Massa 'back to normality' after struggle - Alonso
Jun.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has tipped his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa to keep up his new run of better form.
Earlier in the Montreal paddock, Brazilian Massa had admitted his recent struggles might cost him not only his Ferrari seat, but also his entire F1 career.
"If I need to go to a small team, maybe I will think about doing something else," he said.
Massa revealed that his management will start to look at his options around August.
But things had already started to turn for the 31-year-old, after a strong weekend in Monaco.
"I think if we carry on like this," Massa said in Montreal, "it will be much easier to stay at Ferrari or find a good direction in which to race."
As in Monaco, Massa has also looked up to speed between the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's concrete walls, qualifying on Saturday within a few tenths of his championship-leading teammate Alonso.
"I'm very happy for Felipe of course," Spaniard Alonso - pointing out that earlier in 2012 the Ferrari was "not the easiest to drive" - said.
"Since Barcelona he's done quite a good job. In Monaco he was very quick all weekend and here as well so I expect this is the normality and it will be like this from now until the rest of the championship," he added.
Ferrari has not ruled out retaining Massa in 2013.
"It depends mainly on Felipe," team boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed to Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo.
"We are here to help him in every way to return to being the very good driver that we know he is."
The famous team is not short on candidates to replace Massa, but as Flavio Briatore points out, the looming V6 turbo era in 2014 is a complication.
"That is why the teams are thinking hard before deciding on this or that driver," said the former Renault team boss.
"The drivers will have to show they can be effective within the new rules, which are very different from today's."
Also with theoretical driver openings for 2013 are top teams McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull.
Share Or Save This Story
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
Fernando Alonso's only goal in no-hope Baku: Save parts for F1's triple-header
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Fernando Alonso’s idea to ‘save’ F1 before the V8 return – and how realistic it is
"Mr Horner is looking for a job" – Frederic Vasseur claps back at Ferrari rumours
Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Liam Lawson: “I don’t understand” why Arvid Lindblad escaped penalty after wrecking my floor
"Mr Horner is looking for a job" – Frederic Vasseur claps back at Ferrari rumours
Joey Logano's Kansas 'pole' is another #4theHaters moment
Winners and losers from F1's Azerbaijan Grand Prix street brawl
Baku late-race chaos almost costs George Russell victory over Max Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What we learned from Thursday practice at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments