Brazilian driver Felipe Massa has an intimate understanding of life as a Ferrari driver. Having began his System 1 journey with Sauber, Massa joined the Scuderia in 2006 throughout a pivotal second within the staff’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 yr.
In 2008, Massa got here agonizingly near clinching his first world title at his dwelling Grand Prix in Brazil. The celebration was short-lived, as Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap move 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 skills, 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 interested by 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 could face on the Maranello staff beginning with the following 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 may very well be one such issue, presumably impacting his skill to carry out on the similar stage as youthful rivals within the intensely aggressive atmosphere of contemporary System 1.
As Lewis Hamilton enters the 2025 F1 season with the Maranello staff, he finds himself with some extent to show to each critics and supporters alike. Whereas the legendary driver has persistently been one of the crucial dominant figures in System 1, latest performances have proven some indicators of self-doubt which will elevate concern amongst Ferrari followers.
All through the 2024 System 1 season, the seven-time System 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 in regards to 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 finest when confronted with skepticism about his skills, and this newest chapter in his profession is not any totally different. All through his profession, he’s by no means been a stranger to defending his choices, 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, nonetheless, provides a really totally different state of affairs than Mercedes did when Hamilton first joined the staff in 2013. The Scuderia is in a far stronger place now, with a aggressive automotive 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 staff, which might be the proper conclusion to certainly one of System 1’s most illustrious careers. For Lewis Hamilton, the 2025 season is not going to simply be about silencing his critics—it is going to even be about cementing his legacy as one of many biggest drivers to ever compete within the sport.
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