Ferrari in quandary over Fernando Alonso’s team-mate
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Ferrari are aiming to finalise their 2013 driver line-up by the end of September as they search for a replacement for Felipe Massa.
The team have not decided whether he will be dropped, but it is likely.
Ferrari have had talks with Jenson Button, but he is likely to stay at McLaren, while sources close to Ferrari dismiss reports that Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen could return.
The favourites to partner Fernando Alonso are Force India's Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg or Sauber's Sergio Perez.
Ferrari are interested in Button, but any attempt to do a deal is complicated by the fact that the 2009 world champion is under contract to McLaren.
Button is in the first year of a 'two-plus-one' contract, with the two fixed years taking him to the end of 2013, after which McLaren have the option to retain him.
A further complication to Button joining Ferrari is that the Englishman wanted to sign a two-year contract.
The Italian team only want to sign a one-year deal with their second driver for 2013 with an eye on the possible arrival of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in 2014.
Ferrari have an arrangement with Vettel for the season after next, but it is not clear whether it is a firm contract or the equivalent of a letter of intent for him to join them.
Sources close to McLaren and Button dismiss talk of him moving to Ferrari as "complete rubbish".
Rumours of Raikkonen returning to Ferrari in 2013 emerged at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend - he last drove for the team in 2009, after which Ferrari terminated his contract and paid him not to drive in 2010 to make way for Alonso.
Sources close to Ferrari say the Finn's representatives did approach them to inquire whether they were interested in taking Raikkonen back, but were told the team were not interested.
Ferrari have been left in a quandary as the other drivers on the list are all to a certain degree unproven, and the team are unsure whether any would be an improvement on Massa.
But the Brazilian's inconsistent form this year means they are leaning towards replacing him.
Massa started the season a long way off the pace of Alonso at a time when the Ferrari was very difficult to drive.
His qualifying pace has improved in recent months but he continues to struggle to score points in races and has tended to get involve in incidents.
Ferrari are seeking a second driver who can back Alonso up and also score enough points to help them win the constructors' championship.
Perez is a member of Ferrari's driver academy, but the company's president Luca di Montezemolo has already said this year that he feels the Mexican is not experienced enough to drive for Ferrari.
Hulkenberg and Di Resta have very similar levels of experience to Perez, both having raced in F1 for a season and a half.
Ferrari have long been keen on Robert Kubica, but the Pole has still not sufficiently recovered from the horrendous injuries suffered in a rallying crash in February 2011.
Kubica, 27, can drive a road car and a rally car without problem but the nerves in his right arm, which was partially severed are still not healed suffiently to allow him to move his fingers quickly or accurately enough to operate the controls on an F1 car.
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend: "We're not in any rush to make any decision or to announce anything because we want to pick the right time.
"We are totally in line with Felipe and for us Felipe has to be protected because it's important for this championship and this is the situation.
"So at the moment there is nothing new on that subject."
| The contenders for Massa's spot | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Team | Age | Races | Wins | Poles | Career points |
| Jenson Button | McLaren | 32 | 221 | 13 | 7 | 867 |
| Paul di Resta | Force India | 26 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 54 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Force India | 24 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 41 |
| Sergio Perez | Sauber | 22 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 61 |
| And potentially for 2014 | ||||||
| Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | 25 | 92 | 22 | 33 | 895 |
| Robert Kubica | Lotus | 27 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 273 |
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I agree I love Kimi's no B.S all racing attitude, it's what makes him who he is. Drive fast or go home kind of attitude. I love that too
On Alonso the politician though how much is actually built up in the press? As we don't actually no what demands he is/has made.
I'm a huge Ferrari fan and I know that Mclaren threw that 2007 WDC down the drain with errors, Kimi got that title because of solid driving and pouncing on Mclaren mistakes.
2006Alonso beat possibly the greatest ever team/driver combo in a straight fight
And Fangio was he a great sportsman or politician? Prost sportsman or politician? If you know the history of F1 you will know that Alonso isn't the first and won't be the last either of getting the team around him.
And 1 of the WCC were because Mclaren got disqualified, else they would've walked it.
Alonso 2xWDC Kimi 1xWDC. Alonso 30 wins Kimi 18 wins
As for Massa v Raikkonen-Who has the WDC? I mean really,how can you compare.. Stick to footy
Each team has 2 cars, Ferrari have never been a top 2 team all season. At best, Alonso has had the 5th best car and he won 2 races with that. I don't recall anyone in recent history scoring results like that in such a car.
If you look at michael schumacher and the benefits he received with a number 2 backing him up all of his career. I think you'd change your tune. Way before you started watching F1 obviously. The only reason Ferrari gave Massa equal status with Alonso was to repay him for his services to Michael.
Im not making Massa out to be bad. Just that its not Alonso's demands or fault he is doing poorly in comparison. After all, he only has the 8th best car. He had the 2nd best car most of his career at Ferrari and was a lot closer to Michael than he is Alonso. If anything Massa would do much better at Mercedes in a car designed for Michael