Brazilian star Massa faces massive task for Ferrari at Monza
MONZA, Italy: Felipe Massa knows exactly what is expected of him in front of Ferrari's vociferous home support here at the Italian Grand Prix - do his utmost and win.
The Brazilian claimed a near-perfect victory in Turkey last month, but ahead of this weekend's classic Italian race he lies 15 points behind championship leader Briton Lewis Hamilton.
And with just four races remaining, Massa knows that to win the title he must keep finishing ahead of not only Hamilton, but also second-placed defending double drivers champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso and his own Ferrari teammate Finn Kimi Raikkonen.
Massa said: "This Championship is pretty competitive - four drivers are fighting for the title, so I have to make sure I can be more competitive than the others; try to do the maximum and stay competitive until the end of the season."
Being "more competitive than the others" will not be as straightforward as Massa makes it sound if the four-day test at Monza last week is anything to go by.
Alonso and Hamilton both showed impressive pace on the low-downforce circuit and the McLaren pair, whose rocky relationship seems to have stabilised recently, will take some beating on the same track this weekend.
Hamilton certainly believes the test will stand him in good stead as he continues his quest to become the first rookie world champion.
"Monza is a very historic circuit, so it is quite special when you go there for any driver. I remember it is not an easy track to get a good set-up at, so the test was very useful," he said.
"It is a great track, you have the long, long straights and some great high speed corners.
"It is really tough on the cars and you have to use the kerbs a lot to get quick lap times.
"Slowing the cars down with the incredibly low downforce is not easy and the balance under braking is key. This was another area we worked on in the test."
Hamilton has taken to Formula One so swiftly that it is easy to forget that at this race last year the British rookie was on his way to victory in the GP2 support race.
Of course his competition will be stiffer on this occasion but the 22-year-old 'wonderkid' can only benefit from having such fond memories of Monza.
"I had my first race here last year in GP2 and it was a very memorable weekend because it was where I won the championship," Hamilton remembered.
"I also had an awesome battle with Giorgio Pantano for the whole of the Sunday race, which was one of the most enjoyable for me all year.
"Hopefully, this year I will have just as good a race and make some great memories for the future."
While Hamilton struggled to a fifth place finish in Turkey after suffering a tyre failure, Alonso picked up a somewhat fortuitous third place.
The 26-year-old Spaniard is chasing his third consecutive world championship, but unlike his upstart team-mate he has only unhappy memories of Italy where he has failed to finish in three of the last four years.
"Last year did not give me any good memories, but it is a track that I would really like to win at so hopefully we can make that happen," he said.
"I feel positive going into the race. It is a challenge, but it is a special circuit and it is a great feeling to race here."
Agencies
(China Daily 09/06/2007 page23)
