Felipe Massa Suggests Ferrari Needs Clearer Direction

Felipe Massa, a former Ferrari driver, has weighed in on the recent tensions at Ferrari, suggesting that the team is missing a clear set of racing rules. Following a spat between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, which has since been resolved, Massa remarked that "something is not right" within the Scuderia. Reflecting on his own experience with the team, he noted that during his tenure, expectations and rules of engagement were clearly defined from the start.

Ferrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur, faced a challenge at the Brazilian Grand Prix when tensions between Hamilton and Leclerc, stemming from an incident at the Mexican GP, carried over to Interlagos. Although the situation eventually calmed, and both drivers declared they had moved on, Vasseur maintained that the team's guidelines were unchanged. He emphasized that "Ferrari is coming first," yet the incident itself raised concerns for Massa.

"For sure, what’s happening this year in Ferrari is not really right," Massa commented on the High Performance Racing podcast. He pointed out that when a team isn't performing at its best, such internal conflicts are more likely to arise. He called for more precise rules to guide the drivers' behavior and interactions, especially before the start of the championship.

Massa reminisced about his time at Ferrari alongside Kimi Raikkonen, noting that they were "free to race" as long as they respected the team and avoided collisions. However, after the Belgian Grand Prix, the directive changed to focus on supporting the lead driver. He stressed that respect among drivers is crucial for team harmony.

Rob Smedley, Massa's former race engineer at Ferrari, echoed these sentiments. He recalled detailed pre-race discussions with team leaders about race strategies and emphasized the importance of having clear rules of engagement. "That's when you start to get problems," Smedley noted, referring to the absence of such clarity.

Massa agreed, emphasizing that the team should always come first: "The team is bigger than any drivers. The team is bigger than any situation at the end, especially a team like Ferrari." He suggested that Ferrari might need to reassess their approach sooner rather than later, rather than waiting for the offseason.

Former Aston Martin and Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer questioned the idea of waiting until winter to address these issues. Massa concurred, suggesting immediate action could benefit the team's standings, particularly as Ferrari is still vying for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Currently, both Hamilton and Leclerc have a shot at finishing as runners-up in the Drivers' Championship, with Hamilton trailing P2 Max Verstappen by 18 points and Leclerc by 30.

Massa concluded by reiterating his belief that improving the team's working methods is essential for Ferrari's success. "That’s what I believe," he said, emphasizing the need for better collaboration and communication within the team.