Terrific news . . . END OF SPECULATION Ferrari have announced that they have extended Felipe Massa's contract until the end of the 2010 season. There had been rumours that Massa would have to leave the team to make way for Fernando Alonso if the Spaniard split with McLaren after this year, but Ferrari boss Jean Todt dismissed this speculation last month and insisted that the team were committed to Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Massa's new deal is also set to end continued suggestions that Alonso could join Ferrari for 2009, when the Brazilian's previous contract would have expired. Raikkonen's Ferrari deal runs to the end of the 2009 season. Massa has been contracted to Ferrari since 2001, but was initially placed with the Sauber team. He was promoted to the Ferrari squad alongside Michael Schumacher last season, and has now taken five victories and eight pole positions for the team. * * * * * * This is great as Felipe is a great guy and team player. Carol
That's great news. I wonder why it took so long for them to release the specific details of the contract though? Were they still ironing out the specifics with Massa, or did talks with another driver (FA) fall through and they just resigned Massa? Peter
Massa was already contracted for next season. Seems to me they made the announcement a year early, probably to end speculation that Alonso was joining them. I think we can kiss the WCC goodbye for the next couple years...
I think the fact that Ferrari is numerically below Mclaren in the WCC this year has to do more with the cars' reliability than with Massa's mishaps. He's an excellent winter test driver and team player. I think the Scuderia did good on this one.
Great news! As this is an indication Alonso won't be coming to Scuderia Ferrari, at least not in the distant future!
Seriously, this really is bad news. I'm stunned the Scuderia is making such a long term commitment. Think about all the options and chances they are locking themselves out of. But then again this is F1 and contracts can be broken.
This is excellent news! Go Felipe! I think this year he has proved that he is improving in competitiveness and consistency. I think he is even improving in the rain, one of his weaker areas. Had a couple things not gone wrong for him this year, he would be fighting for the championship this weekend too. I think he will have both better luck and better skill next year. I'm also glad that Kimi is not becoming the face of Ferrari. I still think his image doesn't fit, and wish he had stayed at McLaren. I would only hope that Kimi isn't given "senior" status next year, and that Felipe has an equal chance to prove himself.
+1 ! I can't beleive all the Massa bashers here! #4 in point standings this season, even with: Two starts at P22 (ending at P5 & 6!) One start at P14 (team forgot to fuel him) One DNF (mechanical) One DSQ, admittedly, a stupid black flag he could have avoided; but, hey, even the mighty LH drives into the kitty litter every once in a while! Yes, rain performance in Japan was not so hot, but China was better. All in all, his performance in '07 along with his sportmanslike, team player attitude make WCC a high probability for Ferrari if the cars perform as they should. WDC for Massa, however, seems further in '08 since Kimi finally seems to be getting comfortable in a Ferrari.
No problem. I'll mark this thread and we'll revisit at the end of 2010 and see how many of the cheerful fans on here still we be applauding this news. Massa isn't bad as a #2, but I don't understand why Ferrari had to jump on extending the contract for that many years. It is not like he is the super talent you want to secure at all costs. There are plenty of drivers like him around if you need their service. Who knows, maybe in 2 years the next wunderkind walks into F1 but Ferrari can't go after him because they're locked up with their drivers. Unless this contract isn't that watertight.
i think Massa can be a WDC next season. provided, Ferrari can give a him a fast and reliable car. don't forget, he covered Kimi's slack the 1st half of the season.
Well I gotta agree with you on the length of time he has been signed tooooo long but as you say Maybe not be watertight. I like Massa so I will cut him a bit of slack might surpise..
Well it looks like Ross Brawn may not be going back to Ferrari, don't you guys think it is wrong that the Team Chief's son is the Drivers Manager. Frankly, Neoptism sucks. Massa will never be a WDC, ever. If Irvine or RB couldn't pull it off neither can this guy.
...thats a lot of time for non champ F1 contract I´ll give you that...maybe he´s outperforming kimmi consistantly in practice times that we dont know about...or maybe it isnt that watertight... but I´ll tell you one thing in my humble opinion. the kid has it. the eye of the tiger...as many other chatters have said, if it wasnt by Ferrari mistakes, he´ll have passed Alonso in the standings and had Hamilton within shooting range or even leading the championship... ...Ferrari gave him a Great car for sure, but Ferrari mistakes has costed him BIGTIME... his skills have improved, and his driving is still being polished...Luca and Jean have seen the potencial...and he´s commited to the Bone...even on a lesser car, lesser possibilities, lesser fame, less money... He´s earned that seat...and it ISNT a #2 seat. Ferrari is trying to make the most of having two guns instead of one gunshot...cause we all know how used the team got to serve one car and one driver...and how unique was michael in so many ways... evolution is innevitable, and I think this line up will do much good to Ferrari, both Drivers are up to the Task and Massa is every bit as fast as Kimmi... but he has the burning heart, the team charm, and he´s "maybe" more flexible, he learns and changes...maybe he´s more "Michael" than Kimmi ever will... I can see NOTHING bad on that fact.
