Massa: "Monaco going to be hard for Stroll"
- Published on 15 May 2017 14:44
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Felipe Massa his warned teammate Lance Stroll that the rookie's toughest F1 challenge is now looming. 18-year-old Stroll has struggled in the sister Williams so far this year, but veteran Massa said Monaco in a fortnight will be his biggest eye-opener to date.
"Monaco is probably the most demanding track of all," Massa, who admits he is mentoring Stroll, told Le Journal de Montreal. "Even experienced drivers have problems there. The walls arrive very quickly. And the cars are wider this year but the streets are just as narrow as before," the 36-year-old smiled.
"So it's going to be hard for Lance in Monaco," Massa continued. "Nothing compares to it. But of course I'll be there to help him. The setup is crucial in Monaco and I will share it with him. Where and how to brake is also an art that must be mastered."
Recalling his own Monaco debut as a youngster in 2002, Massa admitted: "Like many others in their first time, it was catastrophic for me even if I did the 13th time. "I was constantly avoiding contacts with the wall or other cars and my race ended abruptly," Massa said.
Indeed, even the F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen has had a tough time at Monaco in the last two years. "That's one example among so many others," said Massa. "Many drivers hit the wall trying to do too much, not only Max. Even the veterans are not immune."
And not just that, Massa admits that Monaco has not been a happy hunting ground for Williams. "Honestly, it's always been terrible for our team," he said. "Don't ask me why, I don't know. It's a mystery to me."
So that could make a difficult situation for Stroll even worse in two weeks. "At the risk of repeating myself, Lance must continue to learn," said Massa. "He's in a difficult position, but I've been there. A lot is being asked of him in his first year and expectations are high." (GMM)
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Replies (8)
Login to replyKevin
Posts: 5,341
I bet he will crash every session.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Quite unfortunate that, F1 has become a training ground for rich kids.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It almost always were a training ground for rich boys. Very few has gotten into F1 with skills alone.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
I wonder how many starving children could have been fed by daddy Stroll for the money he's spent making his son a borderline laughing stock. Just hope he doesn't injure himself (or anyone else) before he gives up on the idea of being an F1 driver.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Its a bit odd to see so many champions from other series struggle when they get to F1. Is F1 really that much harder? Im not sure what to make of Stroll yet, but Palmer hasnt really impressed me. Must say I am impressed by Wehrlein though, strategy or not, nursing tyres so much while still managing to have a decent pace in an underpowered car must be tough.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
Agreed on Palmer. With Stroll who knows if he has the talent or not at this stage, but nobody can be surprised at his results to date. I'm not sure what he's lacking more, experience or patience. With the financial backing he has, he could (should) have spent a few years developing his skills before entering F1. The only thing F1-ready about Stroll is his financial backing. It says quite a lot about the state of F1 when one of the better teams on the grid sacrifices a realistic shot at 4th in the constructors in order to have a wealthy but useless driver on the team for money alone.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It is probably a mix. And to be fair, Stroll has had a fair share of bad luck so far aswell, so he isnt entirely to blame. I agree that he should've waited a year or two more, but I guess he thought he'd only get one chance, and who can blame him for pouncing a bit early? Not exactly impressed so far, but I suppose we need to give him more time. I agree with your last statement, especially since Williams is sort of midfield in terms of their financial situation. But its pretty much the same for Renault: one good driver cannot pull an entire team.
Barron
Posts: 625
I don 't think Palmer is that bad to be honest. He just hasn't got the extra ooomph needed to succeed in F1 and I believe that's the same for much of the grid. It's as much of a psychological battle as it is a demonstration of physical driving skills. If it was just driving, I think you would see many of the so-called 'failures' probably do quite well. It's full on in-youjr-face from dawn to dusk. Not many can cope with that let alone the level of driving skill required..