2012 Silly Season

[Londoner]

Alguersuari for Ferrari in 2013???

We can only hope.

Alguersuari is too unrejectful for Ferrari tester.

Fixed.

[sswishbone]

Algersuari has joined the BBC 5 Live team! Didn't see that one coming!

[CoopsII]

Algersuari has joined the BBC 5 Live team! Didn't see that one coming!

At least now he'll finish every race!

[DanielPT]

Algersuari has joined the BBC 5 Live team! Didn't see that one coming!

At least now he'll finish every race!

He always said he had contacts with a big team to stay in F1.

[Ed24]

Apparently Alonso's pushing quite hard for Webber to get a two year deal at Ferrari starting next year, so don't rule Mark out as a possibility yet.

I'm not sure if that would be the best option for Ferrari though - if they want a solid experienced driver, they may as well keep Massa, if not, go for a young driver like Perez.

Algersuari has joined the BBC 5 Live team! Didn't see that one coming!

Hopefully he's put in charge of music editing as well

[James1978]

Apparently Alonso's pushing quite hard for Webber to get a two year deal at Ferrari starting next year, so don't rule Mark out as a possibility yet.

To me that translates as "Webber will be a better number 2 than Massa - he will take more points off Vettel and the McLarens to help me win the championship".

[DanielPT]

Apparently Alonso's pushing quite hard for Webber to get a two year deal at Ferrari starting next year, so don't rule Mark out as a possibility yet.

To me that translates as "Webber will be a better number 2 than Massa - he will take more points off Vettel and the McLarens to help me win the championship".

That is exactly what Webber is doing for Vettel at great effect. Taking points from him and the Maccas...

[Ferrim]

TBH last year Webber wasn't a good enough #2 for my liking, although he was close. Yeah he scored a lot but we know how good that car was. Of course he was better than enough in 2010

[Ed24]

To me that translates as "Webber will be a better number 2 than Massa - he will take more points off Vettel and the McLarens to help me win the championship".

Partly that, and also just helping out his friend I suppose, they have great respect, so I'm sure he'd like to work with him.

[DemocalypseNow]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jarno-trulli-linked-with-felipe-massas-ferrari-seat/

THIS. PLEASE. GOD. LET IT HAPPEN.

[Aerospeed]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jarno-trulli-linked-with-felipe-massas-ferrari-seat/

THIS. PLEASE. GOD. LET IT HAPPEN.

WOAH

Seriously, Bianchi is a better option. Even if he's going to be #2 for his entire career at least he'll be on the team longer than Trulli!

[Paul Hayes]

Because parachuting in a veteran Italian - or indeed, two veteran Italians in succession - worked so well with a poor car in 2009, of course...

[TomWazzleshaw]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jarno-trulli-linked-with-felipe-massas-ferrari-seat/

THIS. PLEASE. GOD. LET IT HAPPEN.

All the publicocrapometers around the world broke simultaneously at the news

[fjackdaw]

I'm going to take the Captain Hammer position and say that,

"Autosprint, the Italian weekly, has suggested the out-of-work Grand Prix winner Jarno Trulli is available to step in immediately to replace Massa"

...is not "linked". It's just a magazine wishful thinking.

Twould be interesting for it to happen though.

[mario]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jarno-trulli-linked-with-felipe-massas-ferrari-seat/

THIS. PLEASE. GOD. LET IT HAPPEN.

WOAH

Seriously, Bianchi is a better option. Even if he's going to be #2 for his entire career at least he'll be on the team longer than Trulli!

The only reason why Trulli might be chosen as a replacement to Massa would be if they wanted somebody to drive for the team on a temporary basis whilst trying to line up a longer term prospect.
Bianchi would probably be problematic because of his inexperience - the last time Ferrari seem to have hired a rookie was in 1972 when Merzario drove a handful of races for the team, so it'd be a major shift in their policy if they hired him. There could also be a few problems depending on the terms of his contract with Force India, which might make it a little more awkward to switch Bianchi from them to Ferrari at short notice. At least Trulli might be happy to drive for Ferrari for half a season as a swansong, which would give Ferrari time to sort out a longer term replacement for Massa (perhaps picking up one of the Sauber drivers).

Still I'd have to agree with the assessment of other posters - given that this story seems to have broken in the Italian press, the possibility that an editor somewhere is writing about what he'd like to see happen, rather than what might happen, cannot be discounted.

[Phoenix]

God, don't discard it. They rescued Luca Badoer in 2009, they might do the same with Trulli...

[Klon]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jarno-trulli-linked-with-felipe-massas-ferrari-seat/

THIS. PLEASE. GOD. LET IT HAPPEN.

Really? Really? Really?

Why not take Ralf Schumacher then? Or Christian Klien? Or David Coulthard? Or Nick Heidfeld? Or Alexander Wurz?

[DanielPT]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jarno-trulli-linked-with-felipe-massas-ferrari-seat/

THIS. PLEASE. GOD. LET IT HAPPEN.

Really? Really? Really?

Why not take Ralf Schumacher then? Or Christian Klien? Or David Coulthard? Or Nick Heidfeld? Or Alexander Wurz?

Or, dare I say it, Rubens Barrichello!!!

[Klon]

Or, dare I say it, Rubens Barrichello!!!

That doesn't fall in that list, because Barrichello would be a reasonable short-term option.

[DanielPT]

Or, dare I say it, Rubens Barrichello!!!

That doesn't fall in that list, because Barrichello would be a reasonable short-term option.

It kind of would. But it could be a very awkward choice given what happened when Rubens left Ferrari and what he said about it afterwards...

[Klon]

It kind of would. But it could be a very awkward choice given what happened when Rubens left Ferrari and what he said about it afterwards...

Well, there is a reason people say action speak louder than words. I seriously doubt Barrichello would really immediately turn them away if they were to inquire about his services.

[DanielPT]

It kind of would. But it could be a very awkward choice given what happened when Rubens left Ferrari and what he said about it afterwards...

Well, there is a reason people say action speak louder than words. I seriously doubt Barrichello would really immediately turn them away if they were to inquire about his services.

Given that I believe Barrichello would desperately grab any glimmer of hope of driving in F1 again, he would be at Maranello as soon as humanly possible if such enquire indeed happens.

[dr-baker]

It kind of would. But it could be a very awkward choice given what happened when Rubens left Ferrari and what he said about it afterwards...

Well, there is a reason people say action speak louder than words. I seriously doubt Barrichello would really immediately turn them away if they were to inquire about his services.

Given that I believe Barrichello would desperately grab any glimmer of hope of driving in F1 again, he would be at Maranello as soon as humanly possible if such enquire indeed happens.

Was Barrichello's probrom more with Maranello or Michael Schumacher, or was it a bit of both?

[Backmarker]

Massa's got his next job lined up already:

[QuickYoda41]

He has wanted to show how it's done since Singapore 2008.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Translation: I've already lost my drive

[Phoenix]

Translation: I've already lost my drive

Of course he needn't be disturbed by Pérez's performance - if I was him, I'd be more disturbed by my own lamentable performance.

[CoopsII]

Of course he needn't be disturbed by Pérez's performance - if I was him, I'd be more disturbed by my own lamentable performance.

[mario]

Translation: I've already lost my drive

Of course he needn't be disturbed by Pérez's performance - if I was him, I'd be more disturbed by my own lamentable performance.

True - given that before the race Massa was talking about the car, and how the changes that the team had made meant that he was more comfortable (considering that Ferrari had already gone to the effort of a chassis change), it starts reducing the variables for what might be going on. In the dry conditions of qualifying, he was much closer to Alonso (about 0.35s off his pace), but in race trim he just chews through his tyres - he had to make an extra stop because his inters were so worn down, for example - suggesting that there is something fundamental about his driving style or setup that is hurting the tyres far more than Alonso.

[Svenko Wankerov]

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jarno-trulli-linked-with-felipe-massas-ferrari-seat/

THIS. PLEASE. GOD. LET IT HAPPEN.

WOAH

Seriously, Bianchi is a better option. Even if he's going to be #2 for his entire career at least he'll be on the team longer than Trulli!

Bianchi is Grosjean 2.0, and by that I mean 2008 Grosjean that was inconsistent in GP2 and not ready for F1 and not the 2011 Grosjean that got him a second chance to crash out of every F1 race this year.

[Ed24]

Yes, Bianchi would be crazy to take the drive, it almost sunk Grosjean's career.

I can't see Trulli being a great option just yet, you just have to look at how Petrov's going against Kovalainen to see how slow Trulli was by the end, not to mention how poorly Fisichella adapted in 2009.

[DanielPT]

Translation: I've already lost my drive

The Mexican finished over 1.5 minutes ahead of the Brazilian.

I think this says it all...

[DemocalypseNow]

Translation: I've already lost my drive

The Mexican finished over 1.5 minutes ahead of the Brazilian.

I think this says it all...

He was, for all intents and purposes, a lap down. When Alonso crossed the finish line, Massa was only half way down the pit straight. Another lap or two and both Alonso and Perez would have lapped him.

[Phoenix]

Translation: I've already lost my drive

The Mexican finished over 1.5 minutes ahead of the Brazilian.

I think this says it all...

When all people watching the race with me yesterday at my residence (both people that knows about F1 and those who watch the race only because of Alonso) were jeering constantly at Massa, especially at that last shot when Alonso was crossing the finish line a winner and Massa was some seconds ahead just entering his last lap, it says it all, yes.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Alguersauri signs for Pirelli

Career saving move, anyone?

[Shadaza]

Alguersauri signs for Pirelli

Career saving move, anyone?

It worked for Lucas di Grassi, oh wait.
(Mind seemed to work for de la Rosa and Heidfeld)

[mario]

Alguersauri signs for Pirelli

Career saving move, anyone?

It'll certainly keep him in the frame for a seat in 2013 and help him remain race ready, as it were. Overall, I'd say it's a good move for him to make: Nick Heidfeld and Pedro De La Rosa both secured seats with other teams after their stints as test drivers for Pirelli (Heidfeld's familiarity with the new tyres did play a factor in the decision to replace De La Rosa with him at Sauber), so he probably has a reasonable chance of working his way back into a team for 2013.
[EDIT] You can add another driver to the list of Pirelli test drivers who got a seat - Romain Grosjean was also a Pirelli test driver, testing their tyres in 2010 and soon being signed up as one of Renault's reserve drivers for 2011 (the fact he had existing links with Renault's Young Driver Program and Boullier's Gravity Sport Management would have helped too, of course).