Massa Credits Verstappen's Aggression for His F1 Dominance
Nov.19 - Former F1 driver Felipe Massa says drivers like him, and Lando Norris, struggle to beat rivals with the "mentality" and aggression of Max Verstappen.
Following recent controversial on-track clashes between Verstappen and Norris as they battled for the 2024 title, the McLaren driver suggested his Dutch rival should adjust his aggressive racing style.
"I am three times world champion," Verstappen hit back in conversation with Viaplay. "I don't have to adjust anything at all."
Massa, who is still battling F1 authorities in legal action over the outcome of the 2008 world championship, admits he likes what he sees in Verstappen's style and psychology.
"Max drives aggressively, on the limit and sometimes a bit over it," he told the Dutch magazine Formule 1. "Lando has less of that. For me, Max is clearly number one.
"I personally like his mentality," former Ferrari driver Massa, now 43, added. "I think I would have come further in my own career if I had had more of Max's mentality.
"I was sometimes too nice, too kind. I was maybe more like Lando."
However, Massa thinks Norris will have learned from his experiences this year.
"Don't forget, this season was the first time he fought for a championship and against someone like Max," said the Brazilian. "That's not easy. But you can see that he is changing. He is getting tougher.
"In other words, he is learning. So next year or the year after that it might be different."
F1 legend Mario Andretti, meanwhile, thinks McLaren will also emerge from 2024 more ready to take on the likes of Verstappen and Red Bull.
"They have the car to win, but I don't think they expected to be in contention for the championship so soon," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"When a team doesn't fight for the crown for so many years, it takes time to compete with the top teams again. The same applies to competitors.
"Norris and Oscar Piastri are two extremely fast and competitive youngsters, but they have never been in a position like they are now. Perhaps not everything turned out the way they wanted this year, but they have a good future ahead of them," Andretti, the 1978 world champion, added.
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Lando's problem is that his approach is from a bygone era, when drivers respected each other and competed like gentlemen on the track.
Those days are gone! This current era requires more aggression and less respect for your fellow competitors. Max has learned from Michael Schumacher, Lando needs to learn from Ayrton Senna!
Even worse, weve known (the collective f1 ) thats how it is since the 21 season when it comers to Max, Landos approach is wrong, is that though Landos fault or Mcls fault, id put the emphasis more on Mcl for his style of driving dyo think?
The fault I think is with F1 and theFia. Drama sells tickets and tv rights and the FIA coming down on unsportsmanlike driving is the last thing that F1 or Liberty wants.
I think Lando is as fast as anyone but lacks self confidence, same for Charles. It is self confidence under pressure that is essential to have the mindset to win but we saw in 21 what happens when you have two drivers who won’t back down. 2025 should be interesting.
I don’t think Mcl has anything to do with it. It has to come from the drivers character. Either you’ve got it or you haven’t.
So 60% Lando and 40% Mcl then regarding fault which is a bit odd considering they had GdF advising the race team, unfortunately for the competition Max has his dad saying drive like a monster and youll win and he has, next year Lando/Oscar/Charles have to do a 97 and push back against Max, the problem there is that theyll take points off each other which is whats happened this year, I tip Max to win again next year
Could be Oscar if the team allows him to fight or outside chance Lewis if he likes the car and can get back in the groove. At least Max will have serious competition and hopefully Jos won’t wreck the team. Isn’t GdF dead?
IMO if they all gang up on Max and push back his obvious loving relationship will be the deciding factor. You can’t underestimate affairs of the heart. Or am I talking rubbish as usual?
Indeed he is Rip, giving Max a hard time if hes 20sec in the lead will be difficult though.
Oscar will give Nambypamby pants Lando a harder time next year MW will see to that
Do you not know whether you are talking rubbish?
Maybe
Lando needs to toughen up and take the no more Mr Nice Guy approach!
Correct
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