The start of the 2008 Formula 1 campaign has been almost a carbon copy repeat of 2007 for Felipe Massa, who headed to Bahrain under a cloud of criticism – and came away again with ten points in his pocket.
Whilst last year the Brazilian notched up just seven points from the opening two grands prix, this time around his tally going into the desert kingdom was a big fat zero, with ‘rookie' mistakes accounting for a brace of costly retirements in Melbourne and Sepang, and rumours intensifying about his future at Ferrari. He answered those critics in perfect fashion.
“For sure I have not had very easy weeks,” he admitted, “but that's life. It's not the first time and it won't be the last one either. You have some bad days in your life. I had two bad days in the first two races, but I knew that we were quick. When you make a mistake [when] you are behind it means that something is wrong, but when you make a mistake [when] you are fighting for victory that's better.
“The race was pretty difficult because I didn't want to make any mistakes. I didn't push as much either; I just tried to bring the car home and control the pace as well. For sure I had a lot of time to think [about] what's happened in the last races – that's pretty normal – but I am sure now it's in the past and that will help for the next race.”
Though the 26-year-old did not take the pole position many had expected him to in Sakhir – given his peerless pace throughout practice and the first two qualifying sessions – he wasted little time in re-asserting his authority at the start of the race, around a track he readily confesses is one of his favourites on the calendar.
From there on he seamlessly pulled away and maintained a comfortable advantage – holding the upper hand over reigning world champion team-mate Kimi Raikkonen all weekend – to claim his sixth triumph in the top flight, and one that could not have come at a more significant moment for his career.
“I love this circuit,” he enthused. “I have always gone very strong here and it is my second victory in a row. I remember in my first year – in 2006 with Ferrari – I almost took pole position but was stuck in traffic in qualifying. Then I didn't have a very lucky race, but they are nice people here and we are always welcome.
“This year, on Friday [I had] very strong pace in all the sessions. That carried on with qualifying, even if it didn't look like it because we started second. Looking at the fuel we had on-board, though, it was a fantastic lap.
“It didn't change anything starting second because I had a very good start and Robert [Kubica – pole-sitter] didn't have a very good start. I saw him having a lot of wheelspin, so for sure I got a better start and was able to pass him straightaway.
“The race was pretty tricky in the beginning because there was a lot of oil on the track – turns five, six, eight and ten were full of oil on the line. I went off-line and Robert came behind me and we almost went off, so it was pretty difficult. Then as the track cleaned up I had very good pace and the car was very good.
“The car was responding fantastically and I didn't push completely to the limit because I saw the gap increasing. Then Kimi was behind, but I could manage to keep the gap to him and the strategy was perfect. It was very nice to have a second victory in a row and my first points in the [2008] championship.”
crash.net
Whilst last year the Brazilian notched up just seven points from the opening two grands prix, this time around his tally going into the desert kingdom was a big fat zero, with ‘rookie' mistakes accounting for a brace of costly retirements in Melbourne and Sepang, and rumours intensifying about his future at Ferrari. He answered those critics in perfect fashion.
“For sure I have not had very easy weeks,” he admitted, “but that's life. It's not the first time and it won't be the last one either. You have some bad days in your life. I had two bad days in the first two races, but I knew that we were quick. When you make a mistake [when] you are behind it means that something is wrong, but when you make a mistake [when] you are fighting for victory that's better.
“The race was pretty difficult because I didn't want to make any mistakes. I didn't push as much either; I just tried to bring the car home and control the pace as well. For sure I had a lot of time to think [about] what's happened in the last races – that's pretty normal – but I am sure now it's in the past and that will help for the next race.”
Though the 26-year-old did not take the pole position many had expected him to in Sakhir – given his peerless pace throughout practice and the first two qualifying sessions – he wasted little time in re-asserting his authority at the start of the race, around a track he readily confesses is one of his favourites on the calendar.
From there on he seamlessly pulled away and maintained a comfortable advantage – holding the upper hand over reigning world champion team-mate Kimi Raikkonen all weekend – to claim his sixth triumph in the top flight, and one that could not have come at a more significant moment for his career.
“I love this circuit,” he enthused. “I have always gone very strong here and it is my second victory in a row. I remember in my first year – in 2006 with Ferrari – I almost took pole position but was stuck in traffic in qualifying. Then I didn't have a very lucky race, but they are nice people here and we are always welcome.
“This year, on Friday [I had] very strong pace in all the sessions. That carried on with qualifying, even if it didn't look like it because we started second. Looking at the fuel we had on-board, though, it was a fantastic lap.
“It didn't change anything starting second because I had a very good start and Robert [Kubica – pole-sitter] didn't have a very good start. I saw him having a lot of wheelspin, so for sure I got a better start and was able to pass him straightaway.
“The race was pretty tricky in the beginning because there was a lot of oil on the track – turns five, six, eight and ten were full of oil on the line. I went off-line and Robert came behind me and we almost went off, so it was pretty difficult. Then as the track cleaned up I had very good pace and the car was very good.
“The car was responding fantastically and I didn't push completely to the limit because I saw the gap increasing. Then Kimi was behind, but I could manage to keep the gap to him and the strategy was perfect. It was very nice to have a second victory in a row and my first points in the [2008] championship.”
crash.net