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Massa ignores speculation over his Ferrari job
Source: Agencies |
March 23, 2012, Friday
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FERRARI driver Felipe Massa has shrugged off mounting speculation the team is preparing to replace him, saying he is accustomed to premature reports of the end of his Formula One career.
Massa's poor performance in last weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne had heightened expectations that Ferrari will fire him, with Italian media already speculating upon his potential replacement.
"I really don't care," Massa said yesterday ahead of this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. "I don't drive thinking about what others are thinking or saying about me. "I'm doing my job, thinking about doing my best in the car, which is not what happened in Australia."
Massa said there was similar speculation early in the 2008 season, and he went on to come within one turn of winning the world championship.
"I arrived here in 2008 and I was out of Ferrari (yet) it was my best season," he said. "I don't care about (speculation). Things change very quickly from one day to another."
Following that strong 2008 season, Massa was involved in a freak, life-threatening accident in 2009.
Sauber driver Sergio Perez is high on the list of potential replacements. Adrian Sutil, Jarno Trulli and former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello have also been linked with Massa's seat.
But Perez is part of Ferrari's Young Driver Program, has tested for the team and at 22 years of age is seen to have the most upside. Asked about speculation of a move to Ferrari, the Mexican driver said "they are only rumors." "It's only the first race of the season, so it's very early to say this or speculate," Perez said. "I am very focussed with my team, with Sauber, and we have a great car."
Massa's poor performance in last weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne had heightened expectations that Ferrari will fire him, with Italian media already speculating upon his potential replacement.
"I really don't care," Massa said yesterday ahead of this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. "I don't drive thinking about what others are thinking or saying about me. "I'm doing my job, thinking about doing my best in the car, which is not what happened in Australia."
Massa said there was similar speculation early in the 2008 season, and he went on to come within one turn of winning the world championship.
"I arrived here in 2008 and I was out of Ferrari (yet) it was my best season," he said. "I don't care about (speculation). Things change very quickly from one day to another."
Following that strong 2008 season, Massa was involved in a freak, life-threatening accident in 2009.
Sauber driver Sergio Perez is high on the list of potential replacements. Adrian Sutil, Jarno Trulli and former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello have also been linked with Massa's seat.
But Perez is part of Ferrari's Young Driver Program, has tested for the team and at 22 years of age is seen to have the most upside. Asked about speculation of a move to Ferrari, the Mexican driver said "they are only rumors." "It's only the first race of the season, so it's very early to say this or speculate," Perez said. "I am very focussed with my team, with Sauber, and we have a great car."
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