Interview: Felipe Massa shares his vision for karting's future

Massa has already revealed some bold plans to improve the state of karting, including standardisation of equipment across the world, introducing electric categories and, most ambitiously of all, having a formal presence at the Olympics.

But the Brazilian driver has several more ideas to make take karting to the next level, as he reveals in this exclusive interview with Motorsport.com.

Q You became the President of FIA's Karting Commission in December 2017. Can you describe how these last 18 months have been?

"Well first of all I think it’s been good, definitely. For sure at the beginning I just needed a little bit of time to understand everything about karting, to learn everything that is happening in karting and to understand how to improve karting, because in my point of view we need to improve definitely in many areas.

"Talking about the price, how expensive karting is now, talking about the promotion. So we are doing most important events, races for karting.

"I think it’s very difficult to at least at the beginning to see a logo of a sponsor somewhere. So the promotion should be improved.

"We need to improve some ideas for the races, for the show, for the technical side, and sporting side. So all of these things I'm really motivated to really improve and to really try to make things better as well."

Kart race on ice: Felipe Massa

Photo by: Ferrari Media Center

Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa

Photo by: Rosberg Racing Academy

Q What areas do you think you can improve upon?

"Yes, for sure we’ll try to put the teams closer, trying to put the people closer, taking like 5-6 important parts that I'm 100 percent sure I can improve these points. Together with the people, the people can understand exactly what we are doing that we are trying to make things better.

"For example improving definitely the sporting side but also improving so many points like trying to put the costs down, trying to improve also the places for the world championship. The world championship for me is the most important championship, so we need to go the places that is ready to receive in the big time. Also on the promotion side.

"What I'm really trying to do is make karting important like it is. I mean, karting is our sport, this should be really important. People need to understand what’s happening. The winner of the European championship should be in the show for the Formula 1 teams, for also the people that is important to thinking about who is the big talent that will maybe be there in the future in Formula 1. So people need to understand from karting, you know."

Second race: Felipe Massa wins in front of Michael Schumacher

Photo by: Ferrari Media Center

Q What ideas do you have to promote karting?

"I think having the right digital network, having the good television, having the good drivers also speaking about [karting] like myself. I'm an ex-Formula 1 driver so I'm really ready. I'm doing promotion about the karting, the top drivers we have, improving the show in the paddock, trying to make a better promotion as well, improving some ideas on the sporting side - we can make the races more interesting, more fun, more attractive as well.

"So you have so many points that we are working on. Also as I said in the very good harmony also with the teams, very good relationships with the teams as well because I think competition needs to be inside the track, but not outside the track."

Q How expensive has karting become and what can be done to make it more affordable?

"Well for sure the costs is something that is always... the problem is not now. The problem is been since long time. So it’s always increasing the cost.

"Our events start on something like Wednesday, but Wednesday and Thursday is like a free track [day]. So drivers are arriving, I don't know, maybe Tuesday there. Our goal is to reduce at least one day. So maybe we starting on Thursday not Wednesday. And for the future starting on Friday, having the event on only the weekend. So this is maybe something that maybe will take a little bit of time but this is part of our plan.

"Also improving some other technical costs inside and maybe doing some attempts to do more events together because we are doing the races separately. We have the events from the KJ and KJ2, and also the academy. And we have other events we are doing - the OK/OK junior. So maybe the plan can also be to get everybody together for the costs to be a little lower as well. So this is another point we are talking.

"So you have so many points to be honest. It’s not only one for the price down. You need to try to do many many different points that I'm sure the fathers can spend a little bit less money. And also having more publicity, that [way] maybe they can try to sell more sponsors as well."

Q What can be done to promote karting in Asia?

"I think the most important thing is that Asia can follow our instructions, like using our engine and like OK/OK junior that we promote, which is a very very good point. I think not only Asia but [also] Brazil.

"Brazil is a country that is more, even more powerful than Asia if you see how many Brazilian drivers already arrived in Formula 1, already having the future, good future in Formula 1. So even Brazil is a country that needs to follow more.

"Because if you are racing in Asia with a completely different engine, completely different tyres, completely different chassis, you arrive in Europe and everything is different - you need time.

"Definitely following the right base that we have in Europe is the correct thing in my opinion to try to prepare the drivers in the right way. Then when these drivers arrive in Europe they are much more prepared, they are much more experienced, they understand the material they are driving."

Flags along the track

Photo by: Andrew Hone / LAT Images

Q How close is the dream of having karting at the Olympics to becoming a reality?

"Yeah, this is something that we are pushing very hard. Definitely it’s not related only to us, it’s also related to the FIA because the FIA is talking to the Olympic office, Olympic people. So this is more related to the FIA.

"To be honest for the moment I cannot say how close we are because it’s still so many points that they are discussing, so it’s quite difficult to be sure how close we are but I really hope we can do that, I really hope we can be able to do that because that will be fantastic."

Q Where do you see karting in next 5-10 years, particularly in regards to electrification?

"Well I really hope in the next 5-10 years we see the karting [at] much, more lower cost, much easier for the drivers to be racing and learning. I really hope we can build some good future drivers like we have Lewis Hamilton, [Max] Verstappen, Charles Leclerc. So we really hope we can build some future drivers in this area.

"And you know the electric karts, it will be the future, definitely. The only reason we don't have yet the electric categories is that for the moment the battery is too heavy.

"In the cars you don't have so much problem because cars have a lot more protection and everything else. But when you are talking about the kids, for the accidents, the weight is definitely really, really important. So for the moment it is still a little bit over the weight.

"When we have the batteries a bit lighter [and] we are at the same weight the go karts we are racing now, then you’ll come really, really quickly."