Nico can handle title heat
Massa backing Rosberg to end Hamilton’s reign
NICO ROSBERG’S challenge for a maiden world title has shown little sign of faltering in recent weeks, and he has now been backed to go all the way by the sport’s ultimate nearly man.
Just as the German has for the past three seasons, Felipe Massa crossed swords with Lewis Hamilton for the world title in 2008. No one has ever come closer to glory.
The Brazilian won the final race of the season in front of his home fans at Interlagos. But as his entourage celebrated wildly in the Ferrari garage, Hamilton passed Timo Glock for fifth place around the penultimate corner on the final lap to snatch the title by a point. Regrets? Felipe’s had a few. ‘Until the last moment I thought I could win,’ said Massa. ‘So many things took points away from me.
‘In Hungary I was leading with three laps to go then had an engine failure. I believed so many times I could win it and then things changed in the last metres.
‘I’ll be remembered for that season. I won every championship in other categories before Formula One so I can say I was very successful, but people will remember that season. I’m proud, happy and it’s fine. But if I could start again with the experience I have, maybe I would have done things in a different way.’
It will be a similar case of what might have been should Rosberg not convert this season.
He was 43 points clear of Hamilton after four races, and despite a mid-season wobble has regained momentum and the lead.
His third place in Malaysia last Sunday brought a run of three straight victories to an end. But Hamilton’s retirement with an engine failure at Sepang saw Rosberg extend his lead to 23 points.
He has refused to be drawn on his chances of winning the title but Massa knows only too well that Rosberg will be thinking of little else as the pressure mounts, and backed him to break Hamilton’s monopoly. ‘Right now I would say Nico will win,’ he said. ‘He’s shown that he’s strong and he’s doing now what he was doing at the beginning of the season.
‘He’s working for every point. For sure he’s not in a position to say what he’s really thinking to the media but he’s thinking about points and that’s what he needs to do. He can win it.’
The chequered flag will fall on Massa’s career at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, after the 35year-old announced his retirement at last month’s Italian Grand Prix. Massa’s career — and so much more — nearly came to a halt seven years ago in Budapest when a rogue spring struck him and fractured his skull.
The Brazilian said his commitment never wavered as a result and pledged to give it everything in his concluding races. ‘I’m not stopping because I’m afraid, I’m stopping because it is the right time,’ said Massa. ‘There will be no change of attitude. I will touch wheels, try to overtake and risk myself like I always did.’