Massa: 'Obligation to win is a problem at Ferrari'

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Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa believes the enduring and relentless pressure to deliver that inhabits the House of Maranello has become a "problem" for the Scuderia.

The Brazilian driver enjoyed an eight-year stint with Ferrari that yielded 11 race wins and a runner-up spot in the world championship in 2008.

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Massa commended his former team for giving Mercedes a run for its money in the past couple of season, but the Venturi Formula E driver believes there was a change of dynamics at Ferrari when Scuderia boss Jean Todt left at the end of 2007.

"A lot of things happen in a difficult way inside Ferrari in terms of pressure," said Massa, speaking to Autosport.

"They feel this a lot. The inside of the team was always like this.

"There was a time that they felt less because they had more results, in the time of Jean Todt."

After building his credentials as a manager with Peugeot, the current FIA president took the reins at Ferrari in 1994, building the Scuderia into a hegemonic power in F1 that would produce five world crowns for Michael Schumacher and seven Constructors' titles during Todt's tenure.

"Jean was a guy who had great leadership in every area of the team," added Massa.

"He could put an area working together with the other ones without any pressure.

"After this, things happened in a very different way. Ferrari now is always feeling the pressure and the obligation to win, and this is a problem."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.