Motorsport Off Topic Thread

IIRC that was the Friday before Spa when Button said that. He came out the day after and said he was wrong and that he did have a contract for next year.
 
I can't see any appeal to Massa being in a team unless he has money and team needs money

I'd personally choose a rookie gamble than know you are always going to have a solid driver

I would be surprised if he ends up anywhere but Williams or lower
 
What did Ferrari expect after they basically rammed it down Massas throat(Germany 2010)! That would demoralise ANY driver. I'm surprised he stayed at Ferrari more than he needed to after that, he should have walked away while he still could, like Webber is doing, holding two finger up as he leaves.

How can he ever be motivated to do as he possibly could just to be told to move over for their team mate. Ferrari shot themselves in the foot with that move. I think that that team order has had much more of an impact on Massa than the head injury every did.

I don't think Massa is a top flight driver, but he is still a very good one, I hope he gets another shot in a different car to show, even if for just a year, to show what he can do when properly motivated again.
 
I thought Button said he had an option on his contract for 2014 and then the next day in another press conference he had to admit that it was McLaren that had the option. :p
 
Massa beat Kimi in the same car, and almost won the WDC. He also made Alonso look second rate on a number of occasions (second half of last year being the biggest instance), so he isn't that bad. He is also a legacy of the development/test driver days so he knows how to work on improving the car. I'm not saying he's a WDC contender, but if a team can afford him then he has to be much higher up the list than the flock of "I might crash it, I might not, I've no idea how to set it up, but I've got a rich Daddy" punks buying their way in.

Massa and Hulkenburg at Lotus would be a good combination, imo. Not that I think Lotus have the money to drop Grosjean.
 
Massa would be good for one of the midfield teams if he wants to settle for that.
I dont think he's a terrible driver, but he's not a top team driver either, not even as a no2.
But at the moment the grid is a bit disappointing with promising drivers. Even some of the promising ones, haven't done a lot in the last year or two.
 
I don't think we have ever really seen the true Massa. He's always been in the shadow or someone, and (with the exception of 2008) whenever he showed a glimpse of breaking out of the shadow he was beaten back down by his team like a disobedient dog.

I'd like to see how he does leading a team.

I am going to miss the Smedley/Massa bromance though :D
 
I think Massa would probably work best in a team with one of those drivers with money...

Massa (you'd imagine) would beat most of those drivers comfortably which would take away any potential pressure for him to perform, so hopefully he could find his sweet spot again.
Then as has been said the car development and set up would be taken care of with Massa, which would leave whoever the money bags driver was to simply improve and get better... Massa I'm sure could help there too.
 
There's an option on JB's contract for 2014 - I'm not sure who can exercise it. But doesn't he also have separate longer term contracts with Tag and Boss - until 2016 IIRC?
 
Bianchi is a Ferrari driver, they aren't just going to let him walk away and join another rival team, are they?

*looks at Perez*

Ok, maybe they will. :p

Massa hasn't had his opportunities, thats the point. He's been behind Schumacher, Kimi and Alonso. We have never seen him in a position where he is expected to be the number 1 and lead a team.
 
He has won races and had a couple of good qualifying sessions, but it's not like he was really a challenger to Alonso. The few times, the team asked him to let Alonso pass were at points in the season where the only contender for the title was Alonso.

Even as a second driver, Massa wasn't amazing and he has been in F1 long enough. whether you think he got a fair shot at this point is immaterial - he is 32 and his F1 career has run its course.

better to plan for the future and give talented young drivers opportunities to shine. it's hard enough for them as it stands with ppl like Sirotkin getting seats they clearly don't deserve (yet at least).

Anyway I think Ferrari will live to regret choosing Kimi over Hulkenberg or Bianchi - politics at Ferrari next year should keep the season entertaining while Vettel is most likely to get a 5th title. don't get me wrong I like Kimi and he is good driver, but I think there is a little too much hype. if Grosjean wasn't such a tool in races, I am not sure Kimi would have so many points in the championship, since on pure pace Grosjean seems faster.

my 2cents
 
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lunarwolf said:
He has won races and had a couple of good qualifying sessions, but it's not like he was really a challenger to Alonso. The few times, the team asked him to let Alonso pass were at points in the season where the only contender for the title was Alonso.

Anyway even as a second driver he wasn't amazing and he has been in F1 long enough. whether you think he got a fair shot at this point is immaterial - he is 32 and his F1 career has run its course.

better to plan for the future and give talented young drivers opportunities to shine. it's hard enough for them as it stands with ppl like Sirotkin getting seats they clearly don't deserve (yet at least). Anyway I think Ferrari will live to regret choosing Kimi over Hulkenberg or Bianchi. don't get me wrong I like Kimi and he is good driver, but I think there is a little too much hype

my 2cents
Click to expand...

I actually couldn't agree with this any more.

Especially the last paragraph
I'm not that Dissapointed that Kimi has gone
If RG had less accidents I think he would be better and faster and more team friendly
 
There's little value is Ferrari taking a young driver and having him put up with having Alonso as a team mate. You could end up destroying a lot of potential having someone play second fiddle to Alonso.

Better to do what ferrari do, let someone else do all the grooming and finding out if they can cut it then just take them.

These drivers have always been told that their day will come when MS retires etc but by the time that comes around you are left with a driver used to coming 2nd. No one want's that to lead a team, certainly not ferrari.
 
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