Silly Season: Massa to Sauber

Negative CamberSep 22, 2010

I admit it, I love silly season rumors.

Sure, they aren’t usually worth the paper they’re reported on, but they do provide for some interesting discussion and make a sometimes boring lull in the news a little more entertaining.

So last week, the big silly season rumor was Robert Kubica taking Massa’s seat at Ferrari and Massa taking Kubica’s seat at Renault in a tighty little seat swap. This weeks rumor, courtesy of the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, still has Kubica going to Ferrari, but instead of sending Massa to Renault, now he’s off to Sauber.

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Personally, I think the Kubica to Ferrari rumor still smells of a bit too much of the “if we say it out loud enough, it has to come true” type and not quite a “worst kept secret since Ralf Schumacher to Toyota” type, but it's still an interesting point of discussion. And it makes sense on every level but driver personalities.

And sure, Fernando and Robert are buddies, and it’s about racing, not warm touchy feely stuff. But if you’re a team principal, you bet your bottom dollar you’re concerned with how your team gets along.

Just ask Ron Dennis.

Then we move to Massa. I definitely could see Ferrari dumping Massa for someone else.

They aren’t going to dump Alonso, for sure, and Massa just doesn’t have that certain Ferrari air to him. Besides, I think it would behoove Massa (unlike Rubens) to move to a team where he has a fight chance in Hades to be taken seriously.

So, assuming that Massa is out, where should he go?

I vote Renault.

I think Renault will support him as a human being (I know; there I go getting all touchy feely again), and he could really benefit the team with his knowledge and experience. He’s a keep your head down and drive fast kind of guy, which is exactly what Renault needs in order to keep on progressing upwards.

It’s your classic win-win scenario.

Sauber, on the other hand, currently sits in the Williams bucket of team. Yes I want Sauber to succeed, but hope isn’t a plan.

Frankly, it pains me to say it, but who really thinks that Sauber’s prospects for 2011 are looking up—especially next to Renault? An act of desperation like changing drivers mid-season is just another example of why this team isn’t going anywhere.

So Felipe, if you’re listening: Get out of Ferrari and go to Renault. Don’t go to Sauber.

Sure, it’s better than being unemployed or a test driver (not sure which is worse), but if that’s your option, you might as well stay at Ferrari.

Just ask Rubens.