Mass Respect

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Formula One is a sport that I am passionate about. And I don't mean willing to argue my point to the ground, I mean sitting and crying for the best part of an hour when my hero came so close to winning the world championship yesterday, and lost it at the final corner.

I write this because I have never, in my entire life, had so much respect for anyone as I did for Felipe Massa yesterday.

Massa crossed the line and won the race, and in doing so became temporary world champion. As he celebrated in the cockpit, Lewis Hamilton was in sixth position and looking set to lose the title. However, at the final corner of the entire race, Hamilton edged passed Timo Glock to take the fifth place he needed to secure the world championship.

Every Brazilian, Italian and Massa fan went from defeated, to complete ecstasy and then to utter agony, all in the space of 10 minutes. For me, it was one of the worst moments of my entire life. I dread to think how Massa felt.

TV images showed the Brazilian weeping in the cockpit, and in climbing out of the car he looked more disappointed that you can ever imagine. It would have come as no surprise had he decided just to hide in the back of the Ferrari garage and sulk. That's what I would have done.

But Massa didn't. He stood up, faced the crowd, and held his head high. It was at that moment, that I realised that this man, a man so gracious in defeat, has become my all-time Formula 1 hero.


Obviously there are people like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, who can only be described as heroes, but to me, even if he never wins a world championship, Massa is now the man I have the most respect for in the world.

He has what very few drivers, hell, what very few men have: courtesy. He accepts defeat, he is modest in victory, and every sportsman in the world should aspire to be like him.

If I could grow into a man that could show even the slighest graciousness that Felipe Massa can, I'll know that I have done well as a person.
 
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For some reason (maybe a couple of bad seasons with Sauber) people really dislike him. It's not just here on GTP, but also in other forums that i regularly post.

There's still hundreds of people that label him as "the second driver" on Ferrari, people still pick on him for having a bad wet race at Silverstone, and the list goes on. I always felt like he didn't deserve most of the heat he got.

But in the end nobody remembers the second place finisher and the consequences in which it happened.

I didn't expected anything different from him about yesterday. I'm glad people also recognize that he's a good competitor.

I hope he gets his title someday.
 
I think Massa is like Sebastian Vettel (or maybe that should be the other way around): he's just plain likeable. In pretty much every interview I've seen of him, he's a nice guy. He's down to earth - for an F1 driver - and he doesn't take his victory as a foregone conclusion. Sure, if there's an incident, he'll let his emotions get the better of him, and he has a slight impetuous streak left over from his days at Sauber that Ferrari haven't quite been able to iron our of him, but if anything it makes him more human. Raikkonen has the emotional range of a robot, which is why I've taken to calling him the Raikkobot; talented driver, but a boring conversationalist. His flaws make Massa more human.

One of my favourite authors wrote a novel about a high-speed racing series, and while it was hardly an astounding work of fiction, there was one line that I remember from it: it's not how we win that defines us, it's how we lose. I think Felipe Massa has defined himself as one of Formula One's most-honourable drivers in the history of the sport, and that makes him one of the most deserving men on the grid. I'm backing Vettel next year, but I think Felipe Massa will be my pick for the title.

But the only question remains: what would any of the other drivers have done in Massa's situation? To have the World Championship in their grasp and then see it stolen away from them at the last corner? I hate to say it, but I don't think half of them would be half as gracious as Massa. Vettel is the only one I can think of for now.
 
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Actually, we don't know what Vettel would've done, since he's never been close.

But yeah, Massa pretty much had to show up at the podium ceremony. I think there are penalties for messing with it.

What was he shouting, though?
 
I have great respect for Massa, as a competitor. He may have started as Ferrari's number two... but this season, he showed much more heart and determination (though at times, he still faltered) than the two fastest guys (in terms of total package... Hamilton and Raikonnen) on the grid. He's the one who's most excited to win when he's on that podium... to hell with decorum... he recognizes what a big achievement each win is. If F1 weren't so nannying about it, I'd fully expect him to do donuts after every victory.

For that, he fully deserves to be world champion.

Just like Kimi, I think Massa will get his second chance, someday. I mean, Kimi's sole championship was all the sweeter for the number of years it took for him to get it... I'm sure Massa's, when it comes... will be even better.
 
SUPER NUMBBER
Actually, we don't know what Vettel would've done, since he's never been close.
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Maybe, but you cantell he's cut from nearly the same cloth. He's one of the few people who actually takes time out for his fans. Some drivers will sign autographs in passing if they're nearby and have the time, while others won't do it at all, but Vettel actually sets time aside to visit the fans, and I can see Massa doing something like that.

SUPER NUMBBER
But yeah, Massa pretty much had to show up at the podium ceremony. I think there are penalties for messing with it.
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I think the thread-starter is getting more at the way Massa behaved on the podium rather than going at all. It would have to be tough, standing there knowing that he was robbed of a World Championship.
 
I agree with the OP. He conducted himself with great dignity. He'd done all he could. He had evangelical support from the crowd, and I think he really felt it.
 
Massa has proven to be what Schui and others at Ferrari saw in his potential.Sure he was considered a number 2 driver but hey alot of drivers would be, (with Schui)that are number 1 for their respective teams right now.

Winning the constructors championship was always Ferrari's aim and for Massa to aid in achieving that, is a credit to him also. He will win a championship it's only a matter of time.
 
Massa behaved admirably. Shame the crowd behaved like 200,000 spoiled little bitches.

If I'd been Hamilton I'd have given them such a torrent of abuse back the FIA would probably have stripped the title from me for mooning and swearing at them.

As far as I'm concerned there's one honourable guy in Brazil right now and he just came second in the drivers championship. Well played Felipe!
 
P3nT4gR4m
Shame the crowd behaved like 200,000 spoiled little bitches.
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All the more reason why Massa's decorum was so important - to be fair to Hamilton as well, he and Massa represent the next generation of how sportsmen ought to conduct themselves in public... you can't blame the crowd for supporting their guy, but sadly most home crowds have a distinct lack of respect for the competition (and that goes for any sport, with the possible exception of rugby!)

Respect is due to Massa, for sure... but it should serve as a reminder to the booers, the racists, and the haters that respect is something that is due to all the sportsmen involved... especially toward the only guy good enough to beat their man...
 
I think that picture in post 1 and from a different angle in my avatar will go down in history as one of the most important or memorable moments. I can see there being paintings etc. and prints being sold in the future.

I had respect for Massa before but this increased my respect 10-fold. Felipe told the team and the fans we should be proud of the race and the season, we are proud of them, and we are proud of him.
 
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Alex.
I think that picture in post 1 and from a different angle in my avatar will go down in history as one of the most important moments. I can see there being paintings etc. and prints being sold in the future.
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I'm not so sure of that.
 
SUPER NUMBBER
What was he shouting, though?
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I watched several youtube vids, but I can't understand the words he's saying. However, neither could the crowd, so if we just go by his hand movements, he is saying something like "you're all in my heart".

There's a very good video, but it's the brasilian broadcast, so most of you won't understand what the commentators are saying. However, even if they were very proud of Massa, I assure you that they, while watching the replay, immediately stated that there was nothing Glock could do without grip and they also praised Hamilton as a worthy champion. Here, for my brasilian friends in this forum, just in case they didn't watch this broadcast:

 
Touring Mars
All the more reason why Massa's decorum was so important - to be fair to Hamilton as well, he and Massa represent the next generation of how sportsmen ought to conduct themselves in public... you can't blame the crowd for supporting their guy, but sadly most home crowds have a distinct lack of respect for the competition (and that goes for any sport, with the possible exception of rugby!)
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Yeah, but they always do that. When Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup won Bathurst two years ago - the first Bathurst 1000 after Peter Brock's death - the Holden fans all booed and jeered when tey mounted the podium (there had been talk that the race should have bee rigged so that a Holden driver won it, and a lot of Holden fans consider Craig Lowndes to be a traitor for switching marques). And when Richards and Skaife won it in a Skyline back in 1992 (after infamously crashing out, but winning when the race was red-flagged in abysmal conditions), the crowd booed and Richards tore strips off them up on the podium.

Bad sportsmanship might not happen too often ... but bad crowdsmanship more than makes up for it.
 
P3nT4gR4m
Massa behaved admirably. Shame the crowd behaved like 200,000 spoiled little bitches.
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Yeah but let's face it, if it was Silverstone and Massa won the championship, the boos and jeers would be out of this world.

Schumacher, Silverstone 1999.
 
I have respected Massa in this championship since his almost dominating win in Hungary.
Indeed, major 👍 for keeping his composure after losing the title.

However, I would like to say that everyone getting worked up about Hamilton winning at the last corner should remind themselves next time to wait for the actual end of the race. Shame on Ferrari's pit crew for telling Massa he had won before the race had ended. I can't think of a worse thing to experience.
 
Ardius
I have respected Massa in this championship since his almost dominating win in Hungary.
Indeed, major 👍 for keeping his composure after losing the title.

However, I would like to say that everyone getting worked up about Hamilton winning at the last corner should remind themselves next time to wait for the actual end of the race. Shame on Ferrari's pit crew for telling Massa he had won before the race had ended. I can't think of a worse thing to experience.
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True. Very true. But you have to say, Ferrari screwed up so many times in the engine department and pit stops. Massa def has the ability to win this championship by a landslide. Singapore, Hungary..etc..The Ferrari team needs to put their heads together if the want to win this championship and not hope for a guy(Glock) to determine a point and a championship on the last turn of the last lap of the last race.:indiff:


So much props to Massa. I never really "liked" the guy, but after his showing, I love him. Great driver, sportsmanship, and the love of his country in front of his home crowd.

:cheers: Massa
 
Ross!
Yeah but let's face it, if it was Silverstone and Massa won the championship, the boos and jeers would be out of this world.

Schumacher, Silverstone 1999.
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On the other hand, Raikkonen, Silverstone 2007. Raikkonen won, Hamilton third, and yet Kimi was still cheered and appluded as if he was one of our own.
 
Mine's_GTR
True. Very true. But you have to say, Ferrari screwed up so many times in the engine department and pit stops. Massa def has the ability to win this championship by a landslide. Singapore, Hungary..etc..The Ferrari team needs to put their heads together if the want to win this championship and not hope for a guy(Glock) to determine a point and a championship on the last turn of the last lap of the last race.:indiff:


So much props to Massa. I never really "liked" the guy, but after his showing, I love him. Great driver, sportsmanship, and the love of his country in front of his home crowd.

:cheers: Massa
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Totally agree with you.


Yesterday I wrote this in the "Brazilian GP thread" and the more I think about it, the stronger is my feeling about this. Ferrari messed up big time this year but won the constructor's crown. It's almost ironic ...

Funny is that Ferrari, the main guilty of Massa losing the Drivers championship, was in contrast the main beneficiary of the work of both their drivers to win the Constructors championship. I guess Massa deserved more the title he lost than Ferrari deserves the title it won.
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Wow, I was half expecting you to be hanging from a tree somewhere Ross.

On a serious note, like i have said in the Brazil GP thread, I have never had so much respect Massa or any modern driver than I did after that race. It was so easy from him to bitch and moan and cry. But he didn't. He is a proud man and he very well should be.
As Ross knows I have been highly critical of Massa in the past and this season, but I don't think I have in a single season my opinion of a driver has raised to highly. Massa to be where he was was a great great achievement and one he should be very proud of.

If you had asked me this time last year if Massa would be so close to a title I would have said no chance. But he was and he was there on merit and probably should have been clear of Hamilton going into the final round.

Massive Respect to Massa. I hope he has his day in the sun 👍
 
Funny how last year everyone wanted him out of Ferrari and replaced with Fernando Alonso...although I don't doubt people still secretly wish so.
 
P3nT4gR4m
Massa behaved admirably. Shame the crowd behaved like 200,000 spoiled little bitches.
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As if a UK crowd would have behaved any different if the situation was reversed!

Ross!
Yeah but let's face it, if it was Silverstone and Massa won the championship, the boos and jeers would be out of this world.

Schumacher, Silverstone 1999.
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+1...

Robin
 
Yes, I agree Massa really did conduct himself brilliantly. So gracious in defeat. A great role model for all.
 
Roo
On the other hand, Raikkonen, Silverstone 2007. Raikkonen won, Hamilton third, and yet Kimi was still cheered and appluded as if he was one of our own.
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+1 to the UK crowd.

SUPER NUMBBER
Funny how last year everyone wanted him out of Ferrari and replaced with Fernando Alonso...although I don't doubt people still secretly wish so.
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Short memory... I don't think Alonso will ever drive for Ferrari, Kimi has a drive till 2010 and Mass until 2011. Can he wait 2-3 years and then be a contender?

Careful, people are building Massa up and putting him on a pedestall and this will only lead to disappointment. I too have respect for Massa after the last GP and the way he behaved when he learnt that he had lost to his rival, but lets not make a saint out of him.
 
Roo
On the other hand, Raikkonen, Silverstone 2007. Raikkonen won, Hamilton third, and yet Kimi was still cheered and appluded as if he was one of our own.
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And this year at Silverstone i, along with many others, cheered and appluded Massa.
 
Well said really.
Im a massive Mclaren fan and was almostin tears myself on the last lap i tell you it was horrible,but then of course i was jumping round my house going crazy!
Still though i brilliant drive from Massa and once again Ferrari has let him down oh dear.
Also who would agreee best championship well in my life time anyway from when i remember watching the 1999 championship.
 

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