10/01/2007
NEWS STORY
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Ferrari kicked off its annual meet the media event at Madonna di Campiglio this morning, and first to take the stage was Felipe Massa, who enjoyed a successful season in 2006, scoring his maiden (F1) wins, pole positions and fastest laps.
This season he will be partnered by Finnish 'hot shot' Kimi Raikkonen, with Jean Todt insisting that there will be no team orders and that the Ferrari duo will be free to race one another.
So, with testing due to begin next week, and the season less than ten weeks away, how does Felipe Feel?
"My feelings are good," he replies. "After one year, I had a good year. I was third in the championship and fought to the end for the World Championship, so it was very positive. I learned a lot, I have grown a lot. I am very motivated."
In 2007 all the teams are to use Bridgestone rubber, so how does he feel about this?
"It's a major change for all of us," says the Brazilian. "The tyres are much harder, there's a big loss of grip, it's a totally different construction. It's not easy to find the ideal set-up. It's a major change for all teams, but it's interesting to have the same tyres. We've lost a couple of seconds."
Looking back on 2006, his best ever season, to date, he recalls: "I had many satisfactions in 2006, my first podium, I won two races, it was very important to win Brazil, it was probably the best moment of my life, and I hope to take further steps forward in 2007, fighting for victories from the start."
It's all change at the Scuderia, with Kimi Raikkonen replacing Michael Schumacher. So how does Felipe view his new teammate?
"He's arrived with his feet on the ground," laughs the Brazilian "he wants to know about the team and the people in the team, so it's positive. It's important to have a good feeling between us."
And what of all the talk of support from Michael Schumacher?
"He is a very intelligent driver with great experience," says Felipe, a masterpiece of understatement, "so Michael could be very useful for both drivers and technicians. He could help a lot of people."
Now that Michael is no long within the team, has Felipe's position changed?
"Personally a lot has changed," he admits. "I came here last year having never driven a competitive car. It's normal for the team to focus their attention on Michael, perfectly normal. I learned a lot and I was treated very well. This year, this is going to improve even more. I've done all the winter tests so now I'm sure I have an important role. There are two young drivers in the team who want to win and no World Champion so we will be treated equally. It will be the same for both drivers.
"It's really interesting for us," he continues. "Formula One without Michael Schumacher loses a lot. Michael beat all the World Championship records. The sport has lost a lot and it's strange not to have Michael, but that's life. After a while the focus changes. Formula One loses without him but there are new drivers. Fernando Alonso is now the man we have to focus on. I hope other drivers will do what Michael has done."
Regarding the new car - to be unveiled on Sunday - what are the biggest changes?
"We've tested the new suspension, and there's a new gearbox," he responds. "We've made requests and there are many interesting solutions, many things are going to make the difference so the car is totally different to 2006 which is good, it will be a competitive car. I hope we will win at the start of the championship."
There have been many changes to Formula One, how will this affect the sport?
"Formula One is very competitive so it's not easy," he admits. "There are good teams, good drivers, and now there have been many changes. It's going to be an extremely balanced, competitive championship. It won't be easy, it will be a different Formula One."
You say it will be a difficult championship… "It will be a nice show," he interrupts, "nice for the fans".
Would Felipe be surprised if he were World Championship at the end of this year?
"It's not something I think about or go crazy about," he laughs. "I have thought about working to win the championship and I know we can fight and can be successful but there is plenty of work to be done. What will happen will happen."
Asked who he fears most this season, there is no hesitation: "Fernando Alonso and my teammate," he admits. "They will both be very strong. I will have worked with one of my chief opponents but it's important for the team to have two drivers to fight for the team. Then there are others drivers: Button perhaps, the BMW drivers, Red Bull, for which there is a question mark, and what are Renault going to do?"
Asked what he learned from Michael Schumacher, Massa replies: "In every area; starting with driving, when to push, when to be conservative, how to view the race and what's happening, the whole scenario. I grew up a lot during the year. And he was very, very important on the technical side, how to work with the people, how to set up the car. He was definitely a big teacher and he will be very useful in the future because of his experience."
However, it's not simply Schumacher who has gone, others have also departed, can the team still be competitive without Ross Brawn, Paulo Martinelli…
"I think yes, and I hope yes," he replies, without hesitation. "Even with Ross, Martinelli and Rory Byrne, now things had changed already in 2006. Mario Almondo was extremely useful and has worked a lot, so the team wasn't really changing, it was the same as it was, the usual Ferrari."
Asked if he has changed his training schedule, Massa replies: "Yes and no. My training continues as before, but because the cars will be slower, it will perhaps be less demanding physically, there's less grip. (He also admits to have calmed down) I aged a lot last year thanks to experience."
And truthfully, what are your chances against Kimi, everybody's expecting a hard fight?
"It's true that Kimi is very important for the team, and expectations are high," admits the Brazilian. "He has shown to be fast but he hasn't won a World Championship. I see myself in a good situation, in the right place at the right time. The team treats me as I want to be treated and I hope I can be competitive right from the start and that everything works perfectly from the start."
To check out our Madonna di Campiglio picture gallery, click here