Felipe Massa has confirmed that he will leave Ferrari at the end of 2013 after eight years driving for the sport's most successful team.
The Brazilian made his debut for the Scuderia at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix, racing alongside seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. At the peak of his success, he finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the 2008 championship after losing the title on the last lap.
Massa is out of contract at the end of this season after he was only given a one year extension last season.
He announced the news of his departure on his Instagram page. The statement posted read: "From 2014 I will no longer be driving for Ferrari. I would like to thank the team for all the victories and incredible moments experienced together. Thank you also to my wife and all of my family, to my fans and all my sponsors. From each one of you I have always received a great support! Right now I want to push as hard as possible with Ferrari for the remaining seven races."
However he isn't looking to wave goodbye to F1 and is on the hunt for a 2014 drive: "For next year, I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the Championship which remains my greatest objective! Thank you all."
Massa was a consistent race winner for Ferrari in 2007 and 2008 before a serious accident during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix meant he had to sit out for the remainder of the season.
Fortunately he made a speedy recovery and returned to Formula 1 in 2010. However he has failed to match team-mate Fernando Alonso and hasn't won a race since the emotional 2008 season finale in Brazil, where he lost the world title.
After a number of disappointing seasons, his future at Ferrari looked in doubt 12 months ago. However he was retained for 2013 but has so far failed to pick up the pace, a best finish of third at this year's Spanish Grand Prix being his only podium finish.
Kimi Raikkonen - Massa's former Ferrari team-mate between 2007 and 2009 - is the lead contender to replace the 32-year-old with Sport Bild reporting that the Finn has already signed a deal to return to the Scuderia.
However Nico Hulkenberg could also be in contention for the seat. An announcement is expected on Ferrari's 2014 driver line-up in the new few days.
A logical move for Massa - and one that I feel would work for both parties - would be to move to Sauber, a team that he knows well after two spells at the Hinwil based squad in 2002, 2004 and 2005. An experienced driver would also be valuable if the Swiss squad to recruit 18-year-old rookie Sergey Sirotkin.
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
Massa is out of contract at the end of this season after he was only given a one year extension last season.
He announced the news of his departure on his Instagram page. The statement posted read: "From 2014 I will no longer be driving for Ferrari. I would like to thank the team for all the victories and incredible moments experienced together. Thank you also to my wife and all of my family, to my fans and all my sponsors. From each one of you I have always received a great support! Right now I want to push as hard as possible with Ferrari for the remaining seven races."
However he isn't looking to wave goodbye to F1 and is on the hunt for a 2014 drive: "For next year, I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the Championship which remains my greatest objective! Thank you all."
Massa was a consistent race winner for Ferrari in 2007 and 2008 before a serious accident during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix meant he had to sit out for the remainder of the season.
Fortunately he made a speedy recovery and returned to Formula 1 in 2010. However he has failed to match team-mate Fernando Alonso and hasn't won a race since the emotional 2008 season finale in Brazil, where he lost the world title.
After a number of disappointing seasons, his future at Ferrari looked in doubt 12 months ago. However he was retained for 2013 but has so far failed to pick up the pace, a best finish of third at this year's Spanish Grand Prix being his only podium finish.
Kimi Raikkonen - Massa's former Ferrari team-mate between 2007 and 2009 - is the lead contender to replace the 32-year-old with Sport Bild reporting that the Finn has already signed a deal to return to the Scuderia.
However Nico Hulkenberg could also be in contention for the seat. An announcement is expected on Ferrari's 2014 driver line-up in the new few days.
A logical move for Massa - and one that I feel would work for both parties - would be to move to Sauber, a team that he knows well after two spells at the Hinwil based squad in 2002, 2004 and 2005. An experienced driver would also be valuable if the Swiss squad to recruit 18-year-old rookie Sergey Sirotkin.
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