FERRARI HAS RULED OUT Felipe Massa for the remainder of the season following a medical examination in Miami of the unlucky Brazilian F1 driver.
Although having sustained a fractured skull during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa had hoped to make a comeback at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
But after meeting with neurological specialists, Ferrari announced that it is unlikely Massa will return to the grid until next season as he is set to undergo further surgery in the coming weeks, where doctors are expected to insert a metal plate into his skull.
In a statement, Ferrari said it was pleased with the outcome of Massa’s check-up, which confirmed the 2008 championship runner-up will be able to return to the race track to allay previous concerns over his F1 future.
“Obviously, the results of (the) examination has been warmly welcomed in Maranello, in the sense that the team can count on Felipe 100 percent for the start of next season,” he said.
Sidelined since the accident, Massa said he was looking forward to returning to the gym to regain his fitness, but said he doesn’t want to look too far ahead.
“I’m very happy with the outcome of the tests. After the small operation I’ll undergo in the next few days, I’ll finally be able to start doing gym exercise to get back in shape a bit and, after that, I’ll be able to start doing some testing on karts,” he said.
“On track with an F1 car? Let’s go one step at a time: now I’m focused only on starting over with physical activity, which is already a nice step forward.”
With Massa seemingly on track to return for the 2010 season, Ferrari will now be able to accelerate its plans for the future and bring an end to the ongoing saga surrounding Kimi Raikkonen.
The Scuderia reportedly delayed making any announcements regarding its 2010 driver pairing until it received assurances that Massa would be able to return to the sport.
And with early signs promising, the opportunity has finally arisen for Ferrari to complete its long-awaited deal to bring Fernando Alonso to Maranello, with Raikkonen potentially headed in the other direction to Renault after the Finn quashed speculation he would move to the World Rally Championship during the Spa weekend.
However, recent talk in the F1 paddock suggests Raikkonen could be set for a reunion with former team McLaren, only three years after leaving the Woking-based outfit in acrimonious fashion.
Raikkonen’s blasé off track attitude clashed with McLaren’s cold and calculated corporate image, bringing the Finn into constant conflict with former team boss Ron Dennis.
But with Dennis no longer intimately involved with F1 operations, a potential return to McLaren is a real possibility.
Meanwhile, Ferrari is expected to announce its replacement for Luca Badoer in the next 48 hours, with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella favourite to fill the seat.
Fisichella’s stunning performance in Belgium fuelled speculation the former Renault driver could make an unlikely cameo appearance for the team in the remaining five races of the season.
The team has also been linked to BMW’s Robert Kubica, a favourite of the Italian media after spending three years in the country while racing in Europe’s junior formulae.
With BMW set to exit the sport at the end of the season, team boss Mario Theissen is unlikely to interfere with any plans for the Pole to don the famed scarlet overalls at Monza should Ferrari come calling.
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I thought Kimi was going to race in the WRC next season.
Hi G,
Kimi announced over the Belgian GP weekend he would definitely be competing in Formula 1 next year, whether it is with Ferrari or elsewhere.
Cheers,
Simon
I’m really not sure why Ferrari would want to replace Kimi with Alonso. I mean, is Alonso that much better than Kimi as to be worth the reported 45 million euro it will cost to buy out Kimi from his contract?
If I was Ferrari, I’d get Bourdais to fill in for Massa this year (he’s capable of driving a 2009 F1 car, and he’d be cheap to hire atm), and then keep the Massa/Kimi roadshow for 2010, and only in 2011 start looking at replacing them.
I don’t mind Massa, but if and when he does come back racing, there is absolutely no way in the world he is going to be the same driver.
When you take a big hit, you always lose a bit of your aggression.
Massa took a god damned spring to his skull, and honestly, I really can’t think of a worse thing that could happen, and it’d rattle the best of drivers.
I do hope he comes back, but he is never going to be the same.
But it is interesting seeing that Ferrari have gone out of their way to essentially confirm Massa in a race seat next year, which really makes me believe they already have decided whos going to occupy the race seats next year.
Kimi is really shining since Massa hasn’t been racing, just goes to show that he is a remarkable driver and all the rumors of him not being dedicated are pretty much unfounded, especially since the team has got behind him.