Massa not comin back....for 2009

Ferrari does not expect Felipe Massa to return to the Formula 1 cockpit until the start of the 2010 season following the results of his medical examination in Miami on Monday.

The Brazilian visited the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit of the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for a thorough examination by respected doctor Steve Olvey to asses his chances of recovery.

The prognosis was good, but the team said in a statement that with plastic surgery on Massa's skull due to be undertaken in the next few days, the team was not betting on Massa being ready to race in 2009.

"Obviously, the results of examination has been warmly welcomed in Maranello, in the sense that the team can count on Felipe 100% for the start of next season," said a Ferrari statement.

Massa is expected to have a small plate inserted into his skull at the area where it was damaged by the spring that hit his face during his qualifying crash for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Once that operation has taken place and Massa is fully recovered, he will then be able to resume physical training - having been forced to rest since his July accident.

"I'm very happy with the outcome of the tests," said Massa. "After the small operation I'll undergo in the next few days, I'll finally be able to start doing gym exercise to get back in shape a bit and, after that, I'll be able to start doing some testing on karts.

"On track with an F1 car? Let's go one step at a time: now I'm focused only on starting over with physical activity, which is already a nice step forward."

Ferrari is expected to decide in the next 48 hours who will drive its second car for the remainder of the season, with Luca Badoer having struggled for pace in the two races he has taken part in so far.

Giancarlo Fisichella has emerged as favourite to join the team, but Italian media on Tuesday suggested that Robert Kubica was also a serious possibility.

 

Beat me to it.

Guess that answers who's leaving next year.

 

I made that call a long time ago. I'm just glad he's continuing to improve and isn't trying to rush a comeback.

 

+1000

 

Not just yet. I think Kimi would be a better bet if your looking for points. They don't really talk about how Massa's eye is doing, in this article anyway. Still a lot up in the air. Meanwhile Kimi can keep working on his franchise for wherever he ends up.

 

So if Fisichella or Kubica join the Scuderia they will only be there until the end of this season?

 

Not necessarily (but Kubica???) -

There look to be two seats up for grabs come 2010, at least to some degree...

 

F1 driver contracts can be such an inconvenience
My money is on The Incredible Hulk.

 

I'd prefer Kubica for the remainder. BMW basically screwed him by announcing a pull out for next year. I don't think Ferrari would keep him long term, but he has to find a new seat next year anyway.

Fisi on the other hand would be screwing Force India by leaving them mid season.

Current contracts are a *****, though.

 

Glad to hear massa is doing well even if there's no update on his vision. Personally I don't care if its fisi or kubica, as long as its not luca.

 

I'm sure Massa will be more gutted than anyone.

 

It's all about money and "the deals" being made on the sidelines. Force India has a great driver in Adrian Sutil and they probably have their eye on a few upcoming stars. If the Scuderia is willing to buy out the remainder of Fisi's contract as well as promise some other "assistance" down the road it may not be a bad deal. It's not as if they are in contention for anything. They've already surpassed their wildest expectations for the year.

 

They're only 8pts behind Renault and 10 behind BMW. Each place they move up in the WCC is big money at the end of the season.

 

It's interesting to see all the different "spins" put on the somewhat vague news actually released, after Felipe's tests.

It's reported that Felipe passed all the impact and cognitive tests, as well as an unspecified eye exam, but that he needs plastic surgery "on the brain box".

I can't really tell from all the re-quoted news reports whether that "cosmetic surgery" refers to implanting a structural plate to strengthen the skull, or just a procedure to make the soft tissue scar less apparent.

People are apparently interpreting Ferrari's assurances that Felipe will certainly be ready for 2010 as meaning that he won't be ready in 2009. But I haven't seen any definite report like that yet.

The news on the Ferrari site make it sound like he's already passed the "fitness" tests for driving, and yet he still has another surgery and has to get back on his physical training regimen. Confusing.

 

Not really, they still have Leeoots the Boots...

Good to hear there is no push for Massa to rush matters. For his own sake, I'd be relieved if I heard he was out of F1 for good.

 

LOL is that Tonio Liuzzi, Is your a funny gal ...

 

No getting around the fact the man wears stylish footwear Steve....

 

Very glad the results are positive and equally glad he realizes this recovery will take some time and is relaxing more into accepting that factor. It will be great to see him on the track again, hopefully in a fully competitive car from the start.

 

Not only that, but the constructors race is split into 2 segments... the first half and the second half of the year. So even if FI scored no points in the first half, everything resets (in terms of money paid by FOM) in the 2nd half... so if they were to do well from now on, it could potentially be millions or even tens of millions of $$$.

I'd bet Ferrari would need to kick a pretty good amount of $$ to FI to make it happen. On the other hand, what does Kubica have to lose by telling BMW "sayonara"??

I think that may be why Kubie is the rumor now... because they realized Fisi wasn't going to come cheap, and Kubie is another top-shelf driver who is willing and able.

 

I don't think so... they aren't going to say anything other than stated above. To read into it too much would be a mistake, IMO.

 

I bet Kubik and Fisi would drive for Ferrari...free!

 

I've never heard that before.

 

Very funny news from autohebdo in France, after annoucing yesterday "final" discussion to replace felipe by giancarlo, they already prepared an article that it is done today:

http://www.autohebdo.fr/f1/f1/article-25-25-1661/041209-fisichella-chez-ferrari-c-est-fait-#com_photo

To be check!

 

Veiw from an Indian journalist;

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&issueid=121&id=59430&Itemid=1&sectionid=84

Briefly it reinforces a logical element in that a deal may pay off Force India's debt for the use of the Ferrari engine in 08.
Fisi finishes off 09 in red.
Fisi would then move in as test driver for 2010+.
BAD would go fishing.

 

Have you read the Concorde agreement before?

The money paid to teams is paid in two batches, based on their relative standing for the first half of the season and the second half.

It makes sense... Bernie doesn't want teams resting on their laurels and it encourages continued car development for the latter part of the year, even if they are behind with no chance of catching up.