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Massa ousting 'inevitable' now - Zanardi

Massa ousting 'inevitable' now - Zanardi

  • Published on 29 Aug 2012 12:12
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Alex Zanardi thinks it is now "inevitable" Ferrari will replace Felipe Massa at the end of the season. The Italian, whose return to F1 in 1999 ended after just one disappointing season with Williams, thinks struggling Brazilian Massa has "run out of excuses" as he continues to flounder behind his standout teammate Fernando Alonso.

"For me, Felipe is a driver with great qualities, but his anxiety crisis got the better of him," Zanardi, who returned to American open-wheeler racing after leaving F1 and lost his legs in a crash in 2001, told the Italian magazine Autosprint. "I think if he had tried to be himself, and not Alonso, I'm sure that by now he would have seen the podium quite often."

"But, after all, he is a human being, and more 'Latin' than Fernando in the sense that the British give to the word. It's a difficult job, and definitely not easier if you drive for Ferrari. For me, though, at this point of the season, the time for excuses has run out. Ferrari will have to stand by him and see if the guy comes out of the crisis, because there are important points that they can bring in 2012. But I have to say at this point that I think it is inevitable that they (Ferrari) will replace him."

Zanardi, now preparing to race in the hand-cycling classes at the Paralympics, said that in a 'free market' situation, Lewis Hamilton would be his number one choice to replace Massa. "Number two," he explained, "is Edoardo Mortara."

Mortara, 25, was the 2010 F3 euroseries champion who now races for Team Rosberg in DTM. "If I was Ferrari, I would do with him (Mortara) what McLaren did with Lewis. But if we're talking about someone for just one season, then I would take someone like Paul di Resta or Nico Hulkenberg," said Zanardi.

The best car of 2012, Zanardi said, is the black and gold one fielded by Lotus. "You know why?" said the 45-year-old. "Because as I always said to Morris Nunn -- the best car is not the fastest, it's the one that allows you to put the wheels where you want them."

Zanardi told the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail recently that, after the Paralympics, his next goal might be to race a hand-controlled car at the fabled Indy 500. "In a perfect world," he said, "Chip Ganassi would call me and ask if I wanted to do the Indy 500. That would be cool. Let me do this first and then we will see." (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Felipe Massa Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Williams McLaren Lotus F1

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5 2024
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21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
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Austria
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5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
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Mexico
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1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
Interlagos
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United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21 2024
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
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Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
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6 - Dec 8 2024
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ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 572
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 168
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (43)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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