Massa - Alonso Knew about Piquet - Welcome to Ferrari
Discussion
Respect for Massa has just gone up for speaking his mind and saying what the majority are thinking with regards to Alonsos involvement but what will this do for team moral at Ferrari?
Felipe Massa says he remains suspicious that Fernando Alonso did know about the deliberate crash plot at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix - but has vowed not to let it affect his future relationship with the Spaniard.
Massa spoke to Brazilian media during a get-together in Sao Paulo on Wednesday and, during the lunch, he said he was in no doubt that Alonso had to have been aware of the plans for Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in the Singapore event last year to try and help him win.
"In all, he is the least of the problem," Massa was quoted as saying by the Brazilian media about Alonso's involvement in the affair.
"It was the team and Nelson - but Alonso was part of the problem. He knew. We can not know it [but] of course he knew. [It's an] absolute certainty."
The comments created a huge media storm in Brazil ahead of this weekend's grand prix, and Massa and Ferrari moved to clarify the remarks in a statement issued on the Maranello team's official website on Wednesday evening.
In it, Massa said that his comments relate to a feeling he has rather than being based on facts, and he totally respects the FIA's findings from its investigations that Alonso was not aware of the crash plot.
"What I've said is the outcome of a hunch I've had and is not based on any concrete evidence," Massa said in his statement. "The FIA World Council announced that there was no indication that Fernando may have been informed of what had happened and I respect this outcome.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed about what transpired last year in Singapore: I have already said several times what I thought about it and now it's time to close that chapter and to look to the future.
"What is certain is that this episode will not mar in any way the relationship I'll have with Fernando when we will be team-mates."
Felipe Massa says he remains suspicious that Fernando Alonso did know about the deliberate crash plot at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix - but has vowed not to let it affect his future relationship with the Spaniard.
Massa spoke to Brazilian media during a get-together in Sao Paulo on Wednesday and, during the lunch, he said he was in no doubt that Alonso had to have been aware of the plans for Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in the Singapore event last year to try and help him win.
"In all, he is the least of the problem," Massa was quoted as saying by the Brazilian media about Alonso's involvement in the affair.
"It was the team and Nelson - but Alonso was part of the problem. He knew. We can not know it [but] of course he knew. [It's an] absolute certainty."
The comments created a huge media storm in Brazil ahead of this weekend's grand prix, and Massa and Ferrari moved to clarify the remarks in a statement issued on the Maranello team's official website on Wednesday evening.
In it, Massa said that his comments relate to a feeling he has rather than being based on facts, and he totally respects the FIA's findings from its investigations that Alonso was not aware of the crash plot.
"What I've said is the outcome of a hunch I've had and is not based on any concrete evidence," Massa said in his statement. "The FIA World Council announced that there was no indication that Fernando may have been informed of what had happened and I respect this outcome.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed about what transpired last year in Singapore: I have already said several times what I thought about it and now it's time to close that chapter and to look to the future.
"What is certain is that this episode will not mar in any way the relationship I'll have with Fernando when we will be team-mates."
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Thursday 15th October 09:18
jamieboy said:
zac510 said:
Does he actually know he knew or is he just saying he thinks he knew?
And he's s
tting himself about 2010 isn't he?
No, Yes, and A Lot. And he's s
tting himself about 2010 isn't he?
Muzzer said:
He's saying what everyone thinks - Alonso must have known at least something about it.
Why "must" he have?I'd like to think Alonso is a cheating slippery b
d, it fits with my mental image of him and his personality, but there's nothign in this case to lunch him over. Massa does come out with these gems from time to time and I suspect he's a little dense all be it very talented.Really looking forwards to seeing just how he compares to Alonso next season, I suspect the answer is going to be 'badly'.
Massa's just turning into a spoilt brat these days, he should concentrate on his recovery, not what everyone else is doing. And forget last year - Alonso's going for the 2010 championship, Ferrari don't need Massa trying for the 2008 crown.
Edited by kevin ritson on Thursday 15th October 09:42
kevin ritson said:
Massa's just turning into a spoilt brat these days, he should concentrate on his recovery, not what everyone else is doing. And forget last year - Alonso's going for the 2010 championship, Ferrari don't need Massa trying for the 2008 crown.
Edited by kevin ritson on Thursday 15th October 09:42
, think he's realised he wont ever win the Championship . I had respect for him - but over the last couple of weeks he's came out as a bit of a cock.Should be an interesting team (Ferrari) next year.
Im not a fan of theirs at all - and I am hoping that Massa can at least be on a parr with Teflo and dumb down some of this 'Alonso is the best, End Of' stuff.
Equally, Im hoping that Brawn / Mclaren can make a good job of interpretting the rules and be competative next season again.
Coming back to the point, I have a feeling that Massa's comments are being taken at face value when he is trying to convey his message in a foreign language. I work with 3 'non-brits' and their tone can come across as very direct, but thats because they are speaking english without the years of nuance for the language that builds up the bigger picture when you speak to someone.
Lets just hope Massa is up to the job when he finally sits back in the car.
Im not a fan of theirs at all - and I am hoping that Massa can at least be on a parr with Teflo and dumb down some of this 'Alonso is the best, End Of' stuff.
Equally, Im hoping that Brawn / Mclaren can make a good job of interpretting the rules and be competative next season again.
Coming back to the point, I have a feeling that Massa's comments are being taken at face value when he is trying to convey his message in a foreign language. I work with 3 'non-brits' and their tone can come across as very direct, but thats because they are speaking english without the years of nuance for the language that builds up the bigger picture when you speak to someone.
Lets just hope Massa is up to the job when he finally sits back in the car.
Wanta996Gotta said:
"What is certain is that this episode will not mar in any way the relationship I'll have with Fernando when we will be team-mates."
Absolutely, no chance of these comments in any way clouding your relationship with an uber-competitive team-mate... None at all... No, no, no...Felipe dear boy, you're going to get shat on from a great height next year, assuming you're allowed to race again. Just STFU and get on with your recovery, TAGL...
jamieboy said:
Muzzer said:
He's saying what everyone thinks - Alonso must have known at least something about it.
Why "must" he have?Alonso is reputedly one of the most intelligent drivers on the grid and someone of his stature in the team would surely question starting in the last quarter of the pack with that fuel.
I'm not saying he was in the meeting with PK, Flav and Pat. But he must surely have been tipped a wink that everything would be OK...
Muzzer said:
OK, 'must' have might be a bit strong. But it's pretty far fetched IMO that he started 16th on the grid with light tanks and didn't question it for one minute.
Alonso is reputedly one of the most intelligent drivers on the grid and someone of his stature in the team would surely question starting in the last quarter of the pack with that fuel.
It's an unusual strategy, absolutely - that's why it stands a chance of working. At Monaco this year, Hamilton started from the back of the grid with much less fuel than everyone around him, and pitted on lap 11.Alonso is reputedly one of the most intelligent drivers on the grid and someone of his stature in the team would surely question starting in the last quarter of the pack with that fuel.
Perhaps the only explanation for that is that McLaren were trying to cheat, but Heikki drove at the wall and missed.
Actually, when I say that out loud...
Or perhaps when you've got nothing to lose, taking a chance on a safety car coming out in the early stages of a street race is a viable strategy.
I don't think it was very clever of Massa to reveal these thoughts to the press and then to say it won't affect their working relationship. He's entitled to his opinion but this is not going to help the team.
If I was Alonso and saw these comments, first I would ask him in person if this is genuinely what he thinks, and if he said yes it is, I'd be thinking "Right, b*ll**ks to You then if you don't believe what I have said on the matter!". Team mates need to trust each other and work together but already Massa is saying he doesn't trust what Alonso says!.
I suspect Massa feels threatened by Alonso's arrival and having seen how the Hamilton situation affected Alonso at McLaren, He figures this statement will have the same affect.
If I was Alonso and saw these comments, first I would ask him in person if this is genuinely what he thinks, and if he said yes it is, I'd be thinking "Right, b*ll**ks to You then if you don't believe what I have said on the matter!". Team mates need to trust each other and work together but already Massa is saying he doesn't trust what Alonso says!.
I suspect Massa feels threatened by Alonso's arrival and having seen how the Hamilton situation affected Alonso at McLaren, He figures this statement will have the same affect.
It's pretty unlikely that alonso didn't know the strategy he was on. Sure, the drivers job is "go as quick as poss, pass as many cars as poss" at all times regardless of strategy but alonso's too technically minded a driver to simply "do what he's told" without knowing the bigger picture.
Looking good for a ferrari implosion next year.
Looking good for a ferrari implosion next year.
4rephill said:
I don't think it was very clever of Massa to reveal these thoughts to the press and then to say it won't affect their working relationship. He's entitled to his opinion but this is not going to help the team.
If I was Alonso and saw these comments, first I would ask him in person if this is genuinely what he thinks, and if he said yes it is, I'd be thinking "Right, b*ll**ks to You then if you don't believe what I have said on the matter!". Team mates need to trust each other and work together but already Massa is saying he doesn't trust what Alonso says!.
I doubt it will bother Alonso one bit. He must be the 'most comfortable with his team mate driver' for next year.If I was Alonso and saw these comments, first I would ask him in person if this is genuinely what he thinks, and if he said yes it is, I'd be thinking "Right, b*ll**ks to You then if you don't believe what I have said on the matter!". Team mates need to trust each other and work together but already Massa is saying he doesn't trust what Alonso says!.
Massa has a reasonable record but only if you forget the years he's been around and the mess he was in the early years.
Remember he was done with F1 till Ferrari picked him up as a test driver and odds on they only kept him because they didn't need a star with MS and then (they thought )KR. Of course they didn't reckon on Kimis tendency to nod off.
hairyben said:
It's pretty unlikely that alonso didn't know the strategy he was on. Sure, the drivers job is "go as quick as poss, pass as many cars as poss" at all times regardless of strategy but alonso's too technically minded a driver to simply "do what he's told" without knowing the bigger picture.
MG511 said:
Surely Alonso asked 'why have I only got fuel for 12 laps', that was a very strange strategy call. I think he must have known something was going on.
As above, what do you two make of Hamilton doing the same thing at Monaco this year?Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff