Ferrari can't handle the pressure of title drought - Massa

Felipa Massa believes that there is one main reason why Ferrari have allowed Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to create such an advantage in both the constructors' and drivers' championships in the 2018 campaign, and it is that the Scuderia cannot handle the pressure of ending their near decade-long title wait.

While Sebastian Vettel ran Hamilton close and led the championship at points this season, strategy problems behind the scenes at Ferrari as well as some Grand Prix mistakes from the German have given Mercedes a big enough advantage that Hamilton can claim the drivers' title this weekend in the United States if he wins and Vettel is not higher than third.

Massa was part of the team when Ferrari last won the championship in 2008, and he reckons that the pressure is getting too much to handle for the team as they continue their attempts to stop the rot.

"We won the championship in 2007, and then after 2008, Ferrari started to have some issues – they never won again," Massa told Motorsport.com.

"Maybe when I left Ferrari in 2013 the feeling is similar to what they have now. Pressure to win, and they are struggling to keep the pressure down. They are struggling to do their job in an efficient way.

"I think definitely this year – although I am not saying they have lost the championship yet - but maybe they lost the battle at the end because of some mistakes, and maybe because they are feeling the pressure in a higher way compared to Mercedes which has a lot less pressure.

"Mercedes won the last four years. It makes it much easier to work with a title in your hands, compared to working where you need to win, and the chance to make mistakes is higher."

The Brazilian believes that simple changes and a more focused attitude can bring Ferrari to the top again, with no radical changes required.

"I think you need to find the way to work, the way to prepare things, in the most quiet way, in the most focused way," Massa continued.

"They are a good team and an amazing team, and I have to say, the car they managed to do is pretty good. They are doing a good job on that, but maybe some little things around are missing."

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