Berger calls for Ferrari to replace Massa despite Suzuka podium
Gerhard Berger says Ferrari should drop Felipe Massa for 2013, arguing that younger drivers like Nico Hulkenberg or Paul di Resta would better serve the team’s championship ambitions.
Gerhard Berger has urged Ferrari to part ways with Felipe Massa for the 2013 Formula One season, despite the Brazilian’s recent podium at Suzuka ending a drought of nearly two years. The former Ferrari driver told Auto Bild that a single strong finish should not outweigh two seasons of underperformance, and suggested the team needs younger, faster talent to challenge for the constructors’ title.
Berger: One result does not erase two years
Berger, who raced for Ferrari in the late 1980s and 1990s, criticised the team’s apparent willingness to renew Massa’s contract after his second-place finish in Japan. “It’s never just about one race,” Berger told Auto Bild. He argued that Ferrari should look to younger drivers, specifically naming Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta, both racing for Force India at the time, as better options for a team aiming to close the gap to Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.
Massa’s contract was due to expire at the end of 2012. After a poor start to the season, just two points from the first five races, he had improved with fifth at Spa, fourth at Monza and eighth in Singapore, before his Suzuka podium. Ferrari, though, remained third in the constructors’ table, 61 points behind Red Bull.
Ferrari signals continuity despite outside calls
Despite Berger’s comments, Ferrari insiders were unconvinced by the alternatives. One source told Auto Motor und Sport that none of the young drivers on the market stood out as a must-have for Maranello. Team principal Stefano Domenicali confirmed a decision would be announced soon, but avoided confirming Massa’s renewal outright.
Massa himself expressed confidence that his future was secure, telling Portuguese-language media at Suzuka that talks were progressing and he hoped for confirmation soon. The BBC reported that Ferrari was likely to confirm the new contract before or just after the Korean Grand Prix.
Implications for the 2013 driver market
If Ferrari retained Massa, the top seats for 2013 would effectively be settled, with the rest of the grid expected to finalise their line-ups in the weeks following. Sauber, Ferrari’s engine customer, was tipped to keep Kamui Kobayashi after his own Suzuka podium, and CEO Monisha Kaltenborn indicated their decision would be independent of Ferrari’s plans for Massa.
- Berger’s call reflected wider doubts about Massa’s long-term performance.
- Ferrari valued stability and experience alongside Fernando Alonso.
- Hulkenberg and di Resta were seen as rising talents but lacked top-team experience.
Massa’s improved form since the summer break ultimately strengthened his case for renewal, but Berger’s intervention highlighted the pressure on Ferrari to consider its long-term competitiveness. As of early October 2012, the team had yet to make its final decision public.
