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Felipe Massa admits that being teammates with Fernando Alonso was no easy task. The pair were teammates at Ferrari from 2010 to 2013, with Alonso coming out on top over the course of their partnership.
Massa drew comparisons to Michael Schumacher, another former teammate of his. The Brazilian believes that Alonso and Schumacher were on the same level in terms of driver skill, but believes that Schumacher was much easier to work with.
"As for pure talent, I would put Michael and Fernando on the same level," Massa said. "Alonso has the gift, the ease, of understanding a race and driving incredibly fast. A highly intelligent driver with extensive skills and I would say all that also about Michael.
“I have to admit – it was not easy to live by his side. I had a close relationship with Michael. I was young and eager to absorb all the knowledge of a seven-time champion, and Schumacher treated me very well. But I had to wrestle with Fernando in a different way.
"Outside of the race car, I had zero problems with Alonso, we have always maintained a healthy working relationship. With Fernando, that’s one thing. If he pulls down his visor, he becomes another person. He can split a team. We saw that in many racing teams he drove for. I see that as his problem. Maybe he could have made more of his talent without this trait."
Massa bowed out of Formula 1 at the end of the 2017 season and has been taking a break from racing this year. However, he will return to the cockpit in December, racing in Formula E with Venturi for the 2018-19 season.
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Nail right on the head, Massa. Its such a shame that Alonso is so talented, because all of that talent is wasted due to the politics he brings to a team... And now I got an image in my head of an F1 team with actual politicians as their drivers... *shudders*