Ferrari officially confirm Felipe Massa for 2013

Ferrari have officially confirmed Felipe Massa alongside Fernando Alonso for the 2013 season, ending months of continued speculation over the 31-year-old Brazilian’s future with Ferrari. After enduring months of lackluster results with the Scuderia, drivers such as Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta had been speculated as possible replacements.

After his season-long battle with Lewis Hamilton during the 2008 season, which saw Massa take six race victories, the Brazilian driver has since failed to return to the top step of the podium. Since then, Massa has endured copious amounts of bad luck including a near-fatal incident during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, as well as team orders issued against him on numerous occasions.

However, after a highly uncompetitive start to the year, Felipe Massa has improved greatly over recent races finishing consistently in the points on a regular basis. At the Japanese Grand Prix several weeks ago, Massa was finally able to return to the podium for the first time since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix with a competitive 2nd behind eventual race winner Sebastian Vettel and ahead of local hero Kamui Kobayashi.

Over recent months, Felipe Massa’s future with Ferrari has been highly questioned by many within the Formula 1 paddock, with many drivers hinted at being possible replacements. This has seen the likes of Adrian Sutil, Robert Kubica, Nico Hulkenberg, Paul di Resta, Sergio Perez and even Jenson Button linked to Ferrari over the course of the 2012 season. However, as Felipe Massa’s season has gradually improved, it has become clear that the Brazilian driver could well remain with the Scuderia for next season.

After Sergio Perez was signed by McLaren in place of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg became strongly linked to Sauber, remaining at Ferrari quickly became Felipe Massa and Ferrari’s the only feasible option. This decision has therefore ended the “silly season” at the sharp end of the grid, with the drive line-ups at Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes all officially confirmed ahead of the final four races of the current season.

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