Massa to leave Ferrari?

[Wizzo]

According to the Daily Mail, Massa is beginning to devise an exit strategy. The report indicates that he has opened up negotiations with Toyota to replace Ralf Schumacher. Massa's exit from Ferrari may be the perfect escape route for the vitual McLaren outcast Alonso.

Massa is acutely aware that if Jean Todt, as expected, loses an impending internal power struggle within Ferrari, he will be instantly vulnerable as he is managed by the Frenchman's son, Nicholas.

And Alonso, surely, would relish nothing better than to end his unhappy days at McLaren, where he is in permanent dispute with Hamilton, and not on speaking terms with team principal Ron Dennis, by announcing that he is to switch his allegiance for 2008 to the enemy camp.

One stumbling block exists, however. Would Ferrari be willing to buy out the remainder of Alonso's contract with McLaren, believed to be worth at least £10 million?

Alonso's position within McLaren is untenable beyond the last three races, but neither the Spaniard nor Dennis will want to yield in what will be potentially explosive negotiations once the season ends in Brazil next month.

[cosworth151]

Another stumbling block I see in Alonso moving to Ferrari would be Kimi. I don't know if he wants to jump into another situation where he isn't the obvious #1 driver. I just hope that Massa ends up in a competitive car. He's proved himself worthy of a good ride.

[Steven Roy]

The one thing Alonso must have learned over the last two seasons is that the FIA will always make it easier for Ferrari to win than anyone else.  So he has the choice of Raikkonen as a team mate in the team where Max will assist him or he can stay at McLaren and compete against Hamilton with a year's GP experience or he can have an uncompetitive car elsewhere.  Considering he controlled the driver market a year ago he has managed to get himself in a right mess.

I still can't figure out who will get the second McLaren.

[cosworth151]

I don't think there's any chance that Massa could end up at McLaren. That would just be asking for another action by Ferrari. I'd love to see Webber or Trulli get a shot at it.

[Scott]

It's about time (Massa leaving Ferrari that is), however I would hope that the cost of the buyout is increased once Ron finds out it is Ferrari that wants him...maybe $100m or so?

[johnbull]

Putting myself momentarily in Alonso's thinking cap, I'd rather go to Renault where I know I'm going to be the prima donna - undisputed, rather than Ferrari where Kimi may just give me a hard time.

Hamilton has tried to be nice to Alonso, but I doubt Kimi would bother with nicetys.

[Steven Roy]

I am not sure about that.  At Ferrari he is more likely to get a competitive car and he is going to have the benefit of Ferrari International Assistance.  He also must believe he will win this year's championship and he would then go to Ferrari with the possibility of being the first driver since Fangio to win championships with three different teams.

Or he can go to Renault have less chance of a competitive car and a fight with the FIA if he is at all competitive.