Massa Over Kimi
 

Who would have bet that with only 5 races to go, Massa would be ahead of Kimi by 1 point http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/styles/World/icons/icon5.gif

I really think the time has run out for excuses for Kimi. I wish a certain German driver was still in F1 to prove how overrated Kimi really is, but Massa is doing a fine job of that himself http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

Massa has done a very good job.

However, it is Ferrari's reliability that will determine which Ferrari driver ends up the points standings higher. Kimi fans shouldn't be worrying. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

I was surprised how close Massa and Kimi were yesterday, even though Kimi did look a bit faster, especially since its looked like Kimi has had the edge in the last few races.

IMO Räikkönen had the edge only in Hungary. Otherwise they have been quite evenly matched and can't find anything surprising in that tight battle.http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

Well, I've noticed that the same phrase has been used after almost each race, but it looks like there is still plenty of room for excuses.http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

Is it only me, but I do vividly remember a certain German driver fighting very hard and long against Kimi who was driving in an inferior car. Certainly didn't look like a cruise in the park to me.. In my personal opinion, that certain German driver had ample opportunities to prove how overrated Kimi was and all it did was raise Kimi's rating.

Yes, Kimi has made more mistakes than has been expected this season, Massa has shown he's a better driver than most expected and McLaren have suddenly stopped their car from falling to pieces all the time. But its hardly reason enough to write off Kimi yet.

-wroom

Gee!! the guy made a mistake in his last hot lap in Q3. He is fast, but he is not God. He doesn't have the power to tell the Todt to instruct his team mate to pull over, or have you forgotten that?

Just 1 point is meant to prove how overrated Kimi is?

7 podium finishes and 3 wins, just what do you have to do to prove yourself?!

I think Kimi is doing a very good job overall this season, especially since France where he seams to have pulled it together.

Only thing left for him is qualifying... he needs to up his game a bit there... otherwise he has been doing fine, and has a great attitude.

Plus I believe he has been the fastest of all as late. It seems to me that Massa can only win from pole and when he is out front the whole race. Then he is almost impossible to beat and hardly makes a mistake. But if you listen carefully to what these guys have been saying, it is very hard to follow another car, and Kimi has done that very well of late, and no one else has been able to stay with the car in front at all, except Kimi.

So, his poor start to the season (after Oz) and the poor reliablily throughout have really caught him out. But he seems the fastest guy on the track to me, and is most deserving of WDC in the near future.

Been used since about 2004 I reckon! Really strecthing that last excuse.

Considering that before the season Räikkönen was expected to have an overwhelming advantage over Massa, then I guess this shows that he hasn't proved to be as great as expected.

The same could be said about Alonso, a 2 times WDC,. Unlike Kimi, Massa has several years with Ferrari. Wait until the next year before you make any conclusions.

Or that Massa is better than expected!

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What I was pretty much going to say http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

No that can't be! http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

BTW anyone else who saw how red (livid) Kimi's face was after the race?!

I understood it was a very hot day, with the track temp around 59 degrees. It's a wonder these guys could stand up after the race. I used to get dreadful migraine headaches when I was working in this type of heat. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/frown.gif

Massa has proved that he can win, when starting from the pole position but he seems to lack something in traffic. I like Massa and Kimi but if my last name was Todt and was out for the Constructor's, I would have more confidence in Kimi's ability to defend 2nd place against all comers over Massa's ability to do the same. I believe Alonso and maybe Hamilton could find a way around Massa and Ferrari needs solid 1-2 finishes.

I like Kimi and would rather see him be WDC than Felipe (only slightly if I HAD to choose) but I still didn't see anything wrong with the strategy used. I would expect the same strategy if it was Kimi leading in the race.

Of course! Before the season Alonso and Räikkönen were the most overrated drivers, but I remember several people reacting with disbelief (a'la "it's proved no-one else can match them"), when those two were mentioned as overrated! I see that several people still haven't quite got over that "FA and KR are overwhelmingly the two best drivers on the grid" that was often announced before the season. Hence the excuses and phrases "wait for the next year". I tell that half of the current grid consists of top drivers (you may guess, which ones belong there), not just 2-3 drivers.http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I have never quite understood, why FA and KR have often been given an image of an "unbeatable heroic superman".

P.S. It's funny that we have 3 threads discussing about the battle of FM and KR.http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

That same German driver was beaten many times by a certain Finnish driver who cannot even win in the DTM, so what does that tell you? Overrated?

Are you suggesting that Ferrari wouldn't let Kimi past Massa because Massa would've been too easy for one of the Macs to pass?

I find that hard to believe, but I suppose there's a possibility.