Felipe Massa: "I believe in the team"

Felipe Massa: "After the Turkish Grand Prix schedule was very busy, time passed quickly, and now I am going to Barcelona. Ahead of the fifth race of the season, hopefully we will be able to consolidate the progress made ​​by Turkey. While visiting Neringa few days at home in Monaco, I went to Rome for the event to our partners from Shell, and then stayed in Italy and spent three days in Maranello. I have spoken with engineers and most of the time worked on the simulator with the track in Barcelona, ​​where we will play this weekend. For the racer simulator is especially useful when you want to explore an unfamiliar route – last year we got acquainted with Korea, will soon learn a new Indian racing circuit, and this week I was working with the news that we plan to use on Friday. Session in a simulator similar to the real test – I worked from 9 to 13 hours, then break for lunch and from 14:30 to 17 – second session. After this, as on the track runs a technical briefing with the engineers. First we need to adapt to the simulator, and then you pass a series of five or six laps, get instant results. You understand that you need to adjust, and move out again. For one day on the simulator can do more than the actual track. In a virtual environment, you can more quickly make changes to the configuration of the machine than on the racetrack, do not waste time on the range of departure and return to the pits – in terms of simulation in Barcelona begins at the outlet of the 11 th turn, and clicking on completion, you will immediately find yourself in the pits. Any changes are made ​​almost immediately after you have talked with the engineers – they can reproduce any configuration to try out new items, or work with the settings. The simulator allows you to save a large amount of time compared to real tests. From the standpoint of physical exercise on a simulator so you do not get tired, than a real car – much less congestion. Still have spread, but with less physical effort. What's the best in the simulator? If you have an accident, nothing happens. You feel the motion of steering, then the platform stops – everything is finished. For the first time using the simulator, you can go off the trajectory, or get into an accident, but it did not hurt – neither you nor the machine. In the real world, we have prepared several new products that are going to put the car in Barcelona, ​​where we hope to take another step forward. Beginning of the season turned out difficult, but thanks to hard work, we were able to close the gap to the fastest machines, and must now build on this success, especially in qualifying. If we could add a Saturday, it will be even more competitive in the race. I hope we are on track, because in front of the stages in Spain and Monaco, who share only a few days and then back to the past six Grand Prix – almost a third of the season. This period is very important to us, I believe in the team, and that the Spanish weekend goes well. In Spain, we are again able to evaluate the effect of changes in regulations, from the DRS and KERS, although there will be more difficult to overtake, as in Turkey – a line in Barcelona, ​​has a different configuration than the Istanbul Park. Even more important factor for racers – new tires, we must bear in mind that the car that a few laps back was very competitive, suddenly loses speed, and you are struggling have to fend off the opponent's attacks. Then you get a new set of tires, and everything is repeated. It is interesting to us, and, more importantly – for the fans. Obviously, in Spain full attention will be attracted to my partner – for Fernando Alonso is a home race. Ferrari is very popular with the Spanish fans, and I hope we can please both of them with good results on Sunday. "