The pressure is mounting on Felipe Massa and as the Brazilian would say it isn't the first time others have been linked to his now 6 year Ferrari seat. Here is a look at how Felipe has stacked up to his three infamous Ferrari teammates. Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen and 2005,2006 world champion Fernando Alonso.
Felipe Massa spent one year as a Ferrari teammate to Michael Schumacher in 2006, the last season before Schumacher's 3 year retirement. The Brazilian was an average 0.357 seconds off the seven times F1 champion's pace in qualifying. The average qualifying position for Schumacher was 3.8 compared to 6.1 for Massa. In head to head qualifying Schumacher was in front 14 times out of 18.
In races Schumacher's average finish was 2.6 compared to Massa's 4.4. In head to head on races were both finished Schumacher was ahead of Massa 11 times out of 14. At the end of their only season as teammates Schumacher had 121 points compared to Massa's 80.
Summary 2006
Schumacher beats Massa in qualifying 14-4 and races 11-3 with average qualifying gap 0.357secs.
Raikkonen joined Ferrari in 2007 as Massa's teammate and the Finn went on to win the championship that year. In their first year as teammates the stats were very even. Massa was on average 0.074 seconds quicker than Raikkonen in qualifying but Raikkonen's average qualifying position was a fraction better at 3.6 compared to Massa's 3.9. In who came out on top in the head to head qualifying Massa sneaked it by 9 times to 8.
In races Raikkonen's average finish was slightly ahead at 2.6 compared to Massa's 3.7. In head to head on races were both finished Raikkonen was ahead of Massa 9 times out of 13. At the end of the 2007 season as teammates Raikkonen had 110 points compared to Massa's 94.
Summary 2007
Massa beats Raikkonen in qualifying 9-8 with the Brazilian an average of 0.074 seconds quicker. In races Raikkonen leads Massa 9-4.
In their second year as teammates Massa started to get the better of Raikkonen and the Brazilian was desperately unlucky to not win the championship at the end of the year. There was absolutely nothing to separate them in qualifying though as Massa was on average 0.001 seconds quicker than Raikkonen. Massa's average qualifying position was slightly better at 2.9 compared to Raikkonen's 4.4. In the head to head qualifying Massa was ahead 12-6.
In races Massa's average finish was ahead at 4.8 compared to Raikkonen's 5.6. In head to head on races were both finished Massa was ahead of Raikkonen 8 times out of 11. At the end of the 2008 season as teammates Massa had 97 points compared to Raikkonen's 75.
Summary 2008
Massa beats Raikkonen in qualifying 12-6 and races 8-3 with the average qualifying gap 0.001 seconds.
Massa continued to have a slight upper-hand at the start of the 2009 season before his near fatal accident. Out of their ten last races together as teammates, Massa was on average 0.556 seconds quicker than Raikkonen in qualifying. Raikkonen's average qualifying position was slightly better at 8.5 compared to Massa's 8.9. In the head to head qualifying Raikkonen was ahead 6-4.
In races Massa's average finish was ahead at 6.6 compared to Raikkonen's 8.4. In head to head on races were both finished Massa was ahead of Raikkonen 3 times out of 5.
Summary 2009
Raikkonen beats Massa in qualifying 6-4 but Massa is on average 0.556 seconds faster. In races Massa beats Raikkonen 3-2.
The beginning of the end for Massa?? The stats for this season has a very close parallel to the differences between Massa's only season as Schumacher's teammate. In his first season with Alonso, Massa was an average 0.316 seconds off the two time F1 champion's pace in qualifying. The average qualifying position for Alonso was 5.9 compared to 7.8 for Massa. In head to head qualifying Alonso was in front 15 times out of 19.
In races Alonso's average finish was 4.6 compared to Massa's 7.1. In head to head on races were both finished Alonso was ahead of Massa 13 times out of 16. At the end of the 2010 season, Alonso had 252 points compared to Massa's 144.
Summary 2010
Alonso beats Massa in qualifying 15-4 and in races 13-3 with the average qualifying gap 0.316secs.
Fernando Alonso vs Felipe Massa (2011)
In their second season together Massa was an average 0.277 seconds slower than Alonso in qualifying. The average qualifying position for Alonso was 4.6 compared to 5.8 for Massa. In qualifying Alonso was in front 15 times out of 19 which was the same as the year before.
In races Alonso's average finish was 3.4 compared to Massa's 6.4. In head to head on races were both finished Alonso was ahead of Massa 13 times out of 15.(one of them was controversially gifted to Alonso!) At the end of the 2011 season, Alonso had 257 points compared to Massa's 118.
Summary 2011
Alonso beats Massa in qualifying 15-4 and in races 13-2 with the average qualifying gap 0.277 seconds.
In the first two races of 2012 Massa has slipped to 0.584 seconds behind Alonso in qualifying which is about double the standard 0.3 seconds of the previous two years. The likelihood is Massa will get back to the standard 0.3 second gap behind Alonso when the car improves with the major updates planned. The rumours are Massa is guaranteed 10 races this year on his contract although that contract will mean very little if Sergio Perez and Massa have another race anytime soon of differing forms like Malaysia.
Thanks to manipef1.com and formula1.com for helping research the stats.
Michael Schumacher vs Felipe Massa (2006)
Felipe Massa spent one year as a Ferrari teammate to Michael Schumacher in 2006, the last season before Schumacher's 3 year retirement. The Brazilian was an average 0.357 seconds off the seven times F1 champion's pace in qualifying. The average qualifying position for Schumacher was 3.8 compared to 6.1 for Massa. In head to head qualifying Schumacher was in front 14 times out of 18.
In races Schumacher's average finish was 2.6 compared to Massa's 4.4. In head to head on races were both finished Schumacher was ahead of Massa 11 times out of 14. At the end of their only season as teammates Schumacher had 121 points compared to Massa's 80.
Summary 2006
Schumacher beats Massa in qualifying 14-4 and races 11-3 with average qualifying gap 0.357secs.
Kimi Raikkonen vs Felipe Massa (2007)
Raikkonen joined Ferrari in 2007 as Massa's teammate and the Finn went on to win the championship that year. In their first year as teammates the stats were very even. Massa was on average 0.074 seconds quicker than Raikkonen in qualifying but Raikkonen's average qualifying position was a fraction better at 3.6 compared to Massa's 3.9. In who came out on top in the head to head qualifying Massa sneaked it by 9 times to 8.
In races Raikkonen's average finish was slightly ahead at 2.6 compared to Massa's 3.7. In head to head on races were both finished Raikkonen was ahead of Massa 9 times out of 13. At the end of the 2007 season as teammates Raikkonen had 110 points compared to Massa's 94.
Summary 2007
Massa beats Raikkonen in qualifying 9-8 with the Brazilian an average of 0.074 seconds quicker. In races Raikkonen leads Massa 9-4.
Kimi Raikkonen vs Felipe Massa (2008)
In their second year as teammates Massa started to get the better of Raikkonen and the Brazilian was desperately unlucky to not win the championship at the end of the year. There was absolutely nothing to separate them in qualifying though as Massa was on average 0.001 seconds quicker than Raikkonen. Massa's average qualifying position was slightly better at 2.9 compared to Raikkonen's 4.4. In the head to head qualifying Massa was ahead 12-6.
In races Massa's average finish was ahead at 4.8 compared to Raikkonen's 5.6. In head to head on races were both finished Massa was ahead of Raikkonen 8 times out of 11. At the end of the 2008 season as teammates Massa had 97 points compared to Raikkonen's 75.
Summary 2008
Massa beats Raikkonen in qualifying 12-6 and races 8-3 with the average qualifying gap 0.001 seconds.
Kimi Raikkonen vs Felipe Massa (2009)
Massa continued to have a slight upper-hand at the start of the 2009 season before his near fatal accident. Out of their ten last races together as teammates, Massa was on average 0.556 seconds quicker than Raikkonen in qualifying. Raikkonen's average qualifying position was slightly better at 8.5 compared to Massa's 8.9. In the head to head qualifying Raikkonen was ahead 6-4.
In races Massa's average finish was ahead at 6.6 compared to Raikkonen's 8.4. In head to head on races were both finished Massa was ahead of Raikkonen 3 times out of 5.
Summary 2009
Raikkonen beats Massa in qualifying 6-4 but Massa is on average 0.556 seconds faster. In races Massa beats Raikkonen 3-2.
Fernando Alonso vs Felipe Massa (2010)
The beginning of the end for Massa?? The stats for this season has a very close parallel to the differences between Massa's only season as Schumacher's teammate. In his first season with Alonso, Massa was an average 0.316 seconds off the two time F1 champion's pace in qualifying. The average qualifying position for Alonso was 5.9 compared to 7.8 for Massa. In head to head qualifying Alonso was in front 15 times out of 19.
In races Alonso's average finish was 4.6 compared to Massa's 7.1. In head to head on races were both finished Alonso was ahead of Massa 13 times out of 16. At the end of the 2010 season, Alonso had 252 points compared to Massa's 144.
Summary 2010
Alonso beats Massa in qualifying 15-4 and in races 13-3 with the average qualifying gap 0.316secs.
Fernando Alonso vs Felipe Massa (2011)
In their second season together Massa was an average 0.277 seconds slower than Alonso in qualifying. The average qualifying position for Alonso was 4.6 compared to 5.8 for Massa. In qualifying Alonso was in front 15 times out of 19 which was the same as the year before.
In races Alonso's average finish was 3.4 compared to Massa's 6.4. In head to head on races were both finished Alonso was ahead of Massa 13 times out of 15.(one of them was controversially gifted to Alonso!) At the end of the 2011 season, Alonso had 257 points compared to Massa's 118.
Summary 2011
Alonso beats Massa in qualifying 15-4 and in races 13-2 with the average qualifying gap 0.277 seconds.
In the first two races of 2012 Massa has slipped to 0.584 seconds behind Alonso in qualifying which is about double the standard 0.3 seconds of the previous two years. The likelihood is Massa will get back to the standard 0.3 second gap behind Alonso when the car improves with the major updates planned. The rumours are Massa is guaranteed 10 races this year on his contract although that contract will mean very little if Sergio Perez and Massa have another race anytime soon of differing forms like Malaysia.
Thanks to manipef1.com and formula1.com for helping research the stats.
