user icon
user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Fittipaldi predicts 'another team' to sign Massa for 2014

Fittipaldi predicts 'another team' to sign Massa for 2014

  • Published on 16 Sep 2013 16:51
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
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)
F1 News Felipe Massa Pastor Maldonado Felipe Nasr Ferrari Williams Lotus F1 Marussia
<< Previous article Next article >>

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

Related news

Test calendar

Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing

Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

World Championship standings 2020

Pos
Team
Points
1
Mercedes
573
2
Red Bull Racing
319
3
Racing Point
210
4
McLaren
202
5
Renault
181
6
Ferrari
131
7
Alpha Tauri
107
8
Alfa Romeo Racing
8
9
Haas F1
3
Show full world champion standings

Driver profile

BR Felipe Massa
  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country Brazil
  • Date of b. Apr 21 1981 (39)
  • Place of b. Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Weight 59 kg
  • Length 1.66 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Ferrari
Ferrari
Show full profile

Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
21 - May 23
Monaco
Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
11 - Jun 13
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
25 - Jun 27
France
Paul Ricard
2 - Jul 4
Austria
Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom
Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary
Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy
Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil
Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia
Albert Park
10 - Dec 12
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
21 - May 23
Monaco Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
11 - Jun 13
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
25 - Jun 27
France Paul Ricard
2 - Jul 4
Austria Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia Albert Park
10 - Dec 12
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar