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Ferrari’s Felipe
Massa has much to be thankful for on his return to Hungary this
weekend, even if his Formula One title hopes and reputation have taken
a heavy hit.

The Brazilian has
fully recovered physically from the life-threatening head injuries he
suffered a year ago at the Hungaroring, and intends to thank personally
all those who came to his assistance after that crash in qualifying.
“My first meeting when I arrive at the Hungaroring circuit will be with
all the marshals and medical staff who did such a very good job of
carefully getting me out of the cockpit,” he told the Ferrari website
(www.ferrari.com). “I want to thank these people, with whom I now feel
a special bond.” While the body has healed, the last grand prix in
Germany dealt Massa a psychological setback that may be harder to
overcome. He now has to face up to being seen as Ferrari’s de facto
number two, just as compatriot Rubens Barrichello was to Michael
Schumacher, after moving over to let team mate Fernando Alonso win
Sunday’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

The furore over
Ferrari’s apparent use of banned ‘team orders’ left Massa –
championship runner-up by a single point in 2008 – open to criticism
for making the move too blatant as well as for being so obliging.
“People will see him now as a ‘yes man’ who bends to the will of the
company,” former McLaren and Red Bull racer David Coulthard, who
himself fell foul of similar orders in his career, said this week.
“Maybe they are right. Team player or stooge? The line is thin.”

Mclaren success

Even without his
team mate’s assistance, Alonso will fancy his chances again at the
circuit where he took his first grand prix win with Renault in 2003 and
started on pole last year. Massa, by contrast, has never had much luck
at the Hungaroring even if he enjoys it there. In 2008 he was heading
for a comfortable victory when his engine failed with a handful of laps
remaining. “Winning is a great feeling and that was the case in
Hockenheim,” said Alonso, without making any mention of the
controversial circumstances. “The win does not change my approach to
the rest of the season,” added the double world champion, who is now 34
points behind McLaren’s overall leader Lewis Hamilton. “We knew full
before Hockenheim that our car was much more competitive and that was
what made me so confident. Now we must continue in this direction,
starting this weekend in Budapest.”

Red Bull and McLaren, with all their drivers in the championship
chase, will also be fighting for victory in the 12th of 19 races and
last before the three week break. Hamilton has twice won in Hungary
while world champion team mate Jenson Button took his first Formula One
victory there with Honda in 2006. “The car’s pretty good when you put
downforce on it,” Button told Reuters after finishing fifth at
Hockenheim, leaving him second overall and 14 points behind Hamilton.
“In Hungary the car should be more competitive… but I don’t know how
competitive. “I really enjoy the circuit and it’s one that should suit
this car pretty well.”