» Di Montezemolo: ‘Massa sent his brother to race’ in 2010

Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo has criticised the performance of Felipe Massa during the 2010 season, likening his driving on some weekends to that of his brother!

The Brazilian, who almost took the 2008 Drivers’ Championship crown, struggled all season to match the pace of his new team-mate Fernando Alonso in the wake of his recovery from his horrific head injuries sustained during his qualifying crash at last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Massa’s sole bright spot of the 2010 season was leading the race on merit and looking set to win the German Grand Prix, until he was ordered to cede the lead to Alonso in the closing stages. By season’s end, Massa had failed to win a race for the second season running and finished over 100 points adrift of Alonso in the Drivers’ Championship standings.

“At a certain point in the season Felipe was fed up and sent his brother [to race],” di Montezemolo told Italian reporters during a group interview overnight.

“For this, Felipe gets a seven [out of ten rating],” he added.

“For Alonso, in his first season in Ferrari, I give him nine and a half. But unfortunately even he didn’t win [the Championship]."

He also played down rumours that suggested he was considering a career in politics, amidst speculation that Italy’s national leader Silvio Berlusconi was set to face a no confidence motion from the coalition opposition, which has reportedly invited do Montezemolo to join.

“Let me do my work, I’m so happy that we have lots to do here at Ferrari,” he said.

[Original image via LAT]