Brazilian driver Felipe Massa has an intimate understanding of life as a Ferrari driver. Having began his Method 1 journey with Sauber, Massa joined the Scuderia in 2006 throughout a pivotal second within the crew’s historical past. It was Michael Schumacher’s last season with Ferrari, simply because the German handed over his dominance within the Drivers’ Championship to Fernando Alonso after an unprecedented 5 consecutive titles.
Throughout his early years at Ferrari, the Brazilian witnessed Michael Schumacher’s brilliance up shut, observing the legendary driver’s unmatched work ethic and affect. After Michael Schumacher’s retirement, Massa was entrusted, alongside Kimi Raikkonen, with persevering with the legacy of success Schumacher had constructed. The Finnish driver claimed the 2007 world championship in a dramatic finale, however Felipe Massa’s personal championship hopes had been heartbreakingly dashed the next 12 months.
In 2008, Massa got here agonizingly near clinching his first world title at his residence Grand Prix in Brazil. The celebration was short-lived, as Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap cross on Timo Glock snatched the title away in a dramatic conclusion to the season. Regardless of that setback, Felipe Massa remained a loyal Ferrari driver for practically 150 races earlier than ending his profession with Williams.
Now retired, Massa has carefully adopted the game and the rise of recent abilities, together with fellow Brazilian and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, who secured a spot on the grid amidst the ripple results of Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari. Felipe Massa, who battled wheel-to-wheel with Hamilton for a lot of their careers, is especially enthusiastic about seeing how the seven-time champion adapts to the distinctive challenges of Ferrari.
In a latest interview with Estadao, a day by day newspaper printed in São Paulo, Brazil, Felipe Massa shared his ideas on the potential obstacles Lewis Hamilton might face on the Maranello crew beginning with the subsequent season. He identified that even Michael Schumacher, for all his achievements, couldn’t overcome sure limitations on the Scuderia throughout his time. Felipe Massa speculates that Hamilton’s age could possibly be one such issue, probably impacting his capability to carry out on the identical stage as youthful rivals within the intensely aggressive atmosphere of contemporary Method 1.
As Lewis Hamilton enters the 2025 F1 season with the Maranello crew, he finds himself with a degree to show to each critics and supporters alike. Whereas the legendary driver has persistently been probably the most dominant figures in Method 1, latest performances have proven some indicators of self-doubt which will elevate concern amongst Ferrari followers.
All through the 2024 Method 1 season, the seven-time Method 1 world champion has confronted vital challenges. He was decisively outqualified by his teammate, George Russell, and finally completed behind him within the championship standings. These outcomes have led to rising questions concerning the British driver’s future with Ferrari, with Ralf Schumacher even expressing doubts about whether or not the 39-year-old will see out the rest of his contract. Nonetheless, it’s exhausting to think about Lewis Hamilton not wanting to hold on the momentum he constructed within the latter a part of the 2024 season, particularly with the upcoming regulatory adjustments set to shake up the aggressive panorama in 2026.
Lewis Hamilton has all the time carried out greatest when confronted with skepticism about his skills, and this newest chapter in his profession is not any completely different. All through his profession, he’s by no means been a stranger to defending his selections, a trait he displayed when he made the daring transfer to Mercedes in 2013 after leaving McLaren. Regardless of the setbacks he confronted in his first season with the Silver Arrows, Hamilton’s resilience finally led him to success and a number of championships.
Ferrari, nevertheless, presents a really completely different scenario than Mercedes did when Hamilton first joined the crew in 2013. The Scuderia is in a far stronger place now, with a aggressive automobile that would present Lewis Hamilton with the chance to compete on the highest stage as soon as once more. Maranello is already placing plans in place to honor Hamilton ought to he ship a championship to the crew, which might be the proper conclusion to certainly one of Method 1’s most illustrious careers. For Lewis Hamilton, the 2025 season is not going to simply be about silencing his critics—it can even be about cementing his legacy as one of many biggest drivers to ever compete within the sport.
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