Felipe Massa has admitted 2012 will be “crucial” if he wants to retain a top seat in formula one.
Ferrari will honour the Brazilian’s contract for next season, but Massa has struggled since his near-fatal crash in 2009 – and the birth of his son Felipinho – to keep up with Fernando Alonso.

In Korea, he was told by a reporter for the O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper that 2012 will be crucial.

“I think so too; to do a good year will be very important, crucial for my future of being in a competitive team, no doubt. And so my determination is greater than ever,” said the 30-year-old.

He acknowledged the possibility he will have to leave Ferrari for 2013.

Asked what he would do then, Massa answered: “I go to another team! There is no other option; I will continue to race and thinking about the best for my career.

“I am not afraid of anything that can happen as I’ve always been a guy with his feet on the ground. I know that if I do not have a good 2012, everything can change. Everything follows according to the results.”

Massa said he is confident another team would sign him up if Ferrari does not.

“I think so. Regardless of having a good season, I believe I am among the best in formula one.”

He denied that his struggles are due to the paddock perception of his ‘number 2′ status to Alonso.

“The telemetry in the team is 100 per cent open. Without a doubt, 100 per cent, the treatment and the equipment is the same.

“If you have an inferior car you can see it in the numbers, you cannot help it. I have never had any different treatment,” added Massa.

Ferrari’s 2011 car will be launched officially in the week proceeding the first group winter test at the end of January.

That was one of the revelations made by Luca di Montezemolo on Tuesday as he met with the Italian press at Fiorano for a traditional pre-Christmas media event.

The Ferrari president said the F10′s successor will be launched on January 25-31 — before the first test of the pre-season at Valencia.

Asked to sum up the season, he told reporters: “We were disappointed, there’s no point denying it.

“But, realistically, it was more bitter in 2008, when Felipe Massa crossed the finish line as world champion.

“From 1997 onwards, except 2005 and 2009, we have either won or lost at the last race. The opponents – Williams, McLaren, Renault, Red Bull – always change, only Ferrari is there,” said Montezemolo.

Asked to give a report card for the 2010 drivers Massa and Fernando Alonso, he answered: “9 and a half to Alonso. He did not win, but (the score is) from the point of view of results, character and relationship with the team.

“Less than a 7 for Felipe Massa. For some reason with have a problem with the brothers of our drivers arriving during the season,” he smiled.

“It happened with Schumacher, Raikkonen and now Massa. I think Felipe got a bit tired mid-season and went home, sending his brother to drive,” joked the Italian.

“He gets a minus-7 but he has promised to come back next year.”

As for Ferrari: “8. You do not get full marks when you don’t win, but it was an exceptional year for commitment and determination,” he said.

On formula one, Montezemolo vowed to “fight for common sense, for races on circuits (not streets) and to have not more than 19 races, preferably 18″, he revealed.

“And to have three cars. Better to have a third car with a competitive team than a team that cannot even do GP2,” the 63-year-old charged.

“I think it’s common sense and Bernie Ecclestone agrees. Who (would run the third Ferrari)? A small but competitive team.”

Montezemolo hailed 2010 as Mark Webber’s “best season with a competitive car”.

But he played down the possibility of shock personnel changes for 2011, hinting only that “some adjustments” to the team will be announced before the new season.

As for the possibility of his near future being in politics, Montezemolo insisted: “The confidence vote (of the Italian parliament)? No comment.

“Let me do my job,” he added when pressed. “I’m so glad we have many, many things to do here at Ferrari.”

HRT on Saturday morning confirmed reports the struggling Spanish team has agreed a deal with a new investor.

In a media statement, the team said former Telefonica president Juan Villalonga is partnering with Hispania’s owner Jose Ramon Carabante.

“The immediate aim is to be able to have a much more competitive team,” the statement read.

And Carabante said the money involved “is a sum that multiplies and enhances our ability to grow as a team”.

Jun.11 (GMM)  Karun Chandhok has set out his stall for a switch from struggling HRT to the Force India team for 2011.

The Indian rookie said in Montreal that while he is happy to have proved competitive alongside Bruno Senna so far this year, it would make more sense to be on the lineup of the team headed by his countryman Vijay Mallya.

Billionaire Mallya was recently quoted as doubting an Indian is ready to drive a Force India.

But Chandhok, 26, said on Thursday: “I’d love to drive for Force India at some point in my career, whether it happens next year or not, because I think in some ways I’m an ambassador for the sport in our country.”

With Delhi now set to join the F1 calendar, Chandhok insists it is the perfect time to unite an Indian driver with the Silverstone based team.

“A lot of what happens to the sport in that part of the world depends on us a little bit, and I think if you have an Indian driver in an Indian car at the Indian grand prix, it’s a no-brainer in terms of ticket sales,” he insisted.

Chandhok acknowledges that Mallya’s assessments of his form have been cool to date due to inconsistent performances from his GP2 teams.

“So I think this year he’s been quite surprised because I’ve been competitive against Bruno and I think generally I’ve done quite a good job.

“This is just what I hear from people around him; we haven’t really had a conversation about it yet,” he added.

Chandhok also admits that staying with the new Spanish team HRT might not be a bad call.

“If these guys carry out the plans which the (team owners) Carabantes have talked to me about, they can be a very competitive team in the future.

“So far they seem happy with what I’m doing.  Jose Ramon is very keen to try to do something for next year as well,” he added.

HRT is interested in moving into Toyota’s F1 headquarters in Cologne, and is also eyeing the departed Japanese teams’ 2010 car, according to reports.

Spain’s sports newspaper Marca said the Spanish team’s owner Jose Ramon Carabante has already visited the German site on two occasions.

Italiaracing, meanwhile, reports that the Hispania team is also interested in taking over Toyota’s unraced 2010 chassis, the TF110.

The news follows HRT’s confirmation that it has split with its existing chassis maker Dallara.

But the move to buy the Cologne facility would be at odds with HRT’s earlier plans to set up a long-term base in the Spanish region of Murcia, a team sponsor.

The reports could therefore trigger speculation that Carabante is looking to sell the team, even though on Thursday HRT revealed the identity of its new board.

“This shows how (the team) is strongly trying to keep on growing day by day in order to develop to a more strong, lasting and competitive team in formula one,” read a statement.

(GMM)

The Spanish pilot, Fernando Alonso said that “the ideal” would be that his “greatest rival” next season would be his team mate, Felipe Massa, because that would illustrate Ferrari’s power.  Although, he warned that both McLaren, and Red Bull and Mercedes, will be “very competitive teams and difficult to beat.”

“The ideal would be that my most fierce rival was Felipe (Massa): that would mean that we’re the best team.  While I also think that McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes will be very competitive and difficult to beat,” explained Alonso in Maranello during a chat with Ferrari fans that extended around 40 minutes.

Regarding his integration to the ‘Scuderia’, Alonso assured that “only positive things can be said,” since the team members “are giving all” to help him.  It’s very important to me.  I already feel as part of a very special family,” the pilot declared.

Alonso answered the questions from the cybernauts from the Italian racing team’s headquarters, where he’s fixing the last parts of the car, for instance, the seat.  ”Ferrari will be competitive and I hope to bring the pilot World title to Maranello,” he replied.

The thorniest question came from a fan who asked him about the past.  Specifically, his confrontation with Ferrari when he drove other ‘Scuderias’.  Alonso explained that he “never” said “anything terrible” against the Italian team.

“It’s true that in the past there were some arguments, but these things happen when your fighting for a world championship.  After all, we’re humans not robots.”  The Spaniard pointed out that he also made comments about the possible adverse reaction of some ‘tiffosi’ after his signing is made known.

Adrian Sutil, who has just returned from a promotional tour in India, after two years racing in the Force India Malaysian team and being last season’s sensation, has expressed his goals for the beginning of season 2010.

The pilot declared that India is supporting Formula One very much, and that Formula One in general has established as strong reference in India.  “Fans are very enthusiastic.” “Of course, right now you cannot compare it with Europe’s support, but I believe that it’s in the way of becoming very popular, very soon,” he pointed out.

During the last two years, Force India has been one of the smallest teams of the grid, but with four new teams, it has repositioned as middle in the table.  “It feels very well to be a competitive team in Formula One.  The 2009 season was one of the most important seasons for us.  With good performances… and some wonderful surprises, we have been able to get ourselves a space.  Now, it’s important to continue with the good work and try to be even more competitive in 2010,” Sutil said.
“Other teams need to learn –maybe painfully-, how to work efficiently with less people and a reduced budget.  But this could take a while and thus, 2010 could be a great opportunity for us,” he added.
Let’s recall that the Force India pilots are the same who finished last season, Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi.

“I think this is another advantage for us, specially during the first races where others will have to find the way around their new team and find out how his team mate is.”
“In Force India there is no position in the team.  We’ll all have the same car and the same opportunity to give the best of ourselves.”
Besides Mercedes, the Force India showed good qualities in some races.  “I has always been great to work with Mercedes, and I’m looking forward to working with them again.  In my opinion, it’s the best engine and it must help us this season,” he stated.

The refuel ban is the biggest change this season.  How advanced can the VJM3 development be?

“All the team is working hard to develop the best possible car, and presently it seems very, very promising.  The new regulations are a great challenge for everybody, so to give a right statement about how well the new norms will have to be interpreted, we’ll have to wait until the fist test in Jerez, where the VJM3 will be driven and the first times will be known.”
The German pilot does not hide his aspirations, and it will not be an easy task to go beyond the good past season.