This year, it was Felipe Massa who entered di Montezemolo's radar, as the former title contender ended the 2010 season as only the 6th best driver of the pack, scoring 108 points less than his teammate Fernando Alonso. And although Ferrari have avoided to criticize the Brazilian for his performances throughout the recently ended campaign, it was time a message was sent to him in regards to the future.
“At a certain point in the season Felipe was fed up and sent his brother,” the Ferrari-an was quoted as saying to the Italian journalists during a meeting held at Maranello earlier this week.
We should remind you that the Ferrari president put the same pressure on Kimi Raikkonen a few seasons back, after the Finnish driver performed poorly during the 2008 F1 season. A year later, the Finn was ousted one year before his contract was due.
“For this (performance) Felipe gets 7 minus. For Alonso, in his first season in Ferrari, I give him 9 and a half. But unfortunately even he didn't win,” added the Ferrari president.
Needless to say, what Fernando Alonso did with the underperforming Ferrari F10 this season was nothing short of impressive, considering that his team seldom gave him a car to battle for a race win. Nevertheless, the 2-time world champion finished the season with 5 wins and was in contention for the world title until the last race, when a strategy failure from Ferrari prevented him from winning the title.
Despite Massa's underperforming seasons in 2009 and 2010, the Brazilian was extended his Ferrari stay until the end of 2012. Whether he'll survive the deal or not, we're yet to see.
Google News