Filipe Massa

[vintly]

From www.autosport.com:

Felipe Massa gets new Ferrari chassis for Malaysian Grand Prix
By Jonathan Noble   Wednesday, March 21st 2012, 09:19 GMT

Felipe Massa will be given a new chassis for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix as his Ferrari team bids to get to the bottom of his troubles in Australia.

The Brazilian had a disappointing weekend in Melbourne - being comprehensively outqualified by team-mate Fernando Alonso and enduring an incident-filled race before his retirement.

Although the team continues to have faith that Massa can turn his situation around, the outfit has elected to change his chassis with immediate effect – so for this weekend in Sepang he will race with chassis number 294 - to see if it was a factor in his performance.

A statement on the team's website said: "This choice was taken to clear up any doubts about the unusual performance of his car during the weekend at Albert Park."

[Jericoke]

From www.autosport.com:

Felipe Massa gets new Ferrari chassis for Malaysian Grand Prix
By Jonathan Noble   Wednesday, March 21st 2012, 09:19 GMT

Felipe Massa will be given a new chassis for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix as his Ferrari team bids to get to the bottom of his troubles in Australia.

The Brazilian had a disappointing weekend in Melbourne - being comprehensively outqualified by team-mate Fernando Alonso and enduring an incident-filled race before his retirement.

Although the team continues to have faith that Massa can turn his situation around, the outfit has elected to change his chassis with immediate effect – so for this weekend in Sepang he will race with chassis number 294 - to see if it was a factor in his performance.

A statement on the team's website said: "This choice was taken to clear up any doubts about the unusual performance of his car during the weekend at Albert Park."

Well, a chassis change worked wonders for Vettel in 2010.

[gato]

Massa gets some new parts for his car to Malaysia...Yes, it is disappointment that his race finished too early. Rumours say that he may be replaced from Ferrari in the middle of season but this was only his first race this year.

[Jericoke]

Massa gets some new parts for his car to Malaysia...Yes, it is disappointment that his race finished too early. Rumours say that he may be replaced from Ferrari in the middle of season but this was only his first race this year.

The question is, who would replace him?

Would Ferrari poach from the midfield like they did with Fisichella from FIF1?

Would a driver ahead of Ferrari in the standings be willing to swap 'down' to a Ferrari?

[lkjohnson1950]

Ferrari could poach either Sauber driver and I'm sure a cash settlement would buy Glock who might be perfect.

[Scott]

Kobi in a Ferrari?  Not sure how that would play with the Tifosi

[vintly]

Ferrari's problems are more deep rooted. There's no guarantee that Massa's replacement would do any better. I think there's more chance of Massa upping his game, at least enough to convince Luca that swapping him would be too much of a gamble. Besides, they can't very well attract a good driver until they have a good car, surely the technical development is more important than crossing their fingers with a new second driver?

[Andy B]

Even the Italian press are speculating on Perez moving to the second Ferrari seat as he is one of the Ferrari Young Drivers as well as driving for a Ferrari engined team.
Remember you heard it here first!!
Massa will be gone by mid-season.

[Dare]

When Fisi drove for Ferrari he basically replaced Schumi ,remember
he was slotted to be the replacement driver.I think the car was such
a piece of crap that MS's neck injury appeared giving Fisi[A Italian]
a chance of a lifetime

[Andy B]

I think the difference here is that although the car is rubbish Massa is nowhere near Alonso, 5th and 16th.
The race will tell but I'll be surprised if he responds.
It seems he has not fully recovered from his 2009 accident which is not a surprise it was a lot to come back from.

[stealthhaggis]

Will Alonso want Perez in the other car? Unlikely but he won't care as long as he gets full focus. The problem is that massa has been woeful since his return and Ferrari need a quality number 2 to have any chance of picking up points in the constructors fight.

[Jericoke]

I think the difference here is that although the car is rubbish Massa is nowhere near Alonso, 5th and 16th.
The race will tell but I'll be surprised if he responds.
It seems he has not fully recovered from his 2009 accident which is not a surprise it was a lot to come back from.

It is tough, some drivers come back from accidents stronger than ever (Lauda, Kubica from his F1 shunt)

I think that Massa's problem is one of confidence.  We see the same problem with Hamilton.  The entire field didn't suddenly gain on these two:  they've lost whatever edge made them special drivers in 2008.  I hope they can both get it back.

[Andy B]

I'm not sure you can include Hamilton in this Jeri as he is on the pace or there abouts and won three races last season. This is not the case with Massa he is not on the pace and has not been for a while. I doubt Ferrari will give him too much time if he does not come up with the goods soon. 

[Alianora La Canta]

I don't think today will help Felipe's case for continued employment at Ferrari much...

[cosworth151]

"Olá!, Rubens! Do any other of those IRL teams need a driver?"