Fernando Alonso To Get Two Days Of Testing

With Ferrari’s Felipe Massa suffering a disastrous start to the 2012 season, scoring only two of Ferrari’s 45 points, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Italian outfit would focus on giving the Brazilian as much track time as possible at the Mugello test next week. However, Alonso will take to the track for two out of the three days instead.

Fernando Alonso miraculously won the Malaysian Grand Prix, as Ferrari struggled in the opening few races of the season. With Felipe Massa’s future at Ferrari coming under the spotlight on more than one occasion so far this season, the pressure is firmly on the Brazilian to improve.

However, with only one day scheduled for the Brazilian driver at next weeks Mugello test, it will be difficult for him to make any real leap forward in preparation for the start of the European season in Spain. With Massa recently stuck in a tight midfield battle with the likes of the Toro Rosso’s, Force India’s and Sauber’s, he’ll most certainly need to propel himself further up the order if he wishes to remain a Ferrari driver beyond 2012.

“The coming days will be very important, during which the primary objective will be to push as hard as possible on the development of the car,” explained Ferrari team principal, Stefano Domenicali. “Next week we have three days of testing at Mugello, but it’s not definite that all the updates planned for Barcelona will be seen then.”

With Fernando Alonso already a race winner in 2012, Felipe Massa has an uphill struggle for the remainder of the season to return to his competitive ways once again. The Brazilian driver hasn’t stepped onto the podium since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, and last year became the first Ferrari driver since Ivan Capelli in 1992 to not step onto the podium. With only one day of testing next week, Massa could well find it difficult to make bring an end to his uncompetitive streak.

Picture Copyright © Reuters 

Felipe Massa’s Woes Continue Into 2012

After a disastrous 2011 season for Felipe Massa, which saw him become the first Ferrari driver not to step on the podium since Ivan Capelli in 1992, it looks like 2012 is shaping up to be an equally frustrating year for the Brazilian.

In 2011, Massa suffered a season-long feud with Lewis Hamilton which saw the two come together on track numerous times over the course of the season. Felipe Massa was also overshadowed by a much stronger team-mate in Fernando Alonso, who secured Ferrari’s only win of the year at the British Grand Prix.

With question marks now over the security of Massa’s drive with Ferrari, it’s unquestionable that the Brazilian has no option but to up his game in 2012. And so far it’s not gone according to plan, as Massa spun off and beached himself in the gravel in only the first practice session of the Australian Grand Prix.

The incident occurred at turn 9, where the Red Bull of Christian Klien had a violent shunt under similar circumstances in 2006. Back in the Ferrari garage, there was shakes of the head as the mechanics watched the replay of the spin, clearly noticing Massa dip his left-rear wheel on the grass. This caused Massa to loose control of his Ferrari, and prematurely end his session deep in the gravel.

Whether this early mistake will set the tone for Massa’s 2012 season, or whether he’ll bounce back strong, time will tell. However, one thing is for certain and it’s that Massa has a lot to prove if he wishes to remain a Ferrari driver for much longer.

Picture Copyright © Reuters

Kubica To Replace Massa At Ferrari In 2013

It has been rumored today amongst the Formula 1 fraternity that the currently injured Robert Kubica could well replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari as early as 2013. This comes after it was rumored that the team were willing to allow Kubica to test in a 2010 spec Ferrari on the Mugello circuit next spring.

It was assumed that Kubica would be returning with the Lotus (Renault) team next season, however he has had to abort his return to the sport after admitting he is not yet ready to step back into an F1 car. This prompted Lotus to sign the 2007 World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, and Reigning GP2 Champion, Romain Grosjean, in his place, thus fueling speculation that Kubica would return in 2013 with Ferrari and not Lotus.

Felipe Massa has suffered one of the worst seasons a Ferrari driver has had in recent years this last season, becoming the first Ferrari driver since Ivan Capelli in 1992 to not step onto the podium in Ferrari overalls. This has strengthened speculation that the Brazilian would not stay on at Ferrari, with some reports even suggesting he would be replaced in time for the start of the 2012 season by the likes of Sergio Perez or Jules Bianchi.

A reporter for La Gazzetta dello Sport, who is well-known for being close to Ferrari sources, has stated that Robert Kubica could well have already signed a contract for Ferrari to race in 2013 alongside Fernando Alonso whilst using 2012 as a year to fully return to race fitness.

Either way the outlook is bleak for Felipe Massa, who has no chance but to up his performance in 2012. It is now undeniable that Ferrari are seeking a replacement for him, and it is now a question as to whether he’ll be on the grid in 2013 at all.

Hamilton Off To Ferrari

It has been reported this morning that the 2008 Formula One World Champion and British star, Lewis Hamilton, could well be off to Ferrari in a controversial move that could see him replace arch-rival Felipe Massa and become team-mates once again with Fernando Alonso.

It has been obvious throughout this season that Hamilton has had a highly difficult year both personally and on the track with McLaren, especially with the uprising of team-mate Jenson Button who has undoubtedly shadowed Hamilton who has up until now never been beaten by his team-mate in the Drivers’ Standings.

It is also very well known that Ferrari are starting to get restless with Felipe Massa’s lack of results, as his team-mate Fernando Alonso has won at least one race this season (British Grand Prix) whereas Massa has failed to even achieve a podium this season with his Ferrari. If he fails to get a podium next weekend at his home race in Brazil, he will become the first Ferrari driver since Ivan Capelli in 1992 to fail to do so, who was then replaced two races from seasons end by Nicola Larini, who also failed to get a podium in the final two races. 

Taking these two pieces of information into account, some say Hamilton is poised to replace Massa at Ferrari. However Hamilton is undeniably part of a long list of drivers who are in the running of replacing Massa, joining Sergio Perez, Nico Rosberg, Paul Di Resta, Jules Bianchi and even Robert Kubica. So time will tell over the next few months which, if any, of these drivers will replace Massa.