Felipe Massa has admitted to struggling to adapt to life without traction control in formula one.
The Brazilian, who made his grand prix debut in 2002 after the previous ban on electronic driver aids was lifted the season prior, topped the times on Thursday at Circuit de Catalunya as he tested his Ferrari without the sophisticated systems.
Getting his first taste of the revised Ferrari alongside his retired 2006 teammate Michael Schumacher the day before, however, Massa – who won three races in 2007 – was nearly half a second slower than the German, who last contested a grand prix more than twelve months ago.
“The fact is I didn’t have any experience without traction control and I was rubbish,” La Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday quotes the 26-year-old Massa as admitting.
“The accelerator is like a button. You have to be as soft as possible,” he explained.
Massa is not a supporter of the traction control ban because he also thinks that, in terms of safety, the electronic limitations are a “step backwards” for the sport.
“In wet races we will have a lot more accidents,” he predicts.
