For the first time in more than 40 years, F1 could be without a Brazilian driver in 2014. Felipe Massa has lost his seat at Ferrari, but his manager Nicolas Todt is hoping Lotus will sign him as Kimi Raikkonen's replacement.
Meanwhile, it had been reported young Brazilian Felipe Nasr was close to breaking into formula one, but Dr Helmut Marko has now dismissed speculation linking him with Toro Rosso. It means F1 is facing the prospect of a grid without a single Brazilian in 2014.
According to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, the last time F1 was without a Brazilian was 1970, prior to Emerson Fittipaldi's debut. "I don't believe we (Brazil) will have no drivers in formula one next year," Fittipaldi, now 66 and a two-time world champion, said. "I think Massa will sign with another team."
Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, the longest-serving F1 driver until his exit in 2011, blames the situation on a disconnect between the junior categories in Brazil and Europe. "There is a big difference between the racing here and the racing over there," said the winner of 11 grands prix, who lives in his native Sao Paulo. "Today, just having talent is not enough," added Barrichello.
The issue could have implications for F1's passionate Brazilian fans. "In the short term, it has no effect at all," said Oscar Ulisses, who has been a part of broadcaster Globo's coverage of formula one for decades. "Long-term, yes," he admitted. "And just having a Brazilian on the grid means nothing -- it's important to have a driver who is doing well. Having someone at Marussia solves nothing," said Ulisses.
According to Italy's Autosprint, another option for Massa beyond 2014 is Williams. It is already rumoured that his well-known Ferrari race engineer, Rob Smedley, could be about to return to Britain. Autosprint floated the theory of Pastor Maldonado taking his PDVSA backing to Lotus, opening the door for Massa at Williams, perhaps with the support of the former F1 and Williams sponsor Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company. (GMM)
Fittipaldi predicts 'another team' to sign Massa for 2014
- Published on 16 Sep 2013 16:51
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Why Hamilton says everything went wrong after Verstappen's moveLewis Hamilton has pinpointed Max Verstappen's late-braking move at Turn 1 as the moment his Hungarian Grand Prix...
28 Jul 2026 15:16 -
Domenicali hints at Imola return if Middle East races collapseFormula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that Imola is being considered as a replacement venue should the Qatar...
28 Jul 2026 12:11 -
Verstappen's honest take on losing his home Grand PrixMax Verstappen has offered a pragmatic view on the impending departure of the Dutch Grand Prix from the Formula 1 cal...
28 Jul 2026 14:14 -
How Antonelli has left Russell in his wake at MercedesAndrea Kimi Antonelli has comprehensively outperformed George Russell across the opening half of the season, winning ...
28 Jul 2026 13:12 -
Wolff's frustration boils over after Mercedes' worst weekend of the yearToto Wolff made no attempt to hide his frustration after Mercedes suffered their worst race weekend of the season at ...
28 Jul 2026 10:57
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
Driver profile
- Team -
- Points -
- Podiums -
- Grand Prix -
- Country BR
- Date of b. Apr 21 1981 (45)
- Place of b. Sao Paulo, BR
- Weight 59 kg
- Length 1.66 m
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Felipe Massa
Team profile
- Team name Ferrari
- Base Maranello, Italy
- Kimi Räikkönen 1
- Michael Schumacher 1
- Michael Schumacher 1
- Felipe Massa 2
- Fernando Alonso 3
- Felipe Massa 3
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Felipe Massa 4
- Kimi Räikkönen 4
- Sebastian Vettel 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Felipe Massa 5
- Michael Schumacher 5
- Michael Schumacher 5
- Felipe Massa 6
- Felipe Massa 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Felipe Massa 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Felipe Massa 7
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 14
- Charles Leclerc 16
- Gerhard Berger 28
- Gerhard Berger 28
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 510,915 comments on Ferrari
- 284 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Ferrari
Replies (0)
Login to reply