Felipe Massa - Ferrari test-driver (Merged)

[Super Tourer]

As widely predicted when Massa lost his Sauber seat, it's rumoured Massa will be announced as a Ferrari test driver at the cars launch.

www.grandprix.com/ns/ns07717.html

[Adam43]

Well now it seems he isn't going to Jordan so that sounds the most plausible place for him.

[Inigo Montoya]

So it means Burti will be gone? What's the point?

[DavidStHubbins]

They have Badoer and Burti. This is two "B"s. They need an "M" (Massa) to level it off. The cosmic balance will be fulfilled and the seamonster wont demand anymore sacrificial ferrari mechanics. Call Massa the "fulcrum" of Ferrari if you will. I believe Ferrari will enjoy some success this year now.

Aha aha aha, the letter "3" my friend....

[Marcel ten Caat]

some sites report he's going to replace Burti. Sounds weird

Burti re-signs for Ferrari for 2003 - 15th Jan 19:34pm GMT
Former Jaguar racer Luciano Burti has confirmed he will continue to be one of Ferrari's two Formula 1 test drivers in 2003.

[Yoong Montoya]

Do you think he'll return from testing in 2004? Or will he go the way of Luca Badoer?

[Valve Bounce]

Unless there are more teams in F1, then I think the driver positions are full. To be honest, I just don't see anyone retiring at the end of this year, and I havn't heard anyone wanting to start another F1 team. Don't forget, there are now some very capable drivers doing testing work and hoping for a drive: Gene, Sato, Wurz, .......the list just goes on and on. So unless you can think of anyone definitely leving F1, the chances will be very slim.

[GTV27]

Massa? who's he?

[Armco Bender]

Yep he's disappeared down the black hole of F1 test driving,many enter,none ever return...........

[allen_overy]

If CD Matta disappoints, there will be a place for another BRAZILLIAN at Toyota, which is most welcomed for the marlet-oriented Cologne-based team.
Massa will fit the bill, too

[Don K]

Originally posted by Valve Bounce
To be honest, I just don't see anyone retiring at the end of this year, ...

I would expect that Firman, Villeneuve, Wilson and Verstappen would probably be dumped if they don't perform this year. I don't know what will happen to Pizzonia and Da Matta, if they don't perform.

[*formula3*]

i don´t think that wilson will be dumped...i think the chance of da matta being dumped is much higher

but to be honest, i don´t think that massa will find a drive in04, at least not in f1, probably first in TWS and later in CART

[allen_overy]

Massa, another Zonta?

[The_Z_Man]

Originally posted by Armco Bender
Yep he's disappeared down the black hole of F1 test driving,many enter,none ever return...........

I'm sure Panis would disagree on that. And IIRC Wurz was approached by Toyota to drive this year and turned them down.

Back to Massa, does he even have a test driver contract for 2003 at this time ?

The_Z_Man

[shiny side up!]

I don't expect Crasha to come back unless it is a pay seat...

[DavidStHubbins]

Bring back the Massive Attack I say! Neeeeeeeeeow

[BootsOntheSide]

Toyota will probably scapegoat Da Matta the way Salo and McNish were blamed for the lack of development on the 2002 car. With the lack of track time and new qualifying system, he could be dommed form th word go, which'd be mighty unfair as he's showing well in testing.

Massa really does need another year to learn his craft, adn there may be no better place for that than Ferrari, if they give him enough track time, and make sure he has to work on setups himself rather than just using Michael's. Otherwise, I think the ChampCar route would make sense, maybe he can make a Zanardi style return, hopefully with better results.

[Sato san]

Massa has got to come back.i want to see him and Taku have a few wheel to wheel battles in the future.

Im sure he will be back .

[CleanTone]

I'm pretty sure that da Matta will not leave mid-season. He is the CART champ first, but furthermost he took so long to accept the deal especially for reasons like the above, so he must have insured himself someway

[Don K]

Originally posted by Sato san
Massa has got to come back.i want to see him and Taku have a few wheel to wheel battles in the future.

I agree. Both of them deserve a second chance.

But in the meantime, they should try to get some more experience in F1 cars.

[GTV27]

lots of drivers "deserve" their chance in F1, but not many get it and even fewer get second chances...

Testing an F1 car may or may not be a better option than racing a Champ or IRL car (depending on your priorities) Testing for Ferarri certainly shouldn't do Massa any harm, as it seems to be commonly accepted that he has talent but needs experience....whether that gets translated into a drive Panis style remains to be seen.

life's tough at the top, but it doesn't seem to reduce the number of willing aspirants.

[Super Tourer]

Burti get his 'brown envelope' from Ferrari, enter stage right ...Felipe Massa....

www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=4715

[Glen]

What Massa needs is loads and loads of F1 miles - and I guess this is what he'll get. He needs to hone his technique to realise his full potential - if he can manage to do that whilst providing a service for Ferrari then I guess that might be ideal. Not many other teams could afford such a "wild card" as a test driver.

[DavidStHubbins]

Official: Massa joins Ferrari
6-02-2003


As predicted, former Sauber star Felipe Massa has joined Ferrari.
At 11:37 on Thursday the Italian team issued the following statement:

Ferrari announces that it has signed an agreement with the driver Felipe Massa, who will join Scuderia Ferrari for the 2003 race season, as a test driver, working alongside Luca Badoer.


PITPASSS

[racer69]

So have we seen the last of Massa the F1 race driver?