Massa offering financial boost to 2014 team

Felipe Massa has admitted he could bring a financial boost to a team that keeps his formula one career on track in 2014.

The Ferrari refugee has been linked with moves to Lotus or possibly McLaren, but the Brazilian was quoted in Singapore as also mentioning Williams, Force India and Sauber.

And 11-time grand prix winner Massa, 32, said there is no shame in offering some backing to a prospective employer.

“I don’t mean that I’m taking money out of my pocket, which I would never do, I am a professional driver who gets paid to race and will continue to do so,” he told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.

“But I can use my great relationships to find a company that wants to be part of a global marketing project, and there are many in Brazil,” added Massa.

“I think it’s also important not just for my career, but also for Brazilian motor racing, which is at the limit now,” he added.

And if it doesn’t work out, he ruled out racing for a back-of-the-grid team, or getting on his knees to beg for a drive.

“There are other categories that interest me, like the DTM,” said Massa.

“I don’t think I would race in Indy.  So if I can’t be in a category that I like, or if I run out of time, I can take a year off and still enjoy my life,” he insisted.

Massa also said that, while disappointed to have been let go by Ferrari, he is happy his replacement is Kimi Raikkonen.

“If the team had swapped me for a driver who doesn’t have the qualities of Kimi, it would be a little harder to accept,” he said.

© RIF | GMM