• Ferrari news

I considered quitting - Massa

ESPN Staff
January 19, 2013 « Teams reduce carbon emissions | I'm not team leader - Hulkenberg »
Felipe Massa: "I thought maybe I was finished" © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links

Felipe Massa has admitted that he considered quitting Formula One during his struggles in the 2012 season.

As Fernando Alonso won the second race of the season and went on to challenge for the world championship, Massa endured a dismal start that saw him score just two points in the opening five races, and at the mid-season break he had only 25 points compared to Alonso's 164. Massa admitted to the BBC that he had doubts over his ability to continue, and asked if he considered stopping, Massa replied: "Yeah.

"I thought about so many things. I thought maybe I was finished. I thought about not staying in Ferrari. I did not know what would happen. So many things were inside my brain."

Massa revealed that working with a sports psychologist was one of the main factors which helped him change his thinking and turn his form around in the second half of the season.

"I talked to everyone. But I also did work with a professional psychologist, sporting psychologist. That was just the beginning. After that I was able to change the direction to think, the direction to work and I think it was like training I did. But also I think my family helps, definitely 100%."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
ESPN Staff Close