Fernando Alonso has pinpointed ‘respect’ as the greatest factor, should a new driver join him at Ferrari. The former World Champion, now in his third campaign with the Scuderia, was previously a rival of Felipe Massa but the pair are now on good terms.
A selection of names are being suggested as possible Massa replacements ahead of 2013, with Sergio Pérez and Heikki Kovalainen currently top of that list. However, Alonso insists that Ferrari should not rush into a move of replacing Massa.
“If the team does decide to change Felipe, then whoever replaces him would have to be better than him,” Alonso said in Singapore on Thursday. “I have worked with him for three years and we have a very good relationship. Recently I’ve heard and seen lots of names but I don’t know whether they have been written from the head or heart…
“With any of these names you have, you must compare what Felipe has achieved in Formula 1 with what they have done…we need to respect the team’s decision, but I do think that any driver would also have to respect Ferrari and its traditions.”
Massa made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2002, then taking a year as Ferrari tester before spending two more seasons in a blue car. His Ferrari race seat came alongside Michael Schumacher for 2006 and the Brazilian is now in his seventh Maranello season.
GPUpdate Insight:
Pérez threat too much for Alonso...
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