No one better on market to replace me – Massa

[Rob]

Yesterday Hulkenberg was signing. Today Kimi is signing.
Whose turn is it tomorrow? Michael? Or was that today as well.
Losing track here.

My lil Keira

[Ferrari_Fanatic]

"A little mouse whispered in my ear that Schumacher could go back to Ferrari," former Ferrari driver Patrick Tambay told RMC Sport.

"It is perhaps just the dream of some Tifosi, but why not?"

[racingbradley]

Greig?

Nah I heard it was Suzie---- sorry Greg.
I am still sulking cause my application was binned!!!!!!!!!

[Rob]

Ferrari to decide between Massa, Hulkenberg and Di Resta
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Ferrari have narrowed their choice for Fernando Alonso's team-mate next year down to three drivers.
The team's intention is to retain current driver Felipe Massa, but Force India drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta are options.

“
If the team decide to change Felipe, whoever [comes in] has to be better than Felipe" Fernando Alonso

Massa has reignited his chances of keeping the seat with some strong performances in recent races.
But the team want to wait until at least mid October after the Korean Grand Prix before deciding.
Both German Hulkenberg and Scot di Resta have produced impressive performances this season.
In mid-summer, Ferrari were planning to drop Massa, who has been racing for the Scuderia since 2006.
But the Brazilian has put himself back in the picture with a series of strong drives since the end of F1's summer break, as well as a general upturn in his performances after a poor start to the season.

In the last month, Massa has finished fifth in Belgium, fourth in Italy and produced a strong comeback drive in Singapore to finish eighth after a first-lap puncture put him to the back of the field.

BBC Sport understands that Ferrari team members want to keep Massa - as does Alonso, who made his views clear with a comment at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Alonso said: "In my opinion we need to have a driver that respect Ferrari and the tradition of this team and that we work for the team and the red cars. This is the first priority.
"And second I have been working with Felipe three years now and [we have] a good relationship. If the team decide to change Felipe, whoever [comes in] has to be better than Felipe.
"And of the names that have been written I don't know if they have been written with the head or the heart. I don't know if you [can] compare what Felipe did in F1 with what they did…"
That last remark is a reference to the fact that Massa has won 11 grands prix and narrowly missed out on the world title in 2008, whereas none of the drivers who have been linked with replacing him have yet won a race.
But Ferrari's bosses want to wait a little longer before confirming Massa to be sure he can hold on to his current form.
Meanwhile, the picture is complicated by a source with good knowledge of the driver market saying that a deal for Hulkenberg to join Ferrari next year is already done.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19789183

Not sure how must truth is in the last paragraph. He seems anti-Ferrari at times.

[Suzie]

I'm confused as to why they'd pass up Perez but then go for one of the FI guys. Honestly, if di Resta goes to Ferrari, I am done.

[Homan13PSU]

Nah I heard it was Suzie---- sorry Greg.
I am still sulking cause my application was binned!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to break it to you guys...but its me. I just hope I don't embarrass America like Scott Speed did...

[Rob]

I'm confused as to why they'd pass up Perez but then go for one of the FI guys. Honestly, if di Resta goes to Ferrari, I am done.

Maybe Ferrari and Perez had chat about Mclaren coming knocking few months ago and had it all signed and sealed that he would leave if a race seat came up before Ferrari seat did. And with Luca saying what he did, may of been mind games at Mclaren.

[Suzie]

Well someone from Perez's management said Ferrari was the natural choice but they weren't wanted as they wanted to keep Massa. (Google translated).
https://twitter.com/totgira/status/252104345460563968

[Rishu]

I can't see the logic of letting Perez go & sign Hulk or over-rated Di resta. It will be a choice between Massa (making more sense) or MS (for 1 year, purely nostalgic move, giving him a chance to amend the 2010-2012 mess)

[Nova]

Remember Perez's backers wanted Ferrari to make a move on him a few months ago,
read that somewhere, so its probably his backers impatience for their driver to get a
top team run..makes market sense in his home country.

Just keep Massa...I vote no on DiResta.

[Nick Singer]

I have felt for a while that Massa needs to leave but, frankly, he is a better bet than DIR or HUL. As ALO says, MAS is a 'Ferrari man' through and through and his pace has picked up..

Also, imagine how awful it would be if MS did sign for a last, 'glory' year and was poor!!

[brembo man]

Something is telling me Sauber would be more interested in Schumacher.

Sounds about right, especially in his case where points don't count, he's just hanging out to break another F1 record before retireing, most rear end crashes , DNFs in general. The chin's got another good 10 years left in him. Who knows what he can accomplish just in safety courses, how not to drive after 40.

[racingbradley]

Sounds about right, especially in his case where points don't count, he's just hanging out to break another F1 record before retireing, most rear end crashes , DNFs in general. The chin's got another good 10 years left in him. Who knows what he can accomplish just in safety courses, how not to drive after 40.

And who is going to break his record of 7 times WDC ????????????/

[Rob]

was not sure to put this.....

Hulkenberg is not to remain at Force India
The manager feeds the doubts and it seems that the German has had contact with Sauber
October 2, 2012 17:02
The manager Nico Hulkenberg has admitted that there is still nothing certain about the future of his client. The German driver, in fact, does not have the certainty of continuing to defend the colors of Force India in 2013. should not forget that the former A1GP and GP2 champion has been linked also to the Ferrari as can go any alternative to Felipe Massa , but recently Blick talked about contacts between his entourage and the management of the Sauber . " There is a good chance that Nico remains with Force India, although there are no certainties. We are not yet in a position to announce something , "said Timo Gans in Sport1 , talking about the future of the 25 year old. around And what will Hulkenberg wheel a bit 'the situation of Jaime Alguersuari , who would be ready to replace him with Force India in the event of a departure, but it could also consider himself the ' hypothesis Sauber otherwise.


http://www.omnicorse.it/magazine/219...-con-la-sauber

[Hornet]

That might meant Kobayashi out of a drive next year if Nico leaves FI to Sauber

[Ken]

was not sure to put this.....

A lot of words to say nothing only if buts and maybe's, the only thing I can read out of that is Nico's management are trying to make something happen ?, seems like a XIX stunt.

[wisepie]

The more suggestions/rumours I read mean there is only one logical answer....Felipe MUST stay and put an end to all this nonsense, stability is one way to help us win WDC and WCC, now or in 2013, after that is anyone's guess.

[brembo man]

And who is going to break his record of 7 times WDC ????????????/

That will be the next driver to get the best Ferrari, like he had. And someone lke Todt ready to radio in "Let him pass! " . Hopefully Alonso

[scuderia_nano]

I really think from whatever I have seen that Hulkenberg is one of the most talented racers on the grid. More talented than Perez. Perez had good drives due to good strategies which are strong points of Sauber and Force India in particular lacks the "calculated gambles"
I really would like to see Nico here because if he is given a proper grooming alongside Fernando, He will be better than even Sebastian Vettel and Maybe Lewis Hamilton too. He should replace Massa, IF FERRARI Actually do replace Massa cz we wont need an ideal number 1 driver once the Hulk races alongside Fernando. Look what Lewis turned into with just 1 year with Alonso in 2007.
Its about grooming a no.2 into a no.1 then for sure HULK.

[Dino]

Just saw this on Facebook



Felipe Massa Fanclub

4 minutes ago.



Ultim’ora. Si è in attesa dell’annuncio ufficiale. Esperti vicini a Maranello hanno confermato che Nico Hulkenberg avrebbe già firmato un accordo con la Ferrari per il 2013..
Semplicemente vergognosi..
Hot now. You are waiting for the official announcement. Experts close to Maranello confirmed that Nico Hulkenberg would have already signed an agreement with Ferrari for the 2013 ...
Simply shameful. (Translated by Bing)

[Dino]

02.10.2012, 07.46 | Radiobox

F1 | Ferrari: Nico Hulkenberg avrebbe già firmato



Londra, 2 ottobre 2012 – Ultim’ora. Si è in attesa dell’annuncio ufficiale. Esperti vicini a Maranello hanno confermato che Nico Hulkenberg avrebbe già firmato un accordo con la Ferrari per il 2013.

La conferma definitiva dovrebbe arrivare non prima del GP di Corea. Sarà un tedesco a sostituire Felipe Massa alla scuderia del Cavallino Rampante, ma non è Michel Schumacher abbandonato dalla Mercedes per Lewis Hamilton.

Fonti “autorevoli del paddock” hanno ammesso che il sette volte campione del mondo non è tra i piani della squadra italiana, restringendo il cerchio degli interessi tra la conferma di Massa, Nico Hulkenberg e Paul di Resta.

Pare che a metà estate la Ferrari avesse deciso di sostituire il brasiliano, ma le recenti buone prestazioni di Belgio, Monza e Singapore, avrebbero rilanciato le speranze di Felipe di rimanere ancora una astagione a Maranello, dove è arrivato nel 2006.

Nico Hulkenberg è attualmente alla sua seconda stagione ufficiale in Formula 1, dopo un sorprendente 2010 in Williams a fianco di Barrichello, con la quale ha ottenuto la sua prima pole position in carriera.

Seguono aggiornamenti.

[F430]

oh dear

http://www.f1passion.it/2012/10/f1-f...e-gia-firmato/

[Rob]

Just have to wait till next weekend to find out for sure.

If true, be good. Sad for Felipe, for sure, but Hulk i think is good solid driver, needs a break in top team with top team mate.

[Nova]

I cannot find confirmation on this anywhere...

[Jose Lorca]

In my opinion Massa has done enough in these last three races to earn a new contract but if the Hulkenburg rumours are true I won't be upset. I don't think Hulkenburg is as quick as Massa but he's likely to be more consistent, which is vital for our championship hopes next year.

I can imagine Hulk accepting a one year deal, with the aim of impressing Red Bull and replacing Vettel when he comes to Ferrari.

[F2002]

I cannot find confirmation on this anywhere...

I don't believe this news.

LDM said that Perez wasn't experienced enough.

And Alonso called many of the shortlisted replacements "small" when compared to Massa.

So Hulkenberg would be all and none of this then??

[Corey]

That might meant Kobayashi out of a drive next year if Nico leaves FI to Sauber

Koby to FI?

[Nova]

Well, its out of the bag..Ferrari rang me up..Told em I wasnt sure...

[Katu]

if Massa will or won't be replaced, i'm sure it has not been decided upon how he drove last races - it's everything together. let's wait and see what the announcment is

[Hornet]

Lets just wait for the confirmation. Everything seem to indicate that Luca DM have already make the decision in recent days. Its just a matter of announcing it.

We don't know where the Italian website was getting their source from. The only person who claim to have direct info from a source that I know of is Andrew Benson. If all of these reports are merely base on Benson's report, then its hardly concrete. If its multiple sources, that's a different story.

But lets just wait and see. I trust in Ferrari in making the best decision for the team.

Koby to FI?

That wouldn't be a bad choice, recently FI have been proving to be a mid field team, up from the backmarker they used to be.

Kobayashi may not be the fastest, but I really admire his dedication.