Felipe Massa, In or Out?

[dannyjo22]

So....Massa finished at Monaco almost exactly a lap ahead of the guy who, according to half the world, is supposed to be replacing him. He also finished just five-and-a-bit seconds behind his illustrious team-mate. Now, I ain't no arithmetical genius but even I can work out that this made The Teflon Titan™ less than seven hundredths of a second per lap quicker than Felipe.

Flash in the pan, or has he turned the corner? Guess we'll know after the next couple of races, meantime I shall be hoping that it's the latter.

Interesting question, could it be e slower pace, the cars running so far from out right pace and a traffic jam helped him to be closer.

I guess Canada should tell us. He did do much better though, no that I think it matters the decision is as made as damons departure was at Williams in 95!

He could actually get lucky and find himself in a good Williams/lotus or force India.

 

[Mr Men]

Interesting question, could it be e slower pace, the cars running so far from out right pace and a traffic jam helped him to be closer.

Another who missed free practice and qualifying

 

[~Mike~]

To early to tell if he has turned the corner or not.

 

[daisycutter]

I dont think he's turned the corner, Monaco just didnt give the drivers the same issues as normal GP circuits. Thats why Schumacher was quick in Qualifying imo.

I assume tyres werent as much an issue, mechanical grip over downforce etc..

 

[kdd]

Apparently Vettel has a pre contract agreement with Ferrari for 2014 so I reckon Alonso/Massa for 2013, then Vettel/Alonso 2014.

 

[Skeeter]

Apparently Vettel has a pre contract agreement with Ferrari for 2014 so I reckon Alonso/Massa for 2013, then Vettel/Alonso 2014.

Lol, a day after Vettel says he can't see himself leaving RBR. I always think that whenever a driver starts talking about staying with a team it means they are thinking the exact oposite.

If that was the case then it would support the Webber to Ferrari move for next year.

2013: Alonso/Webber at Ferrari, Rosberg/Di Resta at Mercedes, Button/Turvey at McLaren and Vettel/Hamilton at Red Bull

2014: Alonso/Vettel at Ferrari, and Hamilton/Perez at Red Bull



Some of those are off the wall, some I genuinely think could happen

 

[kdd]

Vettel vs. Hamilton alone would make the gp worth watching.

 

[therealnerd2]

Apparently Vettel has a pre contract agreement with Ferrari for 2014 so I reckon Alonso/Massa for 2013, then Vettel/Alonso 2014.

Surely a driver would never limit themselves to something so far in advance and with such a potential for rubbish cars.

 

[Skeeter]

Surely a driver would never limit themselves to something so far in advance and with such a potential for rubbish cars.

Ferrari are the most successful manufacturer in F1...

 

[sunama]

Surely a driver would never limit themselves to something so far in advance and with such a potential for rubbish cars.

That's exactly what I'm thinking.

 

[Tenzo]

Ferrari are Ferrari and their name alone is attractive to most drivers I suspect.

Equally, driving an Adrain Newey car is going to be attractive....tough shout to be honest

Out of interest don't Newey and Vettel have a contract that ties them together in some way, or has a break clause should one of them leave the team? (or is that one of those great F1 rumours)

 

[Skeeter]

Out of interest don't Newey and Vettel have a contract that ties them together in some way, or has a break clause should one of them leave the team? (or is that one of those great F1 rumours)

First I have ever heard of that?

 

[Tenzo]

I'm positive I've heard it reported on the BBC at some point, doesn't mean it's true mind you...

 

[mctiny]

Ferrari are Ferrari and their name alone is attractive to most drivers I suspect.

Equally, driving an Adrain Newey car is going to be attractive....tough shout to be honest

Out of interest don't Newey and Vettel have a contract that ties them together in some way, or has a break clause should one of them leave the team? (or is that one of those great F1 rumours)

Probably something like Rossi and Burgess in motogp - nothing official but a mutual agreement that should the rider/driver leave the other will follow.

 

[~Mike~]

First I have ever heard of that?

Same. Never heard of that one.


I think Marko said recently that Seb had a performance-related clause in his contract that could allow him to leave Red Bull at the end of 2013. The clause was for him and RB. It was also the same time that Seb said he wanted to stay at RB.