Michael should be proud of former student Massa

If the current Formula 1 championship point standings are any indication then Michael Schumacher can be proud of his former student - Felippe Massa. Massa has proved himself a serious title contender to the Formula 1 title as well as the No. 1 driver in the Ferrari paddock - both positions which were once held by Michael Schumacher before his retirement.

Giancarlo Fisichella believes Ferrari young gun Felipe Massa is now reaping the rewards of a Formula One education at the side of Michael Schumacher.

The 26-year-old Brazilian has been in Formula One since 2002, starting out alongside current team-mate Kimi Raikkonen at Sauber.

Massa was a former team-mate of Fisichella before his big break came in 2006 when he got the chance to drive at Ferrari with Michael Schumacher. He won twice and finished third in the drivers' championship behind the German and world champion Fernando Alonso.

Says Fisichella "He's a good driver and he's learned a lot in the last couple of years, especially at Ferrari next to Michael"

"Now he's doing really well, he's really comfortable with the team and he's doing his best, and at least at the moment, he's quicker than Raikkonen."

"Obviously when I was his team-mate I was quicker than him most of the time and I scored more points than him but he's learned quite a lot and he's grown up for sure."

Symonds seeks two-tenth step in Canada

F1’s reigning world champion team Renault is making strides towards returning to the pace in 2007.

That is the outlook of the French squad’s veteran engineering chief Pat Symonds, who suggested to the magazine Auto Motor und Sport that Renault is finally getting to the bottom of the reasons for its mysterious lack of speed earlier this season.

“The modified front suspension in Barcelona was the first step, and the new front wing in Monte Carlo (was) the second,” Symonds is quoted as saying by the German publication.

It is understood that the problem with the R27 has therefore been isolated to the front of the car, but even with improved pace, Giancarlo Fisichella still finished a lap behind the McLarens in Monaco.