Felipe Massa's future

[-Tifosi_dude-]

I kind of agree with Giblet, Massa's best days involved TC and driver aids (safe for 2008 and part of 2009). For me his best days were late 2006 to Hungary 2009. He was never the most skilled driver but he was feisty, always challenging, pushing as much as he can (his fight with kubica in the rain at japan in 2007 was epic). He also went down to the wire with Hamilton in 2008 and with Raikonnen as his team mate he never looked bad (or terrible).

But we have to be honest, his achievements came in car that was supposed to win, the Ferrari's of 2006-2008 were mostly carry-over cars from ferrari's championship winning years with Schumacher (Ferrari won all but 3 championships between 2000-2008). But F1 is a different environment today, it isn't just Mclaren and Ferrari as it was then, now there's 1 second separating the top 7 or 8 cars, the field is tightly packed and Ferrari don't dominate as they did before. Alonso has absolutely juiced every inch out of that car for the past 2 seasons (I don't believe the F10 was anywhere near the RB6 and we all know the struggles of the f150 and now possibly the F12) massa just can't keep up, why? Who knows, its just speculation.

Possible replacements,

-Perez (not likely for this season, under contract w/ Sauber)
-Alguesuari (possibility)
-Sutil (last year he expressed interest in Ferrari and said he'd gladly take a #2 role)
-Bianchi (under contract with FI)
-Kubica (Health??)

[WhiteBlue]

It is interesting to compare the betting odds of the Lotus and Ferrari second drivers. Massa is on 500 to win the 2012 WDC while Grosjean is on 230.

Nobody believes that Ferrari will happily accept defeat by Lotus hence the odds for Ferrari to win the WCC are twice as good as for Lotus.



If you adjust for the expected pace of the different cars Massa's adjusted odds are five times higher than Grosjean.

I agree with most other posters that he doesn't belong in a Ferrari any more, but he isn't really a big problem compared to the managerial and technical issues. They will sort this later in the season I guess, definitely before Monza, probably around Silverstone.

[bhall]

[...]

It saddens me to see Massa struggle the way he has the last couple of years, because there are few people in Formula One I like more. He earned my respect with the way in which he handled his heartbreaking loss to Hamilton in 2008. I think that's the year in which he found his speed, and, for whatever reason, he hasn't been able to get it back after Hungary, 2009 - maybe that just shows how sane he is.

However, since business is business, especially in F1, I recognize that it's probably time for his days at Ferrari to come to an end. I'm hopeful he lands in a decent seat when it's all said and done.

I think either of the two Sauber drivers would be good candidates to take his spot, but, for Sauber's sake, I hope it's Kobayashi and not Perez, as I don't know if Sauber could retain some of its sponsors without Perez on the team.

[bhall]

[...]

My problem with betting odds on a technical forum is that they have no value whatsoever outside of a world where bookies and popularity contests determine outcomes. Formula One is not a pageant. Even the most hare brained opinion carries considerably more weight than betting odds whose sole purpose is to guarantee favorable returns for those who collect the bets.

[red300zx99]

I hope he's replaced by Perez midseason

[Hail22]

I hope he's replaced by Perez midseason

I second this idea, but perhaps a trade? Massa for Perez.

[banibhusan]

I second this idea, but perhaps a trade? Massa for Perez.

Why would that happen? Perez is still young and he is doing good in Sauber now. If he trades himself for a seat in Ferrari and later Ferrari decides to hire Kubica for 2013 (if he recovers fully) then where would Perez go? I feel its only possible if Sauber somehow agrees to lend Perez till the end of this year. Or if Kubica confirms that he is not coming back for 2013.

I think Fisi, or may be Trulli or Sutil would be a temporary solution that Ferrari would prefer. Or even Bianchi. Perez would be a long term choice, if and only if, Kubica doesn't return this year.

[WhiteBlue]

My problem with betting odds on a technical forum is that they have no value whatsoever outside of a world where bookies and popularity contests determine outcomes.

That is your personal opinion which I believe is not at all reflected in the real world.
Particularly automatically generated internet betting odds like those at BetFair - which I mentioned - have a market character. They reflect the collective expectations of the betting money and many very knowledgeable individuals contribute to them. You should have observed the real time changes of the odds during qualifying and the race in Melbourne last weekend. Every bit of information on the pecking order or the qualifying and race pace of the cars was immediately incorporated in the odds with many changes occurring.

[zoro_f1]

i suggest felipe massa to leave F1 in time and join me in front of my TV and watch races with beer and popcorn. it will be much interesting...for everyone.

[myurr]

I second this idea, but perhaps a trade? Massa for Perez.

Why would that happen? Perez is still young and he is doing good in Sauber now. If he trades himself for a seat in Ferrari and later Ferrari decides to hire Kubica for 2013 (if he recovers fully) then where would Perez go? I feel its only possible if Sauber somehow agrees to lend Perez till the end of this year. Or if Kubica confirms that he is not coming back for 2013.

I think Fisi, or may be Trulli or Sutil would be a temporary solution that Ferrari would prefer. Or even Bianchi. Perez would be a long term choice, if and only if, Kubica doesn't return this year.

I don't think Kubica will be coming back, and even if he does it won't be straight into a Ferrari seat.

I also don't think Fisi or Trulli would want to drive that car. Fisi made that mistake before, jumping from a relatively good car into a hard to handle Ferrari and it damaged his reputation. In fact I'd consider that second Ferrari seat to be a poisoned challis until they sort out the cars handling issues.

That said Sutil could be desperate enough to get back on the grid that he'd take that risk. He's not going to trouble Alonso, so there shouldn't be any fireworks, and he's a solid enough driver. If I were making the decision that'd be the avenue I'd be exploring.

[Hail22]

I think Fisi, or may be Trulli or Sutil would be a temporary solution that Ferrari would prefer. Or even Bianchi. Perez would be a long term choice, if and only if, Kubica doesn't return this year.

Jules Bianchi left Ferrari for a Reserve role at Force India, I highly doubt Ferrari will want someone who left their nest for a "possible" race seat in the near future.

I think Massa will be nicked before Monza if he does not improve.

[raymondu999]

I think Fisi, or may be Trulli or Sutil would be a temporary solution that Ferrari would prefer. Or even Bianchi. Perez would be a long term choice, if and only if, Kubica doesn't return this year.

Jules Bianchi left Ferrari for a Reserve role at Force India, I highly doubt Ferrari will want someone who left their nest for a "possible" race seat in the near future.

I think Massa will be nicked before Monza if he does not improve.

Bianchi is still a Ferrari Driver.

[zoro_f1]

is this going to be the last season of massa in F1

[banibhusan]

Jules Bianchi left Ferrari for a Reserve role at Force India, I highly doubt Ferrari will want someone who left their nest for a "possible" race seat in the near future.

I think Massa will be nicked before Monza if he does not improve.

Bianchi is still a Ferrari Driver.

I guess he was busy in Formula Renault or Formula 3000..That's why FI went for Paffet as their reserve driver last weekend.

[jamsbong]

Ferrari should ask Fisichella back! hahahaa...

Check this out:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpYpOAuwr9o[/youtube]

Mass literally pushed Senna off the track! Notice that Senna was already ahead of Massa at 0.19 then Massa push him off so much that both of them were off the track at one stage (at 0.23)!
Boooo.......