Formula E: Felipe Massa’s dismal start is baffling – where has it all gone wrong for the F1 star?
- New poster boy hoping for turnaround in fortunes ahead of Hong Kong E-Prix in March
- Brazilian is rock bottom of drivers’ standings after infuriating rival Piquet Jnr and struggling with car
Expectations were high for Felipe Massa ahead of the opening race of the new Formula E season in Saudi Arabia. But it seems outrunning his rivals on the grid has proved harder than beating a peregrine falcon in a drag race in the desert.
The new poster boy for the all-electric series, the Brazilian Formula One star finished with zero points in Ad-Diriyah. The second E-Prix in Marrakesh brought a similar return.
By far the biggest name driver to make the jump to Formula E, he has spluttered to a halt since getting in the electric car.
“The first two races in terms of results were really bad for us,” Massa told the South China Morning Post before the third race in Santiago.
“You could see the first race I had a drive-through penalty, some technical issues in the car, and I finished in the back. My teammate [Edoardo Mortara] had a problem on the brakes and he also finished in the back. But the first race I had a good pace, I was overtaking cars, I was competitive.