No one better on market to replace me – Massa

[vcs316]

Sep.8 (GMM/Inautonews.com) With Ferrari still yet to re-sign him for 2013, Felipe Massa insists he sees no better alternative to him on the market.

Rumours say Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez are the frontrunners to replace Massa next season, but the Brazilian thinks he is the best choice.

“Many people want my seat,” he is quoted by Spain’s Mundo Deportivo newspaper, “but I do not see anyone better on the market.

“In my place I only see people like Hamilton or Vettel, but they’re not available,” Massa added.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old said he will do everything to help his teammate Fernando Alonso win the 2012 title, even if he acknowledged he might be racing elsewhere next year.

“I have no contract yet for 2013, but I will help Fernando,” he vowed.

“I am a professional and will behave like that.”

Massa hailed the performance this year of Spaniard Alonso, who at the wheel of the same Ferrari model has scored a massive 129 more points, and is leading the championship.

“The F2012 is not a winning car, but Fernando is perfect,” he said.

[prancing horse]

it is sad that he is justifying his seat by looking at the driver's market, rather than his performances

[FFFerrari]

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old said he will do everything to help his teammate Fernando Alonso win the 2012 title

I hope that is not literal, I don't want to see the WDC decided by Massa crashing into Fernandos main rivals. That always makes the achievement cheap. And F2012 IS a winning car, it has already won three races, not just in the hands of Massa...

[Kyss4k]

I hope that is not literal, I don't want to see the WDC decided by Massa crashing into Fernandos main rivals. That always makes the achievement cheap. And F2012 IS a winning car, it has already won three races, not just in the hands of Massa...

I don't believe Felipe would do such thing. You don't think he constructed the crash in Singapore 2010, when Rob told him to destroy Hamilton's race, do you?

[Hamish]

Felipe is a team player, and I take my hat off to him for his comments above. If Fernando wants Felipe as a team mate I am sure he will stay. Felipe has nothing but Ferrari in his blood and will work as hard as he can for the team.

[Greig]

His comments are nothing to do with crashing into others.

[Hermann]

'Come on Ferrari, sign me again, you won't get anyone better available on the market anyway and i promise to be a good Nr. 2' *wink wink*

A bit pathetic, don't you think...

[Greig]

Not really, he wants to keep driving for Ferrari not sure how you can feel that is pathetic?

[Hornet]

Ferrari don't do those crashing stuff.

What Massa probably meant is if in the right position, he wouldn't fight Alonso or might even switch position with Alonso to help Alonso maximize his point.

Ferrari have done it before, and no we don't send our drivers crashing into others, lol.

[Suzie]

I hope that is not literal, I don't want to see the WDC decided by Massa crashing into Fernandos main rivals..

He absolutely would not do that.

[Hermann]

Not really, he wants to keep driving for Ferrari not sure how you can feel that is pathetic?

Not only pathetic, even a bit embarrassing. I mean, not that he wants to keep his seat- thats understandable- but the 'reasoning'.

[Suzie]

Well presumably he was asked the question.

To be honest I am just surprised that Felipe hasn't snapped at some point, having to answer the same questions and justify his drive for the past 6 sodding years.

[Greig]

Not only pathetic, even a bit embarrassing. I mean, not that he wants to keep his seat- thats understandable- but the 'reasoning'.

Ok then maybe Ferrari know he is right.

[Rishu]

Not only pathetic, even a bit embarrassing. I mean, not that he wants to keep his seat- thats understandable- but the 'reasoning'.

Fair enough he said. He accepts Hamilton, Vettel might be better than him. So if Ferrari wants to replace him with someone other, would that be logical?

Answers can be anybody's point of view which of course varies

[Alonsomaniac]

I think it's quite a realistic view.
There may be one or two better drivers, but they are not available - and the rest will do no better than Massa.
It's just the truth, and Ferrari know that.....

[Corey]

Barrichello wasn't bad too when we kicked him out after 2005, yet we still brought in Massa who was still young and fresh back then. But it's different this time I guess because Perez has only been with the Ferrari Driver Academy for about a year, while Massa has been with us for at least 3-4 years before he became our drivers in 2006. I don't see Perez as a replacement atm.

[RedRebel40]

Schumacher and Alonso are praising each other lately, it could mikey in the Ferrari next year.

[Greig]

And it could be you, just as likely

[Suzie]

Schumacher and Alonso are praising each other lately, it could mikey in the Ferrari next year.

Why should it be? He chose to leave, only to go and drive for a rival 3 years later.

[Ferrari Man]

Why should it be? He chose to leave, only to go and drive for a rival 3 years later.

I think it was a choice enforced on him by Luca D than by one he made himself...

[Greig]

I think it was a choice enforced on him by Luca D than by one he made himself...

I think not as he had other offers, He told Todt he wanted to retire after the 3rd race of the season, and if Luca forced it then why on earth did MS stay on at Ferrari?

[Giallo 550]

I hope that is not literal, I don't want to see the WDC decided by Massa crashing into Fernandos main rivals. That always makes the achievement cheap. And F2012 IS a winning car, it has already won three races, not just in the hands of Massa...

Get real.

[REDARMYSOJA]

'Come on Ferrari, sign me again, you won't get anyone better available on the market anyway and i promise to be a good Nr. 2' *wink wink*

A bit pathetic, don't you think...

Not only pathetic, even a bit embarrassing. I mean, not that he wants to keep his seat- thats understandable- but the 'reasoning'.

I think it was a choice enforced on him by Luca D than by one he made himself...

I hope that is not literal, I don't want to see the WDC decided by Massa crashing into Fernandos main rivals. That always makes the achievement cheap. And F2012 IS a winning car, it has already won three races, not just in the hands of Massa...

This thread is already making me want to

[Hermann]

This thread is already making me want to

Really? Wow, i don't have such violent endencies- you are a scary person

[Red passion]

Really? Wow, i don't have such violent endencies- you are a scary person

haha scary person, he is harmless, it is his cat i would be worried about.

[REDARMYSOJA]

Really? Wow, i don't have such violent endencies- you are a scary person

Sorry. I didn't think someone would take a picture of a cat shooting a machine gun so seriously.

[Forzi]

Really? Wow, i don't have such violent endencies- you are a scary person

He didn't mean it directly But he's right. Some comments here are just plain sad to read. People forget that there are a lot of Felipe fans here and what kind of a place this is. When i saw the sum up of comments , for a sec i thought i was in a McCheat forum or something.

[FFFerrari]

Some comments here are just plain sad to read. People forget that there are a lot of Felipe fans here and what kind of a place this is. When i saw the sum up of comments , for a sec i thought i was in a McCheat forum or something.

I don't really care if someone is a fan of a driver. Cool, whatever floats your boat. I'm a fan of the TEAM and I don't care if the drivers driving for the team are two drunken monkeys as long as they bring glory for the team. Personally, most of the "driver-only fans" here make me sick, but I can live with it. What makes the team strongest is what I'm looking for and if it means replacing a underperforming driver, so be it. Hell, they have done it many times before. I enjoy fair and hard racing and seeing Ferrari win at the end, that is all that matters to me, in a perfect world their wouldn't even be a Drivers Championship, only Constructors.

[Suzie]

Being a Felipe fan doesn't automatically make someone a driver-only fan, FFFerrari. Plenty of us support both driver AND team; for me Felipe and Ferrari are indistinguishable.

There are some driver-only fans but I would bet that the majority aren't Massa supporters.

[Liscia]

I don't really care if someone is a fan of a driver. Cool, whatever floats your boat. I'm a fan of the TEAM and I don't care if the drivers driving for the team are two drunken monkeys as long as they bring glory for the team. Personally, most of the "driver-only fans" here make me sick, but I can live with it. What makes the team strongest is what I'm looking for and if it means replacing a underperforming driver, so be it. Hell, they have done it many times before. I enjoy fair and hard racing and seeing Ferrari win at the end, that is all that matters to me, in a perfect world their wouldn't even be a Drivers Championship, only Constructors.

Amen