Is Felipe on the verge of an exit from our team?

[scuderia_nano]

I hate to say this, Off late, Things dont look good. Not since Germany. And with Felipe making his displeasure about Alonso and helping him for the title JUST after Luca issued a statement doesnt look good at all.

No Ferrari drivers have a binding contract. Look back, Prost has been fired and so has Kimi. Felipe has been the under achiever for us year after year and now with the fuzz caused due to team orders and whatever is following, Does anyone else think that Felipe might be on the verge of an exit and is giving indications that he is going down-out Fighting?

[Lithium]

I don't think so. And where would he go?
He can try and put up a fight against Alonso next year, but yes, it will not be easy, and the 'tyre heat up' excuse probably will not be enough again. But I'm sure Felipe will stay with us for another year at least. Then again, you never know... stranger things have happened..

[Stormsearcher]

I hate to say this, Off late, Things dont look good. Not since Germany. And with Felipe making his displeasure about Alonso and helping him for the title JUST after Luca issued a statement doesnt look good at all.

No Ferrari drivers have a binding contract. Look back, Prost has been fired and so has Kimi. Felipe has been the under achiever for us year after year and now with the fuzz caused due to team orders and whatever is following, Does anyone else think that Felipe might be on the verge of an exit and is giving indications that he is going down-out Fighting?

Think its just a bit of media noise. They havent had anything damaging to write about us last few weeks, as we won the last 2 races... and this is prbly just timing so that we falter in the last four. I would say ignore it. Felipe will be with us next year.

[WRX202]

As I say about Reubens I will repeat for Massa: In Brazil playing no.2 is NOT acceptable. Fans would never accept it and just look at what happened to Reubens when he finally realized that it was not enough being in a Ferrari. Felipe has the same pressure as everyone knows that like it or not Alonso is quite equal to Schumacher in his Ferrari days, he expects the number 1 status and his performances on the track grant him that.

Ferrari of these past 2-3 years is virtually new, coming from a dominion era and now many if not all members are new to the team. Felipe raced when Michael, Ross and Todt were still running things and at that time everyone had to stick to his role. Yes Felipe was a number 2 with Schumi and could not expect anything more seeing what the previous drivers accepted. When things changed and Schumi was retiring he believed he was free to race and he was and still is but now Ferrari see the Schumi replacement in Alonso therefore it is only natural that they will support him if they want to emulate those winning years over again.

I refuse to accept or even think that Ferrari deny anything to Felipe when he is on track in terms of equipment etc. He has the same car, same tires, engine so if he is nowhere close to Alonso then he can't point fingers to Ferrari for pushing to have Alonso leading the title chase. You back a winner and Alonso has two titles on his C.V. which mean a lot. After all he got them by beating our own team and best driver. Felipe's reactions are only normal as he will be under constant pressure being questioned why this big gap between him and Alonso.

It is never easy to level yourself with a team mate with the blood of a champion, Reubens found out with Schumi and Felipe is having the same with Alonso. One thing I'm sure, if he DID say those words and it was in the Todt/Brawn/Schumi era he would be driving the milk lorry with a Ferrari advert by now. Ferrari were incredibly strict to when it came to media commenting, I don't know what's their policy now.

[aroutis]

So wait, if there's a chance for Alonso to get the WDC and it comes down to Brasil then what ?

[racingbradley]

So wait, if there's a chance for Alonso to get the WDC and it comes down to Brasil then what ?

You know the answer same as 2007 ;-)

[racingbradley]

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly has Felipe supposed to have said.:-??

[Tifosi]

Well, this IS a novelty! Multiple threads about our other driver :lol

Shame they are all the same really. Gossip about rumour and supposition.

It's shameful how differently our drivers get treated by some on these forums :roll

[racingbradley]

For every good guy there has to be a bad guy and shamefully Felipe has been castigated as the latter. Some seem to believe everything they read about him -----just to suit their purpose.;-);-)

[Corey]

Well, if Felipe and Fernando start to fight with each other, they would end up like how Alonso and Hamilton did in 2007.

[sav_pap]

I don't think felipe will be a ferrari driver next year...

[racingbradley]

Well, if Felipe and Fernando start to fight with each other, they would end up like how Alonso and Hamilton did in 2007.

Do you think they are???? or is it just the media looking for a story!

[FFFerrari]

He will drive for Ferrari next year. If there would be a change, it would have been made clear already. After that, who knows. I believe his contract is up after next year too, so atleast there will be a logical breaking point there.

But if it comes to the situation where he leads the Brazil GP and Alonso is second...yikes on what might happen then. A riot in the grand stands might be one alternative. :lou

[Lithium]

Do you think they are???? or is it just the media looking for a story!
+1
They might not be the best friends in the world, but they're not fighting and I personally don't see them starting 'fighting', not off the track anyways.

[vcs316]

Well, if Felipe and Fernando start to fight with each other, they would end up like how Alonso and Hamilton did in 2007.

Oh no they won't! Ferrari would never let that happen, both drivers will drive for the team and not for themselves. That message has been made very very clear by Luca di..

ps - Welcome to our forum :-)

[Greig]

For every good guy there has to be a bad guy and shamefully Felipe has been castigated as the latter. Some seem to believe everything they read about him -----just to suit their purpose.;-);-)

Just as Alonso is your bad guy on this forum, then for some they see it different, you believe much of what is said bad about Alonso......

I don't think Felipe is going anywhere but it is pretty sad to see his comments in the media along with Luca Di's, maybe they should both keep it internal and not in the media :-)

[Hermann]

This is all part of the Ferrari master plan to get the press all hooked up on nonsense stories while getting ready to snatch the title away from under their noses :-D

[Hornet]

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly has Felipe supposed to have said.:-??
With the media, the best political answer is always "no comment" :-D

Anyway, I'm not aiming specifically about Massa, but for all drivers, they should not always wear their heart on the sleeve. If there is something that's bothering you, discuss it internally, there's no need to say anything at all to the media.

They are sportsmen, not presidential candidates

[WRX202]

So wait, if there's a chance for Alonso to get the WDC and it comes down to Brasil then what ?

By Brazil I meant as a country not the GP, for the Brazilian people and supporters. Massa, Reubens, Senna represent them in F1. It's not acceptable to them to have their driver in a Ferrari and being a number 2.

[Alessandra]

As I say about Reubens I will repeat for Massa: In Brazil playing no.2 is NOT acceptable. Fans would never accept it and just look at what happened to Reubens when he finally realized that it was not enough being in a Ferrari. Felipe has the same pressure as everyone knows that like it or not Alonso is quite equal to Schumacher in his Ferrari days, he expects the number 1 status and his performances on the track grant him that.

Ferrari of these past 2-3 years is virtually new, coming from a dominion era and now many if not all members are new to the team. Felipe raced when Michael, Ross and Todt were still running things and at that time everyone had to stick to his role. Yes Felipe was a number 2 with Schumi and could not expect anything more seeing what the previous drivers accepted. When things changed and Schumi was retiring he believed he was free to race and he was and still is but now Ferrari see the Schumi replacement in Alonso therefore it is only natural that they will support him if they want to emulate those winning years over again.

I refuse to accept or even think that Ferrari deny anything to Felipe when he is on track in terms of equipment etc. He has the same car, same tires, engine so if he is nowhere close to Alonso then he can't point fingers to Ferrari for pushing to have Alonso leading the title chase. You back a winner and Alonso has two titles on his C.V. which mean a lot. After all he got them by beating our own team and best driver. Felipe's reactions are only normal as he will be under constant pressure being questioned why this big gap between him and Alonso.

It is never easy to level yourself with a team mate with the blood of a champion, Reubens found out with Schumi and Felipe is having the same with Alonso. One thing I'm sure, if he DID say those words and it was in the Todt/Brawn/Schumi era he would be driving the milk lorry with a Ferrari advert by now. Ferrari were incredibly strict to when it came to media commenting, I don't know what's their policy now.

I completely agree with all above. It's a psychologially and emotionally very difficult situation for Felipe, but the coping with it lies in his own hands. Possibly Fernando could assist him with some advice on how to deal with the issues arising from becoming obsessed with your team mate's status within the team - it's a situation he 's well acquainted with. But then again, that's probably not top of his list of things to do:-)

[Stormsearcher]

But if it comes to the situation where he leads the Brazil GP and Alonso is second...yikes on what might happen then. A riot in the grand stands might be one alternative. :lou

Tricky situation. If Massa is leading with nando close behind, i believe Ferrari will ask him to give up the place. But it might be done in a cleverer manner than Germany.

[Naeem]

Lets looks at the facts THIS year,

Alonso > Massa in every possible situation this year so all the pro-massa fans should possibly look upon his year with a pinch of salt. I'm very sure Massa will be with us next year and rest assured he will be on an equal stance to Alonso but as we've already witnessed, ferrari pick their title man early in the season so if he's still warming his tyres half way into the season, he'll be warming them one place (ideally, but more likely 6 places) behind Alonso. Felipe needs to re-grow a pair since his knock on the head.

[Grillo]

The ball is in Massa's court and he can do as he pleases. If he wants to stay he can, if he wanted to leave he would have somewhere to go. I think Massa won't have many problems with the new Pirelli tyres in 2011, they are supposed to be softer than the Bridgestones. If he decides to work for the team this season and he stays in Ferrari he will have a chance next year if he's leading the team past mid season in 2011.

[Agron]

No matter what your country thinks, at the end of the day you are alone in F1 and no one is going to move a finger if you don't have the talent, Massa owes Brazil nothing, and shouldn't take decisions based on their oppinion. Fact is if he exits Ferrari at the end of the year, he would do as 6th in the tables, to Fernando 1-3rd, thus with his reputation as a fast driver damaged; besides there are currently not that many seats available, so perhaps he would have to go to a midfield car and pray one of the big teams will have a seat in 1-2 years time available. If they don't, that may be the end of his career.
If on the other hand he is wise, he will forget about the criticism and focus on his job and work harder, trying to be as close as Alonso as possible, and if things go his way he may well become WDC in the next few years in a team that no matter Germany, still loves and respects him.

[Tifoso]

Just as Alonso is your bad guy on this forum, then for some they see it different, you believe much of what is said bad about Alonso......

I don't think Felipe is going anywhere but it is pretty sad to see his comments in the media along with Luca Di's, maybe they should both keep it internal and not in the media :-)

Exactly

[scuderia_nano]

Well, this IS a novelty! Multiple threads about our other driver :lol

Shame they are all the same really. Gossip about rumour and supposition.

It's shameful how differently our drivers get treated by some on these forums :roll

Apologies as I dont want to come across as someone who dislikes Felipe. Its just that I am on the other side of the world and away from F1 racing and here, I get to know inside news and also fans at the forum are Ferrari fans for longer and also indepth about things so maybe they have a hint of such an outburst by Felipe followed by Luca's statement.

I wont be surprised if the following year Fernando is asked to do the same things that Felipe is doing or is expected to do for Fernando since its better for us in the title hunt.

If required, this discussion can be ended and the matter can be deleted.

[scuderiafan]

He better not leave.

I'll have to change my sig.

[scuderiafan]

But seriously, i don't think there is anywhere he could go.

And to the press with short memories, weren't they saying that Felipe should be replaced, but Ferrari STUCK BY HIM.

And now they are asking him to help us win a WDC.

How dare they! The obnoxious c****;-)

(if you didn't get it, i was joking.)

[Tifoso]

But seriously, i don't think there is anywhere he could go.

And to the press with short memories, weren't they saying that Felipe should be replaced, but Ferrari STUCK BY HIM.

And now they are asking him to help us win a WDC.

How dare they! The obnoxious c****;-)

(if you didn't get it, i was joking.)


You could argue that Ferrari were "forced" to stay with him after the accident or risk looking like jerks.

To be clear: I like this driver pairing, and want Felipe to stay. Felipe has had an off year-it happens.