of us thought, events and results (especially with Kimi) are proving that you were a way better driver at Ferrari than many gave you credit for. Do you ever wish you were still there or do you prefer Williams?
Mick O'Hare
FM: “I had a great time at Ferrari for sure, but I’m very happy here. Times change and if you’re happy, have respect and you have the results…when you have all of these things you enjoy it anyway. So I’m enjoying my moment massively now.”
Is your son a psychic?
Joseph Petrassi
FM: “A sidekick?”
A psychic – can he see into the future? (Felipe Jr. correctly predicted his father's result to Sky Sports F1 before the Austrian GP.)
FM: “Oh yeah! Because you guys asked him where he expected me to finish and then he said third. But he didn’t say what he was thinking, because he told me after the interview had finished and I said, ‘No! First!’
“They finished the interview because he was a bit shy. Then he said, ‘No, third because of Mercedes’. Because he knows it’s difficult to beat Mercedes – and it is!”
If you could change one thing in Formula 1 what would it be and why?
From Carl Goodwin in Leicester
FM: “I think I would change the ego of the people. I think maybe there’s too much ego; it’s better to be more simple.”
Hi Felipe,
I've been an avid fan of yours ever since you were still at Ferrari. Since your transfer to Williams you showed some motivation and I can see that you're also very happy the way you're driving currently. Do you think you still have the ability to win titles or podiums this year?
All the best and may God bless you and your family.
Kind regards
Goldie (Marigold Chiyuto-Fernandez)
FM: “That’s what I really believe. I mean that’s why I’m here - because I believe I haven’t finished my career yet. What I always dream is to win the championship, to win races and podiums; so that’s what I want and I’ll keep fighting until I see that my time is finished.”
After the years you have been in F1, when the lights go out do you still get a buzz from hitting the throttle? We are sitting in the national pit straight grandstand this year and from there it looks incredible. Dan Street
FM: “Yeah sure. I think that when you don’t have that you’re not interested in driving anymore. So I think you really need to give up what you’re doing. I think that if you don’t have love for when you’re driving, you’re time is finished.”
Can you ask Felipe, as he has driven in Formula 1 since 2002 and seen many changes to the cars, which years were the most fun to drive in? And are the cars now more about management of the systems rather than out-and-out racing?
Cheers
Toby Woodhams
FM: “I would say maybe from 2003-2004 to 2008. I think it was maybe more fun – the way the car was, the tyres, maybe the regulations as well. Even if there were so many things we could improve with the overtaking, at least it was fun. In terms of happiness, to drive that car was more fun.
“In a way, yeah. I’ve had many, many years when we had so many electronic things: I remember in 2003 everything was electronic – electronic downshift, traction control – so many things that it was worse than it is now.
“Definitely we had some years when it was even worse from the technology point of view compared to how it is now. We need to do so many changes on the steering wheel but it’s coming from the team, which is for reliability and so many different things. But I think you need to drive more now, compared to some years when everything was automatic.”
Hello Massa,
You seem a much happier person since joining Williams? Is the atmosphere more relaxed at Williams than at Ferrari? Can you see yourself winning a race this year? Williams seem to me the closest rivals to Mercedes. It would be nice to see you fighting well at Silverstone.
Joolz James
FM: “Yeah, I believe so. I believe we can win races here. That’s what I’m trying to do; I’m trying to work and to be part of this Williams revolution – from the difficult times to be there on top. We’re not far but there’s still some improvement that we need to do.
And is it more relaxed than at Ferrari?
FM: “Yeah, for sure. A lot more.”
Your son makes appearances at some of the races, would you one day like to see him racing?
Thanks,
Becky Robson
FM: “I think he needs to like it, not me. I want to be happy if he’s doing what he’s in love with. And that’s what I was – I always dreamed to be a driver, a Formula 1 driver – and I did everything I could to get there. So if I see that – that he’s in love and he’s talented and he’s doing everything he can to achieve his dream – I will be happy. Even if it’s Formula 1, even if it’s football you know? He needs to choose what he wants to do.”
From Avais Hussain, Birmingham - Well done for the job you're doing at Williams, it's great to see your form back. Looking at your career and the 2009 accident, are you overall satisfied with what you have achieved even though you didn't get the title in 2008?
FM: “I think so. I achieve a lot; I definitely need to be happy for what I did. Definitely I’m always trying to do more. I’m always trying to win as many races as I can; even trying to win the championship, which is my dream. But I need to be happy for everything I’ve achieved.”
Being a huge Massa fan, I always notice he has bad luck. Does Felipe feel the same way that he is unlucky?
My favourite driver is Massa he is my hero and I will be attending my 1st F1 race this weekend wearing my Massa T-shirt loud and proud.
Luke Stacey
Biggest Massa fan
FM: “I don’t believe so. I am here, so I’m very lucky – especially after my accident. So if I had bad luck I would not be here anymore. Honestly, I always pass through the difficult moments I had. It’s true that so many times the luck has not been 100 per cent on my side, but in most of the times I was very lucky, definitely.”
Hi Felipe,
We know you are committed to success in Formula 1 but what racing series outside of F1 excites you the most and why?
If you owned a Formula 1 team, who would you want to drive your cars and why? Current or former drivers.
Josh Petre - Huge Massa fan from the U.S.
FM: “I like so many different championships. I like WEC, I like DTM; I even like watching Indy. I watch so many different races; I watch stock cars in Brazil because I have so many friends racing there, even the Formula E.
“I have a lot of patience to watch, support and follow. So I would think about going to one of these categories I mentioned after I stop my [F1] career.
“It would have been fantastic to see maybe Senna and Schumacher. That would have been fantastic!”
What was the main motivation to keep racing after the recovery from the accident in Hungary, and how his sight and understanding changed, if they did in any way?
Mitko (Dimtiar Tsentelovich)
FM: “The only thing I wanted was to go back to racing because that’s what I love to do. When I went back, I maybe had a difficult moment with Ferrari and many people thought I was different because of the accident. But I managed to show that it was not the case, which I’m happy for.
“I think the only change I had after the accident – not when you drive because when you close your visor you don’t really think about anything – but I just respect more our life. After my accident, I understood that everybody can have that. Maybe before, you believe that nothing will happen to you; maybe it will happen to somebody else but nothing will happen to you.
“But when you have some problems, you understand that it can happen to everybody like that (snaps fingers) you know? So I respect more our life. That’s the only thing that changed.
What do you mean when you said you had a ‘difficult moment’?
FM: “The difficult moment was the results with Ferrari, because of the accident. Everybody was saying I was not the same anymore.”
