Massa draws upon memories of Schumacher to help Stroll

Felipe Massa says he is applying to his relationship with rookie Lance Stroll lessons he learned from Michael Schumacher when the F1 legend mentored the Brazilian at Ferrari.

The 18-year-old Canadian has entered Formula 1 this year well prepared, but a few mistakes coupled with unlucky circumstances have hindered the newcomer's progress.

But Massa, who ultimately decided to extend his stay at Williams after his initial decision to retire at the end of last year, is on hand to provide Stroll with useful advice whenever he sees fit.

"Sometimes you see that, for example, maybe in one corner he's doing something where he's losing lap time there and then he's just asking, and I'm saying 'you should do it like this, like that', so yeah, no problem," Massa admits.

"I had a good relationship with Valtteri [Bottas] and he grew up massively, also when we started to work together as well.

"It was never really a problem to pass the information, also getting the information. But maybe I'm doing it more with him [Stroll] because he needed more than maybe another driver."

• Massa prepping for a 'battle with the bulls'

Massa is drawing upon his own experience as a young apprentice back in 2006, when he sought advice from the man on the other side of the garage which he regarded as the perfect teacher.

"I was asking more than what he (Schumacher) was giving," Massa remembers. "But he was giving a lot.

"For sure when I was in front he was not one hundred percent happy.

"I was asking a lot because I always look at Michael as a teacher, as a master, and was not afraid to ask and say what are you doing here, what are you doing there.

"I was asking everything I could for him and he was telling me. But sometimes I need to ask, he would not tell for free."

"I think I am passing to Lance a little bit easier than Michael was to me."

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