May 15 (GMM) Felipe Massa his warned teammate Lance Stroll that the rookie’s toughest F1 challenge is now looming.
18-year-old Stroll has struggled in the sister Williams so far this year, but veteran Massa said Monaco in a fortnight will be his biggest eye-opener to date.
“Monaco is probably the most demanding track of all,” Massa, who admits he is mentoring Stroll, told Le Journal de Montreal. “Even experienced drivers have problems there.
“The walls arrive very quickly. And the cars are wider this year but the streets are just as narrow as before,” the 36-year-old smiled.
“So it’s going to be hard for Lance in Monaco,” Massa continued. “Nothing compares to it.
“But of course I’ll be there to help him. The setup is crucial in Monaco and I will share it with him. Where and how to brake is also an art that must be mastered.”
Recalling his own Monaco debut as a youngster in 2002, Massa admitted: “Like many others in their first time, it was catastrophic for me even if I did the 13th time.
“I was constantly avoiding contacts with the wall or other cars and my race ended abruptly,” Massa said.
Indeed, even the F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen has had a tough time at Monaco in the last two years.
“That’s one example among so many others,” said Massa. “Many drivers hit the wall trying to do too much, not only Max. Even the veterans are not immune.”
And not just that, Massa admits that Monaco has not been a happy hunting ground for Williams.
“Honestly, it’s always been terrible for our team,” he said. “Don’t ask me why, I don’t know. It’s a mystery to me.”
So that could make a difficult situation for Stroll even worse in two weeks.
“At the risk of repeating myself, Lance must continue to learn,” said Massa. “He’s in a difficult position, but I’ve been there.
“A lot is being asked of him in his first year and expectations are high.”