sam_collins's avatar
Author:
Sam Collins
Login For More
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
SPEEDtv.com Store
DVD: David Jefferies Story
The David Jefferies Story is a reminder of the much loved and much missed Yorkshireman.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Man-Made Thunder
The book examines the sport of stock car racing through the eyes and ears of the men behind the wheel and the wrenches.
Our Price: $49.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Unisex Sandwich Cap
Unisex Velcro back hat with SPEED logo on front. PINKS logo embroidered on left and PAO logo on right. One size fits all.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speedway T-shirt
Men's 6 oz. 100% Cotton Jersey Short Sleeve Tee. SPEED logo imprinted on the front center chest.
Our Price: $24.99
Visit Button
Buy Button
Ferrari Red Classic Hat
100% cotton twill. Ferrari shield embroidered on front, piping on the peak and Ferrari logo embroidered on back strap adjuster.
Our Price: $30.00 ($27.00 Member)
Visit Button
Buy Button
Footer Bg
  • Zoom More Photos Button
  • Camera Icon
F1: Massa Details First Laps in the New Ferrari F60
Written by: Sam Collins
Racecar Engineering   http://www.racecar-engineering.com/
01/13/2009
Mugello, (ITA)
 
The new F60 is sleek and purposeful. With slick tires and radical aerodynamics, the new breed of F1 machinery will take some to get used to, says Massa. (LAT Photographic) » More Photos


Felipe Massa, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's Brazilian driver, reflected on his first impressions after driving the new F60 at the Mugello circuit. "This car is completely different from the one we had last year. Many rules have changed and they are all visible, the impact of the rules, such as the introduction of the KERS, the changed aerodynamics; all these things make it very different for us all to drive.

For the first day there weren't planned 100 laps or particular lap times, because when the rules change in such an important way the shakedown becomes more difficult and delicate. We resolved some minor problems today and I'm glad that I went 100 kilometers using the KERS, which was the part that worried us most. We started to use it just a bit in the beginning and then we raised its performance level. In the upcoming tests we'll have the possibility to try out all its different aspects. We used this first day to check the general functioning of the engine, the gearbox, the suspension and the KERS; it was positive, because everything worked just fine. We wanted to do 100 laps, but in reality we tested more than we had actually expected to."

Several other questions for Felipe came up:

Q: It seems
that these cars are much more difficult to drive, because they need to be controlled much more (KERS, flap, slicks). Can you confirm that?
Massa says that he preferred FOTA's suggestion to increase the number of points for victory (LAT Photographic) » More Photos

Massa: "That's true. It's a car with many changes and driving it will be different. You can feel it much more now, but once you know the car and the new rules it's automatic; we've seen that over the last years."

Q: The 2009 season is mainly characterized by insecurities concerning all aspects of Formula 1. How do you feel it on a personal level and in the Team?

Massa: "The people inside the Team share the same motivation and the same work approach; I have to say that they're all quite similar to how they were the years before; obviously when there are major changes from one year to the next, the way we work changes in certain areas. The atmosphere I sense is very good and everybody is pushing hard inside the Team, from the President, to Stefano and the technical department. I'm happy that I can be part of the Team and I hope that we continue to improve every week, just like we did in our good years. It's true, it's the start of a new cycle, a different one for Formula 1, but we're convinced that we can fight in a very competitive Championship."

Page 1 of 2
Next Page »
1 2 >
View All Comments