Massa not ruling out return to Sauber
Jun.22 (GMM) Felipe Massa has not ruled out returning to Sauber next year if he is forced to leave Ferrari.
Brazilian Massa, now 31, made his debut with the Swiss team in 2002 and then returned for the 2004-5 seasons following an interlude as Ferrari's official test driver.
He moved to the famous Maranello based team to be Michael Schumacher's teammate in 2006, but high speculation this year suggests he could be replaced at the end of the season by Ferrari's top development driver Sergio Perez.
Mexican Perez's promotion would create a key vacancy at Sauber, the Swiss team with historically political links to Ferrari and a customer of the fabled Italian squad's engine, gearbox and KERS.
Fernando Alonso on Thursday revealed he will have a say on whether or not Massa is retained in 2013.
"Fernando is very respected within Ferrari because of his results so it's natural that he participates in the decision about the drivers," Massa is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo on Thursday.
"We have a good relationship, I know he supports me, but what really matters is my results," he insisted.
"That is what will make Ferrari either keep me or whether I will have to go to another team."
Massa refused to say if he has been in contact with McLaren, whose Lewis Hamilton is yet to renew his deal for 2013.
"My best option now is to get results," he answered.
Massa said recently he would rather "do something else" rather than sign with a "small" team in 2013.
Is Sauber 'small'? Massa answered in Valencia: "Medium."
Journalist Livio Oricchio commented: "It (Sauber) could be an option, but I don't think so.
"I have great relationships with the team, we travel together on Swissair -- from what I hear, it would be surprising to see Massa there."
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
"Mr Horner is looking for a job" – Frederic Vasseur claps back at Ferrari rumours
Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Isack Hadjar earns "team-mate points" after "exceptional comeback" in Baku, says Alex Brundle
Cleetus McFarland buys Greg Biffle's 2004 NASCAR Cup race car for $47,000
NASCAR Chase has been best blend of entertainment and integrity
Liam Lawson: “I don’t understand” why Arvid Lindblad escaped penalty after wrecking my floor
Baku late-race chaos almost costs George Russell victory over Max Verstappen
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What we learned from Thursday practice at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments