Massa out??!

prakt · 17 Jul 2002, 15:01 (Ref:335777)

According to the Swiss newspaper yesterday, Peter Sauber have stated that they need a more experienced driver than Felipe Massa, to maintain their position in this year's battle.
This might open new possibilities for Jenson Button, Heinz-Harald Frentzen (former Sauber driver and was very popular by the team) or, as it seem's, Perter's own "favorite", Fisichella.
Frentzen have been mentioned to replace Allan McNish in the Toyota team ( McNish might then return in the team as a test-driver), but it look's more likely that McNish will be replaced by Cristiano da Matta from Cart.

Jordi · 17 Jul 2002, 16:31 (Ref:335811)

Frentzen deserves it.. he needs a team that won't have financial problems when he goes there

JR Ewing · 17 Jul 2002, 16:44 (Ref:335820)

The quote says "this year's battle." ???
Should this be next year's.
Or is this just made up as I think it might be??

Trebor · 17 Jul 2002, 17:35 (Ref:335844)

I hope not.
Felipe Massa and Takuma Sato are very good drivers.
The are rough diamonds.
These two are my favourites.
I have seen and met them a lot of times in there career.
So hopefully Massa will be at Sauber next year.

Sato san · 17 Jul 2002, 17:39 (Ref:335850)

Massa should stay where he is..hes done agood job.

But if anyone needed to fill a gap there , surely Frentzen is the man.

NiceGuyEddie · 17 Jul 2002, 18:35 (Ref:335887)

Its surely not typical of Peter Sauber to replace raw talent with aged experience. Peter has gambled twice in a row, firstly betting on Raikkonen, secondly betting on Massa, and honestly, it has paid off both times. I can't imagine in what way a experienced driver, obtainable for Sauber, would perform better than Massa does this year. I mean, if you can keep up with Heidfeld in a reasonable fashion, you are just that good.

I did pick up somewhere that Button was spotted at the Sauber factory earlier this week.

NiceGuyEddie · 17 Jul 2002, 18:36 (Ref:335889)

Quote:

Originally posted by Sato san
Massa should stay where he is..hes done agood job.

But if anyone needed to fill a gap there , surely Frentzen is the man.

Frentzen back to Sauber. Kinda poetic.

I always felt that Barrichello should return to Jordan when replaced by Alonso at Ferrari.

In some way I love the idea of drivers starting en ending at the same team. Dont know why

Sato san · 17 Jul 2002, 21:41 (Ref:336046)

Yer , i agree, but i cant say why , its just sort of fitting.

Jordi · 17 Jul 2002, 23:05 (Ref:336122)

Well, Damon Hill couldn't, for example, the team he started didn't exist anymore in 1999...

billyblister · 17 Jul 2002, 23:23 (Ref:336134)

I think its not true, why would he devalue his driver if he planned to get rid of him at this stage of the season?

Jukebox · 18 Jul 2002, 01:32 (Ref:336180)

Quote:

Originally posted by NiceGuyEddie
I did pick up somewhere that Button was spotted at the Sauber factory earlier this week.

If that is true that would be great! Sauber is now rated among the top 5 teams in Formula1, drivers from other midfield teams would be in line to drive for them. I somehow wish that Verstappen would be the one but he's too tall and won't fit into their tub. My bet would be drivers that has about the same height as their current drivers.

Lee Janotta · 18 Jul 2002, 02:07 (Ref:336190)

Well, it'd be great if Frentzen got the ride. If it was Button, they'd have to get him released from Renault first, which won't be easy.

Sauber may not be so good next year, though. Jaguar is trying to lure away their top technical man.

Mr V · 18 Jul 2002, 03:06 (Ref:336204)

Quote:

Originally posted by prakt
as it seem's, Perter's own "favorite", Fisichella.

I read somewhere a couple of weeks ago about the possibility of Fisi at Sauber next year. This would allow Ferrari to get a closer look at him with the possibility of a step upto the Ferrari team when TGF and Barrichello's contracts expire!

Massa should stay in F1 though!

racer69 · 18 Jul 2002, 05:06 (Ref:336224)

I'm not a huge fan of Massa, and i always love driver changes during the year, but Massa has done pretty well, he's beaten Heidfeld quite a number of times, definatly doesn't deserve to be replaced.

f1manoz · 18 Jul 2002, 10:14 (Ref:336371)

Beaten Heidfeld a number of times?????

Er, no sire, I'm sure you are quite wrong about that one!

Jonny Apex · 18 Jul 2002, 11:46 (Ref:336431)

Quote:

Originally posted by prakt
According to the Swiss newspaper yesterday

Which Swiss newspaper was this?

Jonny Apex · 18 Jul 2002, 11:48 (Ref:336432)

Quote:

Originally posted by NiceGuyEddie

I did pick up somewhere that Button was spotted at the Sauber factory earlier this week.

Who said that?

Mr V · 18 Jul 2002, 13:29 (Ref:336494)

Quote:

Originally posted by f1manoz
Beaten Heidfeld a number of times?????

Er, no sire, I'm sure you are quite wrong about that one!

Massa's not doing too bad in relation to Nick, although Heidfeld has the upper hand in qualifying (8-2). However, in races, when both drivers have finished the race they have each finished ahead of each other 3 times!

Tristan · 18 Jul 2002, 13:54 (Ref:336511)

Button to Sauber?? Bad move. Sauber don't have the money and, whilst they're having a fantastic run of success right now, the only way is down. Or at least level.

Jordan, Prost, Benetton. Even Sauber themselves. All "nearly" but never quite there. Just don't have the financial clout.

RENAULT on the other hand....

f1manoz · 18 Jul 2002, 14:20 (Ref:336531)

Massa has not impressed as much as Raikkonen, but neither have/were the equal of Nick. He's outdone them in every facet of the sport - qualifying, points, finishing - yet he is constantly overlooked.

But unlike Raikkonen, who has proven himself in the McLaren, I'll be reserving my judgement on Massa a while yet. Kimi, on the whole, was closer to Nick.

But even Kimi was helped by the fact that last year's Sauber was a beautiful and neat little car.

Mr V · 18 Jul 2002, 14:23 (Ref:336538)

Quote:

Originally posted by f1manoz

But even Kimi was helped by the fact that last year's Sauber was a beautiful and neat little car.

Stands to reason that Nick also benefitted from the good package of last years C20!

RT · 18 Jul 2002, 17:39 (Ref:336697)

Wasn't there a story that Massa disobeyed team orders recently. If that's the case, could it be that the story is Sauber's way of pulling Massa's chain?

Also, does Massa have a powerful sponsor/protector?

Mmmmhhh??

Sato san · 18 Jul 2002, 19:27 (Ref:336808)

Button has said that he only went to Switerland as he had run out of chocolate , he just happened to look around the Sauber factory as he was there . lol

NiceGuyEddie · 18 Jul 2002, 19:49 (Ref:336829)

According to BBC Teletext, Button has made his mind up about where he wants to be next season. Its just a question of dotting the i's. Perhaps the news will follow this weekend. It looks as if it will not be Renault.

cos · 18 Jul 2002, 23:59 (Ref:336958)

According to the BBC, Sauber are the favourites to sign Button for next year. Sauber would be a safe bet for Jense, if he goes there he'll score points most of the time, but a gamble to Toyota or Jaguar could prove more profitable in the long run.

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