Domenicali: Keeping Massa the right decision 16 Jan 2013
Team principal Stefano Domenicali is convinced that Ferrari have made the right decision in keeping on Felipe Massa for 2013. A string of disappointing results in the first half of 2012 led to speculation that the Scuderia might not continue their long-running relationship with the Brazilian. However, after a much improved second half of the season - including podium finishes in Japan and Brazil - they opted to retain Massa for another year.
“I think the toughest part of Felipe’s career is now behind him,” said Domenicali, speaking at Ferrari’s pre-season ski meeting in Italy. “After last summer his approach turned about and, as a result, his performance on track changed and he managed to show just how talented he is.
“I’m sure his problem was not linked to his contractual situation. Personally, there was a lot of pressure on me regarding possible changes, but in the interests of the team, I preferred to wait and today, I’m convinced that keeping Felipe in the Ferrari family was the right decision.
“His performance in the second half of the season contributed significantly to our second place in the constructors’ classification: for the team that is a strong point and for Fernando (Alonso), it provides further impetus to try even harder.”
Domenicali also spoke of Ferrari’s responsibility to give 2012 championship runner-up Alonso a more competitive car in 2013.
“Fernando had an amazing season,” he said, “and we’ve been saying that for three years now, while he continues to astonish everyone. His strength as a champion and his great fighting spirit is a guarantee for himself and for the team: our responsibility is to give him a car with which he can make the most of his abilities and his killer instinct.”
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