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"Seeing the car for the first time is like
welcoming a boy in a family. It is important
to work to make him grow in the best way,"
these were the first words of Felipe Massa
when he met the journalists. |
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"Seeing the
car for the first time is like welcoming a boy in a
family. It is important to work to make him grow in the
best way." These were the first words of Felipe Massa
when he met the journalists, together with his team mate
Kimi Raikkonen, at the presentation of the new single-seater.
"The first impression of the car is that it is really
beautiful. Just like every other Ferrari. But that is
not enough. The looks are important, but the performance
and the reliability are even more important. The team
has to work to make the car immediately fast and
reliable. We have to do some more work on it before the
first race and we want to check its performance before
we make any further comments."
As far as the different driving style caused by the
missing traction control is concerned Massa said: "It
really is different now. You have to take care of the
accelerator; even more than of the brakes. The driving
style has to be softer and less aggressive. To the
question of how much it weighs on him that Kimi has
number 1 on his car, Felipe replied: "The number doesn't
change anything. The most important thing is what we
reach by the end of the year. 2007 was really great. I
won races, but I also had some problems, which cost me
some precious points. We have to learn from that and try
to win again. I am really motivated; the team is
absolutely fantastic. I'm married now and I turned into
a man and I am more serious now. I am ready to fight.
More than ever."
As far as the new rules are concerned and because he
already has experience with cars without traction
control in other racing series Massa said: "I don't
think that this will be an advantage. Although many
things changed. Also the revs have a certain influence.
The V8 is more aggressive and difficult than the V10.
When you are driving under these conditions you want
more stability and grip and you try to drive more
aggressively and closer to the limit."
"When there's less grip you can use the tyres much
better. That is really important, as there is no
traction control anymore." As far as the new qualifying
rules are concerned Felipe said: "To be honest I think
that absolutely nothing will change here; we won't have
3-4 laps to use the old tyres. We'll start with new sets
of tyres and with the right amount of fuel to get the
right lap time. Almost nothing will change for me here."
Felipe confirmed that: "Jean Todt is still there and he
will participate in many important events. There's
Stefano now, who has a very important role after many
years he has been working here. I am happy for him and I
hope that the team will be as it always was. After all
it is the mentality that is important and that it
remains as it is."
And the incorrect things in 2007? "That has been some
kind of school for me; to teach me that these kind of
situations should never ever happen again for any team
and the Championship. We all have to work bearing in
mind that this sport is based on rules, which we all
have to follow."
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