Related News
Home » Sports » Motor Racing
Massa tips Barrichello to edge Button
Source: Agencies |
September 9, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
JENSON Button needs to cope better with the pressure of leading the standings if the Briton wants to secure a first Formula One title, last year's runner-up Felipe Massa has told a British newspaper.
The Ferrari driver, recovering from life-threatening head injuries suffered in Hungary in July, told the Guardian in an interview published yesterday that he was backing Button's Brawn teammate and Brazilian compatriot Rubens Barrichello.
Barrichello, a friend of Massa, is 16 points adrift of Button with five races remaining, but the championship leader has taken only 11 points in his last five races after winning six of the first seven.
Massa pointed out that he had been six points behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton going into the final race last year and still almost won the title.
"That was one race, Rubens has five races to close 16 points. It's a big possibility but it depends on Jenson. If Jenson carries on in this bad way it will help Rubens a lot," he said.
"In my opinion, Jenson has gone down because of the pressure. It's the only reason.
"In the earlier races, he was almost half a second (a lap) quicker than some teams. You win the race easy and there is not so much pressure. But now we have races where things are more difficult," Massa said.
"So for me the pressure has had a big impact on his mind - and he needs to deal with it better. If he does not cope with the pressure he will not win the championship."
Massa, interviewed in his Sao Paulo apartment before undergoing cosmetic surgery on Monday, is not due to return until next season. He said he felt his accident happened for a reason and would make him stronger.
"Everything in life has a meaning. If something bad happens it's because you need to learn, to grow," he said.
"My life was once very difficult. When you think of the position I used to be in and what I had to do to arrive where I am now in my professional career. It was very difficult to reach this point."
The Ferrari driver, recovering from life-threatening head injuries suffered in Hungary in July, told the Guardian in an interview published yesterday that he was backing Button's Brawn teammate and Brazilian compatriot Rubens Barrichello.
Barrichello, a friend of Massa, is 16 points adrift of Button with five races remaining, but the championship leader has taken only 11 points in his last five races after winning six of the first seven.
Massa pointed out that he had been six points behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton going into the final race last year and still almost won the title.
"That was one race, Rubens has five races to close 16 points. It's a big possibility but it depends on Jenson. If Jenson carries on in this bad way it will help Rubens a lot," he said.
"In my opinion, Jenson has gone down because of the pressure. It's the only reason.
"In the earlier races, he was almost half a second (a lap) quicker than some teams. You win the race easy and there is not so much pressure. But now we have races where things are more difficult," Massa said.
"So for me the pressure has had a big impact on his mind - and he needs to deal with it better. If he does not cope with the pressure he will not win the championship."
Massa, interviewed in his Sao Paulo apartment before undergoing cosmetic surgery on Monday, is not due to return until next season. He said he felt his accident happened for a reason and would make him stronger.
"Everything in life has a meaning. If something bad happens it's because you need to learn, to grow," he said.
"My life was once very difficult. When you think of the position I used to be in and what I had to do to arrive where I am now in my professional career. It was very difficult to reach this point."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
