Article: 2013 Driver Line-ups, News & Rumours | Formula one

I can't see Massa improving much tbh, he was always hit or miss, now he's just miss or miss.

 

"he is one of the potential best young drivers for the future but before putting a young driver in a Ferrari I need more experience and more results" - Perez has the outright speed and skill, and although he's been unlucky in every race since Malaysia, he's also made a few silly mistakes. Luca calls the shots at Ferrari and it's clear that in his view, Perez isn't ready for Ferrari yet. So he won't be Alonso's teammate next year.

"We never take a decision before the second half of the season" - They may not have taken a decision on who to sign yet, but they've definitely made some decisions about who not to sign. In Massa's case, there are five races left until the summer break and imo just one bad race and his future will be decided.

"I expect from Felipe better performances as I have already seen" - This implies that despite what happened last week, Ferrari still don't have confidence in Massa to produce the results they're looking for. You can't blame them though.


The Webber to Ferrari rumours are looking credible.

 

Webber to Ferrari? cue even more whinging and crying.

 

Perez, if he is to go to Ferrari, will probably test there for a year like Massa did last decade.

 

With testing so limited compared to the past I'd see a testing role as very bad for your future (unless your at FI where you actually get a drive)

 

It depends. Didn't work out too badly for Ricciardo and Vergne.

 

They have the benefit of being in Red Bulls revolving door STR policy

 

And of course, as you mention, there is Hulkenberg. Whether Massa is at Ferrari next year or not will depend on a lot of things; I wouldn't be surprised if Ferrari did go for Webber just for the one year then put Perez in the car, having given him a shot at the young driver's test and/or Mugello. This is of course assuming that Luca is not simply trying to throw people off the trail...

 

Alonso is not quite 31 so anyone who goes to Ferrari can expect to be beaten for a good few years unless they are very very good themselves. If a young talent goes there they may loose self confidence so I can't see Ferrari getting someone in to replace Alonso long term for a few years still.

 

If Massa gets replaced I think Ferrai have two plans: Plan A) Mark Webber Plan B) Heikki Kovalainen.

What they are looking for is a competent experienced driver who can bring home the points and can take points off rivals for Fernando during a championship.

 

Heikki would be quite nice to see back towards the front, but I think that's less likely. It all depends whether the rumours about Vettel, in 2014 are true or not. If they are, then Ferrari only need a 1 year driver, Heikki won't be interested in that, Webber might be but then he'd be accepting his career is over. If they aren't true, then Ferrari need to find someone to drive for a number of years, unless Perez joins in 2014.

Of course in all this, people have forgotten Kubica. Yes, major injuries so stinks of Massa mark 2, but he was a great talent before, and if he can get fit again, I'm sure he'll still be great. Plus him and Fernando are best buddies

 

Webber admits other teams are interested.

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I'd like to see a swap of Webber to McLaren (strikes me more as a McLaren guy than a Ferrari one) and Hamilton to RBR.

 

Webber to mclaren is an interesting combination I have never thought of before

 

What are the odds...

Seb doesn't want to resign a contract with RBR....
Lewis wants something like a 3 year contract with RBR starting from 2013...
RBR say to Seb they need Lewis to replace him then...
Seb says he can replace him when he leaves and not before...
Seb wants Mark or youth to be his team mate for 2013, he has the right in his contract he signed before...
Lewis wants the leave McLaren to RBR next year but Seb won't let him...
RBR don't want to miss having a chance to replace Seb in the medium term with Lewis...
Ferrari might ask for option to buy out Sebs contract and get him early...
Seb and Lewis get what they want...
Red Bull and Ferrari are both covered then...

 

I'd be surprised if he went to a front running team, you only have to look at the amount of back biting and bitching in the media he does to realise he's not a team player at all. How soon would he be crying to the press about favouritism and destabilizing the team when he gets his arse handed to him by his team-mate? Anyone who actually looks into the truth behind wing-gate will realise what a complete 'number 2' he really is. The only time he says anything nice about them is when his contract is up for renewal.
Kovaleinen, hmm, he certainly hasn't done himself any harm since he's been at Caterham with some good drives, but no real stand-out performance that makes me think he could be ready for a front running team again, a move to Williams, Sauber or FI I think would be more likely, replacing drivers moving up (or out as will probably be the case for Senna)

 

What are the odds someone unexpected ends up without a drive?

 

I feel that Senna hasn't justified his seat so far this year. If he was to be let go and left with no drive, Massa would do well to move to somewhere like Williams where he could rebuild his racecraft away from comparisons with Alonso.

 

Unlikely. Most of the drivers at the top teams would be snatched up by the midfield teams if they are let go (I'm thinking Massa and Webber here). I suppose Massa could end up "doing a Heidfeld" and testing next year but I'd still consider it unlikely.

 

Sutil this year deserved a drive. He lead Force India to their best finish in the WCC. Now they're looking like they're struggling to do anything, apart from beat Toro Rosso and the 3 new teams. I'd say diResta is comfortably beating Hulk but i dont think he's good enough to be a team leader.. yet.