Ferrari insists that Felipe Massa was not retained due to ‘lack of alternatives’ – Formula 1 news
Ferrari has denied reports stating that their extension of Felipe Massa’s contract for the season of 2013 was a case of luck.
This season has been keeping Massa under speculation but for all the wrong reasons. The driver became the first ever to be associated with Ferrari who failed to make it to top three in any race in last year’s season. This season started in a familiar fashion
for him. While teammate Fernando Alonso had been running successfully for the drivers’ title, Massa has been struggling with his pace.
The team had stated previously that how it had looked ‘unthinkable’ to retain him until the middle of the season when Massa definitely was showing improvement. The driver finished second in Japanese Grand Prix and then fourth in the Korean Grand Prix. By
then Massa himself had expressed his confidence about staying with the team for the season next year.
The uncertainty had finally died down when Ferrari confirmed that Massa will be still partnering Alonso next year. Before the official announcement, many drivers were being associated with the team and now it is being said that Massa had just become lucky.
“The decision to extend the agreement with Felipe Massa for another season was carefully weighed up and not just the obvious one,” Ferrari said denying the claims. “Nor was it inevitable because of the lack of alternatives, nor was it in anyway guided by
the wishes of his current team-mate, because Ferrari alone chooses its drivers. Many knocked on the doors of Maranello, some were considered, but in the end, a logical conclusion prevailed: there is no one better than Felipe to deliver hic et nunc [here and
now] the speed, talent and capacity to work for the good of the team.”
Ferrari insists that as the driver had been showing improvement and they refused many drivers contacting them so that they could keep their driver. The team has expressed its confidence in many reports that Massa will return the faith they have shown in
him. They say that the decision was made keeping in mind what was good for Ferrari.
Tags: