Thread: Felipe Massa

Originally Posted by Knock-on

I've said Rubens before but Ferrari are a team that will cut their nose off to spite their face. I would love to see Rubens given a shot because this time, he won't lay down.

It's hard to lie down when your teammate is way ahead of you and let's face it, Alonso isn't going to be troubled by Barrichello.

If Ferrari are looking for a stop-gap until the end of the season then they have a lot of options. Pretty much any driver who has raced in F1 in the last couple of years and who is currently out of a drive. If they are looking for a more permanent solution then they probably have to buy out the contract of a young driver from another team, Perez being an obvious example.

As Ferrari haven't really been keen to promote young drivers to a race seat I figure they'd be more likely to look for a stop-gap and at the same time look at more permanent options for 2013 and beyond. Mark Webber anyone?

Originally Posted by Hawkmoon

It's hard to lie down when your teammate is way ahead of you and let's face it, Alonso isn't going to be troubled by Barrichello.

If Ferrari are looking for a stop-gap until the end of the season then they have a lot of options. Pretty much any driver who has raced in F1 in the last couple of years and who is currently out of a drive. If they are looking for a more permanent solution then they probably have to buy out the contract of a young driver from another team, Perez being an obvious example.

As Ferrari haven't really been keen to promote young drivers to a race seat I figure they'd be more likely to look for a stop-gap and at the same time look at more permanent options for 2013 and beyond. Mark Webber anyone?

Given Luca's political aspirations, and the current financial noose around the Eurozone's kneck, I don't forsee any contracts being bought out.

Massa will IMVHO remain in the car until the end of the season. Maybe we will see a driver given a shot in FP1?

Originally Posted by Bezza

There are three drivers available who I believe will do a better job than Massa, and will be happy to drive for Ferrari for a fraction of the what a fully signed up driver will pay for. These drivers are:

Adrian Sutil
Jarno Trulli
Jaime Alguersuari

All with recent experience and with good speed in inferior cars. A contract for them until the end of 2012 would be beneficial for everybody.

Adrian Sutil who has a criminal conviction to his name? I can see how the Ferrari brand would love that synergy... at least Adrian used a champagne flute instead of a knife, I'm sure the Ferrari PR guys can get a positive spin on that for the yachting crowd.

Jarno Trulli? Hold on, isn't the problem here that Massa is a confidence driver who's lost his confidence? Isn't Trulli the very definition of a confidence driver who's no good if he gets his head down? OK, I don't think Ferrari are stupid enough to make the same mistake twice.

Jaime Alguersuari was discarded by STR who claimed he wasn't quick enough nor intelligent enough to be a future WDC, nor was he good enough to even be reserve driver for RBR. Sorry, don't see that one happening.

There's an interesting article on Autosport pointing at Kobayashi as the best option for the job and its well argued but I'm not changing my line here, Ferrari won't replace Massa, it doesn't make sense to as its too much of a risk.

Originally Posted by Malbec

........... it doesn't make sense to as its too much of a risk.

The word 'risk' implies that there is the potential for something to be lost. If Massa can't do well enough to score points, there is nothing to lose by replacing him.
So, it's no risk at all, just a matter of finding someone better.

Both sides of the argument are valid. It is highly unlikely the replacement driver would do well, taking into account, how hard this car is to drive. But also as Massa isn't basically scoring any points at all, they don't have literally anything to lose by replacing him. For instance in 2011 Ferrari had more to lose by replacing Massa, who despite already performing very underwhelmingly was getting places from 5th to 7th and regular points. So in the end it doesn't matter if the new driver struggles badly - the same "pointless" situation just carries on.

One point, which has been made, is whether Ferrari believes Massa can actually raise his game and perform on an acceptable level (the Bahrain GP one) more often. Sure if this materializes, it would be the easiest solution for Ferrari. But can Ferrari keep hoping for it forever, because Massa hasn't performed badly just for a few races this season, this is the underperformance of more than two seasons.

I like Trulli, but I am afraid he could struggle significantly in this situation, like Fisichella did in 2009. Especially as he is the kind of driver, who needs a well-balanced car to perform, which Ferrari arguably is not.

I doubt whether Ferrari will replace Massa before the end of the season, but the problem remains that he has momentum in the wrong direction. It's hard to see him making sufficient improvement to retain his seat for 2013.

Thanks Malbec. You have just replaced my #1 fantasy with a new one....


Instead of dreaming of an idyllic heaven involving Nuns, a bubble making machine, 3 dozen slightly over-ripe Apricots and a can of WD40, I will now be forever stuck with the mental image of Koby sticking one up the inside of Fred (Ohh, Err Missus).

Thanks a bloody lot

That hasn't yet been mentioned as a possible replacement for Filipe Massa.

Granted, it's been a few years since I last drove a formula car, but I drove my shifter kart earlier this week. ; )

No doubt, I still know how to win (right down there in my siggy ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ I learned the secret from Fangio).

I'm guessing I'll get added to the list next week sometime.

Originally Posted by Knock-on

Thanks Malbec. You have just replaced my #1 fantasy with a new one....


Instead of dreaming of an idyllic heaven involving Nuns, a bubble making machine, 3 dozen slightly over-ripe Apricots and a can of WD40, I will now be forever stuck with the mental image of Koby sticking one up the inside of Fred (Ohh, Err Missus).

Thanks a bloody lot

Presumably your fantasy includes a free supply of water and copious amounts of washing up liquid to go in the bubble making machine?

And, whilst Koby is sticking it up the inside of fred, is he chomping on a Yaki Soba??????

My prediction is that Ferrari will bite the bullet and ride this wave out with Felipe. Surely, Ferrari can't make the same BAD-oer decision again!

Wait...Luca di Montezeloco is at the helm. Nevermind! Bring on Jules.

Originally Posted by Nem14

That hasn't yet been mentioned as a possible replacement for Filipe Massa.

Granted, it's been a few years since I last drove a formula car, but I drove my shifter kart earlier this week. ; )

No doubt, I still know how to win (right down there in my siggy ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ I learned the secret from Fangio).

I'm guessing I'll get added to the list next week sometime.

Pics or I'm calling BS.

Originally Posted by SGWilko

Presumably your fantasy includes a free supply of water and copious amounts of washing up liquid to go in the bubble making machine?

Water and washing up liquid Do you think I'm some sort of pervert or something

Originally Posted by Knock-on

I've said Rubens before but Ferrari are a team that will cut their nose off to spite their face. I would love to see Rubens given a shot because this time, he won't lay down.

Why consider Rubens when there are so many younger fast guys around? Like Adrian Sutil or Jaime.

Originally Posted by Malbec

Adrian Sutil who has a criminal conviction to his name? I can see how the Ferrari brand would love that synergy... at least Adrian used a champagne flute instead of a knife, I'm sure the Ferrari PR guys can get a positive spin on that for the yachting crowd.

Sutil's assault conviction wouldn't harm Ferrari at all. Come on, we are talking about Italy where organised crime runs deep in the society more or less everywhere and whose former Prime Minister was Silvio Berlusconi. If he didn't hurt the image of Italian products, neither will a fast German racing driver who made a stupid mistake.

DexDexter, your post is quite offensive to Italians. Sure they have strong organized crime, but you can't say that it is part of their society.
I agree with you about Rubens, though. He was never that good and was hired to be a 2nd driver. He got good money about that. That's the whole story.

Originally Posted by DexDexter

Sutil's assault conviction wouldn't harm Ferrari at all. Come on, we are talking about Italy where organised crime runs deep in the society more or less everywhere and whose former Prime Minister was Silvio Berlusconi. If he didn't hurt the image of Italian products, neither will a fast German racing driver who made a stupid mistake.

Thats quite an offensive ignorant post but I'll ignore your portrayal of Italians as an inherently criminal people. Ferrari sees itself as a top brand, why associate itself with a driver with a criminal record when there are plenty of other choices around? Why would they want to have the hassle of clearing visas etc into the many countries around the world that make it difficult for those with criminal records to come into their countries? Its not as if Sutil is unique in being quick and available, and he doesn't have experience of 2012 Pirellis to boot.

Originally Posted by DexDexter

Why consider Rubens when there are so many younger fast guys around? Like Adrian Sutil or Jaime.



Sutil's assault conviction wouldn't harm Ferrari at all. Come on, we are talking about Italy where organised crime runs deep in the society more or less everywhere and whose former Prime Minister was Silvio Berlusconi. If he didn't hurt the image of Italian products, neither will a fast German racing driver who made a stupid mistake.

Would love to reply to you in a proper way but this is a F1 forum so I will just ignore it. Please in the future leave that crap off here thank you !

Originally Posted by DexDexter

Why consider Rubens when there are so many younger fast guys around? Like Adrian Sutil or Jaime.



Sutil's assault conviction wouldn't harm Ferrari at all. Come on, we are talking about Italy where organised crime runs deep in the society more or less everywhere and whose former Prime Minister was Silvio Berlusconi. If he didn't hurt the image of Italian products, neither will a fast German racing driver who made a stupid mistake.

I can't believe that in 2012 people can make general assumptions and depict like that a whole nation of people who have:

1. a lower homicide rate compared to northern Europe
2. a lower divorce rate compard to northern Europe
3. Stronger family values compared to northern Europe.
4. a small 60 million people and an incredibly diverse spectrum of abilities, in automotive, electronics, design, technology, fashion , architecture and arts. Italy has contributed to modern society more than its dues, with Roman Architecture, and the SMARTEST and more genial inventors and artists who ever lived on this earth:

Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Alessandro Volta (you know your 1.2 VOLT battery), Marconi, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Giotto, Caravaggio, I don't want to mention more.. but.. why not? Cristoforo Colombo, Amerigo Vespucci (why is America calld America? .. after an Italian explorer and that's not even Marco Polo).

Should we talk Bike brands or car brands? who has more compared to population?

Sports? 4 time WC in the most popular sport in the world,

Great swimmers ruling Europe as we can see during these days.

But there's more .. I just don't have time...


now a guy come out of nowhere depicting all Italians like criminals? Please where are you from? Finland? What has Finland done for the world? What is Finland known for besides Icey weather?

Enough with politcs and other stuff...now back to racing and Massa thank you !

Massa so far so good...

Solid performance by Massa, however it will not be good enough if he doesn't back it up with a solid race as well.