Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro’s ever-watchful press officer Luca Colajanni has asked me to point out that the previous story about possible Ferrari drivers in 2012 missed one key element: the fact that Felipe Massa remains under contract with Ferrari until the end of 2012. This was announced a year ago. Here is the press release in question.
I have to admit that I had forgotten this one and while one could point out that not all Ferrari contracts run to full term – Kimi Raikkonen being a rather recent example – that arrangement was terminated early because Raikkonen was not delivering the results that Ferrari hoped he might and there was a very good reason for Ferrari to want to replace him with Fernando Alonso in 2010. The reason in question was a substantial sponsorship from Santander, which was announced in September 2009. Alonso’s arrival was announced a few weeks after that. As Mark Webber is unlikely to bring any major sponsors with him to Ferrari it is unlikely that Massa will be paid off as Raikkonen was.
That takes us back to a key question: why on earth would the team be playing host to Flavio Briatore a few weeks ago?
One might suppose that this is possibly down to the same idea – Webber to Ferrari – but perhaps a year later than I previously suggested. Or perhaps not. This is why the Silly Season is called the Silly Season… one rarely finds out what the big teams are up to.
On reflection I think it is fair to say that if there was a deal going down with Webber the best place to look would be in Lugano, in Switzerland, where one will find the office of Dr Henry Peter on the Via Canonica. He has been dealing with Ferrari driver contracts there for many years, out of the public eye, so if Webber is spotted in the Swiss-Italian lakelands “on holiday” we will know something is going on. You may recall that in the middle of 2008 Fernando Alonso paid a visit to Lugano, supposedly “looking for a house”.
This story is going to look hilarious if they do replace Massa next year. One for the bookmarks folder…
“…the best place to look would be in Lugano, in Switzerland, where one will find the office of Dr Henry Peter on the Via Canonica. He has been dealing with Ferrari driver contracts there for many years…”
I have to say it’s little gems like these that make this blog so great. …maybe I should spring for the GP+ subscription. Hm.
Malcolm,
Go for it! Best £25 you will ever spend…
if Webber is spotted in the Swiss-Italian lakelands “on holiday” we will know something is going on. You may recall that in the middle of 2008 Fernando Alonso paid a visit to Lugano, supposedly “looking for a house”.
Does these guys get to do anything without a press escort?
John Robinson,
Not when they are signing Ferrari contracts…
Surely Massa has performance clauses in his contract, which I had read (Andrew Benson’s blog) suggested will be either met or not over the next few races.
Massa is simply not up to scratch for a team like Ferrari. It’s time they got a bit ruthless. They should look at nabbing Button, Webber or Rosberg for 2012. At least they could be competitive with McLaren at least in the WCC.
I live just down the road from Lugano. I will keep my eyes open for any Formula 1 drivers “on holiday”.
Maybe FB was looking for an engine deal for 2013.
Briatore to Ferrari, please god NO!!!!!!!
Hopefully he is not spotted with the infamous Dr Ferrari down there!
Malcolm,
Do it. You’ll love GP+. At first, I was a little unsure if I would read it after every race, but I asked for it for X-Mas. Six months later — I don’t remember what my other X-Mas gifts were, but I can’t wait for each edition. Now the misses already knows what I want this year. You can’t go wrong! – my unsolicited opinion
Contracts are just like anything else that involves lawyers or courts……. the guy with the most money usually wins. That’s where the $408M Marlboro sponsorship money comes in handy. Hey, you gotta be able to pay the bills, and law offices in Lugano ain’t cheap.
Well, shell we remind Mr Luca Colajanni that Kimki Raikkonen had a valid contract for 2010?
Sorry for the previous post. I somehow have overlooked the second part of your text under Press Release, in which you bring the Kimi Raikkonen as example
You are one sharp cookie!
Joe,
I do feel sorry for Felipe. His lot is not a good one at the moment and my view has always been that he hasn’t been the same driver since the accident which is a real shame.
The main thing with Felipe is I think he is a bigger man than any other on that grid for reasons that happened off the track. The way he behaved in Brazil the day that Lewis won the championship in 2008 was a perfect example of how to behave like a true sportsman. I really wanted to see him win the championship that day and touched the hem of it for a few seconds.
As for Alonso, I suggest that readers look at Maurice Hamilton’s excellent “Chequered Conflict” to get some idea of how he operates.
I actually think Felipe needs to get out of Maranello and into a team where he really is appreciated. Lest we forget, this is the man who helped Kimi win the championship by giving up the win at his home race then comprehensively blew his doors off the following year.
p.s.
Malcolm – I agree with Joe. It’s a great buy – cheaper and a better buy than Auto$port!
I still fail to see any sense in your logic, Joe. Webber is no better than Felipe…
Mike Vicek,
I am not the one who is expressing an opinion. I wrote that Ferrari might think Webber is better than Massa.
My understanding is that Webber and Alonso are great mates; Spaniards and Australians tend to get along pretty well. I suppose as long as Mark is prepared to be No.2 to his bud then it would be a good combination. I’m all for it. Felipe needs to get out of there; he’s being slowly murdered.
Raikkonen was let go for not delivering results? Wasn’t it because Santander were coming in?
Ernest,
No, his results were poor
I think Webber is the only ‘good’ candidate that Ferrari could possibly consider with Alonso at the team. They’re buddies and we’ve seen they’re still quite close and friendly. I don’t think Alonso would feel threatened by Webber’s presence in the team and it could even work out as well as Button/Hamilton has so far.
Have a look what Mark said in 2008:
“Webber’s time in Melbourne follows much the same pattern each year.
He hires a house in Albert Park rather than staying in a hotel. He prefers to have friends over for barbecues rather than dine in restaurants.
And he doesn’t visit the track until qualifying on the opening day.
This year he will play some tennis with Fernando Alsonso – his one “true mate” on the circuit – before the Grand Prix.
Webber denies having enemies on the circuit, but says some young drivers “think they’re legends before they have even done anything”.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/the-woman-who-really-drives-mark-webber/story-e6frf7l6-1111115687082
Is Briatore still the manager of Alonso? Is that why he was at Ferrari, looking for a contract extension to allow Alonso to stay at the Scuderia until he is older than Schumacher?!
Or maybe he was discussing tactics with them – seeing as they are having difficulty winning races this year, they may be looking for an innovative strategy
Maybe I have the dates wrong, but could Briatore’s visit to Maranello be related to the recent extension of Alonso’s contract to 2016, another driver that he manages?
Autosport are so desperate these days that I recently got an email for a ‘free copy’ promotion. And GP+ is still better value…
If Massa is dropped by Ferrari I could see him ending up at Renault if Kubica is unable to race again. Having said that, I can’t see Ferrari bringing in Webber…
Just some extra data… After seven races, Felipe finished three times ahead of Fernando, four behind. Webber finished all seven races behind Vettel and has failed to drive a single lap in front of his team mate so far.
Yes, it means nothing, but, as I said, I don’t see any logic in switching Massa for Webber, from Ferrari’s perspective.
Besides, we all know that the aussie is short tempered and likes to go in public to criticise his teams. I don’t see Ferrari liking that very much.
Nevertheless, I agree with those who believe that Felipe should leave Ferrari as soon as he can. What happened last year in Hockenheim tainted his motivation, in my opinion. He gave up on the rest of the season after the “faster than you” episode.
This year he seems to be slightly more motivated, but let’s see what’s going to happen after he receives another “this is ridiculous” radio message…
Maybe Flav was there to buy a Ferrari?
Simple answer, Joe. Yutaw taw.
I always thought that Kubica was the best “fit” for Marenello – he is the architypical Ferrari driver. Or at least he was. Only time will tell if he returns to form, but I for one hope that he does. Give that guy a half decent car and he will bring in the results.
Joe, not everyday you find people that admits little mistakes without problems and correct themselves, congratulations.
I remember very clearly when we got the news that Fernando was looking for a house in the Italian part of CH.
I think it was true and that he ended up moving there because he can drive to maranello easier than from his old home. But im not sure.
Gas S. I read Checkered Conflict and I would not rate it as great, I found it very partisan if you ask my opinion. As a novel, as a dramatic story maybe. But I would not form my idea about how really Alonso or Hamilton are or what happened in 07 only from that book.
@Malcom
Defenitely buy the GP+ … I read Joe’s blog for well over a year before I signed up (I was a uni student until a few weeks ago so feel my lack of funds vaguely justified). Anyway, suffice it to say that I wish I had signed up a year ago. well worth it.
so Kimi wasnt delivering the results expected huh?? well, no sir, Kimi was out-driving the dog of a car they made in 2009;
but the corporate bozos simply couldn’t stand Kimi as being a man of his own, decision to boot him goes back to 2008 – year on which Massa lost the title by the team errors…
so they spare us please of “media releases”, we can tell when somebody is full of shit
Kibby,
Raikkonen did not deliver the goods. I do not see how one can argue against that.
No Weber the will get kubica for sure.
sorry for the outburst Joe
– it was rather your view but no matter – they forced Kimi to leave anyway you are looking at it
I believe we could see Vettel in a mercedes before a Ferrari. Not soon but when mercedes start winning races consistently.
I think they kicked raikkonen out because massa had the accident and i would be too cruel on him to kick him out….
if that accident didnt happened Ferrari drivers would be Alonso and Raikkonen wich would be veryy exciting!
I agree with Joe. Remember, he is the man with the pen and lap chart. Nuff said.
Could it also be that there’s not much changes in the rules of F1? There’s something in me that says we need to address more the rules themselves, instead of the drivers accused of not delivering results.
@Gaz S – What do you mean by appreciated ? He has the same basis as Alonso, but he’s beaten and outperformed every single race. Yes, he’s likely to get the boot off Ferrari.
@Kiril – well actually, Massa’s beaten Alonso across the line 3 out of 7 races now…
A bit better than Webber who has led no more than one lap over Vettel in 7 races…
Joe,
well I,ll argue with that – Kimi took the WDC in 2007, first year with a new team; he was right up there in 2008 actually supporting his mate title bid in the last part of championship;
finally in 2009 he had nothing to deliver with yet he did (Spa, Hungary etc)…
so the claim “result-wise” Kimi did not perform simply doesn’t stand