Massa: F1 won't lose more teams

Eurosport - Fri, 12 Dec 09:42:00 2008

Honda will be the only team to pull out of the Formula One world championship next season, according to Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

2007 British GP Ferrari Massa - 0

Honda, citing the global financial crisis, said last week it was quitting the sport and time is running out to find a buyer for next year.

Media have speculated that other teams could also cease to operate but Brazilian Massa, runner-up to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in the world championship this year, believes it is unlikely.

"I don't think so, at least not next season. The economic crisis is very serious but the situation can only improve," he told Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

"In any case, I hope someone can buy Honda, maybe even a Brazilian firm. It would be very interesting to see a Brazilian team with Brazilian drivers in F1."

Massa was sorry for Honda's Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello.

"It's been a surprise also for him. If the situation stays like this there will be only [Renault's] Nelson Piquet and me as Brazilians in F1. It's really sad," he said.

"Honda's pullout is a really horrible thing for F1. It's better to have lots of competition."

Massa has been testing in Jerez, Spain for the past few days as Ferrari prepare for new design rules in 2009.

"Definitely the car is different to drive. I think we will all have to change our style of driving," he said.

Reuters

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. Who are real cheats in F1 and have been for years and­ years? Some clues
    1) Their cars are red
    2) Their­ name is ferrari
    Now even the brainless ferrari fans­ might work that one out.

    From Major Bumsore, on Sat 13 Dec 9:22PM

  2. ------------ I N V A L I D
    ALL ALL RACES SHOULD BE­ AT LEAST 2HRS TO BE WORTHWHILE

    From jestyn.thyme, on Sat 13 Dec 5:06PM

  3. AL RACES SHOULD BE AT LEAST 2HRS TO BE WORTHWHILE
    -

    From jestyn.thyme, on Sat 13 Dec 5:04PM

  4. lolita: I also dislike Ferrari and their mad fans but­ when KERS was first announced then 2010 was always the­ 1st mandatory year.

    From BigBill, on Sat 13 Dec 1:49PM

  5. HE LOST ALL RESPECT FROM THE HIS FELLOW POSTERS!
    NEVER­ Y THE IDIOT NEVER WOULD SHUT UP THEN AGAIN THE­ OFFSPRING OF BROTHER AND SISTER WHAT DO YOU EXPECT.
    HIS­ OBSESSION WITH MCLAREN DOES NOT BORDER ON THE ANNOYING­ IT IS DAMN RIGHT RIGHT ANNOYING.
    NEVER Y SUFFERED FROM­ MULTIPLE PERSONALITY PROBLEMS, POSTING AS MARNIO AND AS­ SOME ORTHER CHARACTERS.
    HOPEFULLY HE WOULD ONE DAY DIE­ OR JUST GO AWAY BUT AS IS WITH EVERYTHING IN LIFE­ PEOPLE LIKE NEVER Y LIVE FOREVER SPOUTING THEIR HATRED­ AND STUPIDITY.
    NEVER Y NEVER Y HOW STUPID ARE THOU!!!

    From f1junky1000, on Sat 13 Dec 10:31AM

  6. d.bristow525 - Post 8
    You may be right. Ferrari­ threatened to leave F1, slammed the KERS system as they­ were among the teams having difficulties with it. Now­ guess what? FIA has now said KERS will not be mandatory­ next year. What a relief for Ferrari!
    FIA and old­ Bernie are the real reasons teams are having so much­ pain financially. How many million have the teams put­ to develop KERS since last year? The cars have already­ been developed and there comes a new­ rule.
    Kirstielundgaard - Post 2
    Massa may have been­ declared the winner of the most races last year, but as­ you watched those races, how many time did he crossed­ the finish line first?
    We have almost all moved on. You­ better do the same.

    From lolita, on Fri 12 Dec 10:38PM

  7. elenavinogradovalowe , in your dreams ,Lewis still won­ the WDC despite the Fia gifting Ferrari the victory at­ Spa and turning a blind eye to all of the other­ infraction committed by Ferrari.

    From barry w w, on Fri 12 Dec 10:17PM

  8. I agree fully with a salary cap. The sport is so safe­ now, anyone can drive these things. The wage­ doesn't justify the work they do.. If ur that­ serious Miss maxine, u will impliment these measures­ effective IMMEDIATLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From sargemcdog, on Fri 12 Dec 9:08PM

  9. Sorry, Filipe, you may be a great driver, but you­ obviously don't have much knowledge of the worlds­ current situation. Large manufacturers only look at the­ return they get for the money they put out. With the­ loss of the North American races, the French GP, and­ the inevitable end of the British GP, the big car­ companys don't see much advertising return on the­ huge sums they pay for a rolling billboard.

    From Rich L, on Fri 12 Dec 6:15PM

  10. I strongly believe young Bill Mac is right, perhaps the­ World Recession hasn't hit bottom yet.....

    From , on Fri 12 Dec 4:43PM

  11. chtech06 read our lips no more bush!

    From BigBill, on Fri 12 Dec 4:12PM

  12. He also said he would like to see more Brazilians.So­ would I. I offered to get the wife a voucher for one.­ Not too pleased.

    From chtech06, on Fri 12 Dec 3:23PM

  13. No Filipe things can get worse before they get better.­ I don't think anyone one can say that we are at the­ bottom now.

    From BigBill, on Fri 12 Dec 2:14PM

  14. Lets just hope that Massa is correct in saying that no­ more teams will withdraw from F1, to many teams have­ fallen by the wayside over the years. If any more teams­ withdraw it will only be Ferrari, Ferrari, and Ferrari,­ and maybe the odd Toyota, McLaren, Renualt, and BMW.­ SALARY CAPS OF TWO MILLION US PER YEAR IS THE ONLY­ SOLUTION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BERNIE READ THIS. F1­ needs to create and bring in new teams to bump up the­ field to twenty six cars again.

    D.Bristow

    From , on Fri 12 Dec 1:13PM

  15. A strange article this; race drivers' comments on­ credit crunch is bound to be a little different as they­ are on millions compared to mere mortals.Massa's­ not exactly going to worry about the size of his­ restaurant bill and then a lot of its all paid for­ anyway!

    From wizzo, on Fri 12 Dec 12:56PM

  16. Massa improved yes but too weak to really give it, if­ Kimi had actually been on the same planet this season,­ massa would have been number two. Hopefully Kimi can­ get his head back in gear and show that Massa is a no­ hoper, Lewis is gonna have to try harder, and Alonso­ will just need a new car.

    From Tom, on Fri 12 Dec 12:30PM

  17. Massa obviously has the inside info on all teams­ finances. As he said " the economic crisis is very­ serious but the situation can only improve ".­ WHAT, you TW4T.Get into the real world.

    From chtech06, on Fri 12 Dec 12:24PM

  18. elan whatever yr piece is fit for snot dripping­ football blog not F1,move along now.

    From wizzo, on Fri 12 Dec 12:22PM

  19. Massa is only slightly better personality wise than­ Alonso, must be the Latin blood. Bood he is by far a­ better driver. He will thrash LH this next season, but­ so will others.

    From elenavinogradovalowe, on Fri 12 Dec 12:08PM

  20. The most improved driver of the season, and winner of­ the most races is rubbish? You're hard to please,­ aren't you!
    I hope he's right and that no other­ teams leave - it's going to be strange seeing only­ 18 cars. Please let someone buy Honda, we can't­ lose 2 Brits in one season, and have Hamilton as our­ only representative.

    From kirstielundgaard, on Fri 12 Dec 11:50AM
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