user icon
user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Massa admits career almost collapsed 'several times'

Massa admits career almost collapsed 'several times'

  • Published on 10 Sep 2014 12:11
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Felipe Massa has admitted his motor racing career almost collapsed several times. The latest was this year, as teammate Valtteri Bottas was dominating amid speculation Williams could take on Massa's heavily sponsored countryman Felipe Nasr for 2015.

But just as his new deal for next year was announced, Massa scored a timely and hugely popular first podium of the season in Italy -- in front of the 'Tifosi' still fond of the little Brazilian after eight years at Ferrari.

"To be honest," Massa told Brazil's Globo this week, "I have always faced difficult times in my career. Not just now, not just in Ferrari, but throughout my career -- from the days of Formula Chevrolet in Brazil. "I was close to ending my career several times, but always managed to overcome and move on."

But even 33-year-old Massa acknowledges that the man-of-the-moment at Williams is Finn Bottas, who last week he anointed a world champion of the future. Pat Symonds, Williams' technical boss who has worked with many great champions, fully agrees.

"I am completely convinced that he is a future world champion," the Briton told Finland's Turun Sanomat, "and I want to make sure he does it with us at Williams. I have been with two young guys, Fernando (Alonso) and Valtteri, as they started their careers and then developed. And I see a lot of similarities. But I think Valtteri as a total package has the potential to be even better than Fernando," Symonds added.

25-year-old Bottas' potential was reportedly spotted elsewhere in pitlane this year, including at McLaren who have been looking to freshen its driver lineup. But Bottas insists staying at "Williams was definitely always the priority". "We have improved so much since last year and now it seems that the direction is correct. I believe we will be even better next season and that this is the best place for me at the moment," he said. (GMM)
F1 News Valtteri Bottas Felipe Massa Felipe Nasr Ferrari Williams McLaren

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

Related news

World Championship standings 2022

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
759
2
Ferrari
554
3
Mercedes
514
4
Alpine F1
173
5
McLaren
159
6
Alfa Romeo Racing
55
7
Aston Martin
55
8
Haas F1
37
9
Alpha Tauri
35
10
Williams
8
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Driver profile

FI Valtteri Bottas 77
  • Team Alfa Romeo Racing
  • Points 1,598
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 163
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (33)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Ferrari
Ferrari
Show full profile

Formula 1 Calendar - 2022

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
18 - Mar 20
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
25 - Mar 27
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
8 - Apr 10
Australia
Albert Park
22 - Apr 24
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
6 - May 8
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
20 - May 22
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
27 - May 29
Monaco
Monte Carlo
10 - Jun 12
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
17 - Jun 19
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
1 - Jul 3
United Kingdom
Silverstone
8 - Jul 10
Austria
Red Bull Ring
22 - Jul 24
France
Paul Ricard
29 - Jul 31
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Aug 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
2 - Sep 4
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
9 - Sep 11
Italy
Monza
30 - Oct 2
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
7 - Oct 9
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
21 - Oct 23
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
28 - Oct 30
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
11 - Nov 13
Brazil
Interlagos
18 - Nov 20
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2022

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
18 - Mar 20
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
25 - Mar 27
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
8 - Apr 10
Australia Albert Park
22 - Apr 24
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
6 - May 8
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
20 - May 22
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
27 - May 29
Monaco Monte Carlo
10 - Jun 12
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
17 - Jun 19
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
1 - Jul 3
United Kingdom Silverstone
8 - Jul 10
Austria Red Bull Ring
22 - Jul 24
France Paul Ricard
29 - Jul 31
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Aug 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
2 - Sep 4
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
9 - Sep 11
Italy Monza
30 - Oct 2
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
7 - Oct 9
Japan Circuit Suzuka
21 - Oct 23
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
28 - Oct 30
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
11 - Nov 13
Brazil Interlagos
18 - Nov 20
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar