Felipe Massa has leapt into contention to replace the Ferrari-bound Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus.<\/p>\n
Both the Brazilian’s manager Nicolas Todt, and Lotus team boss Eric Boullier, have revealed 32-year-old Massa is in the running for what Todt describes as “the best seat” left on the 2014 grid.<\/p>\n
“What is certain is that other teams are interested in Felipe,” Todt, speaking after Wednesday’s news that Raikkonen will replace Massa at Ferrari next year, told Canal Plus.<\/p>\n
“Felipe will never play second fiddle in a small team, so what we need to do is find him a car that allows him to play a leading role in formula one.<\/p>\n
“For sure, the best team today, the most interesting seat, is the one left behind by Raikkonen.<\/p>\n
“After that, is it the only interesting seat?\u00a0 We’ll see,” added Todt.\u00a0 “It will be important to pay attention and be responsive in the coming weeks.”<\/p>\n
However, until now, the favourite to replace Raikkonen at Lotus has been Nico Hulkenberg, who was also in contention for the Ferrari seat.<\/p>\n
Lotus team boss Eric Boullier told RMC Sport: “Felipe Massa is also available, so he is inevitably on the list.<\/p>\n
“But let’s not go too fast in activating the ‘plan B’,” said Boullier.\u00a0 “We are the only team left with a good seat available, and so inevitably this will affect many people.”<\/p>\n
It seems obvious that, in the interests of continuity, Raikkonen’s departure has strengthened the case for Romain Grosjean to keep the other seat.<\/p>\n
“It (Raikkonen’s departure) can be good for him (Grosjean),” Boullier said, “because after growing for two years next to a world champion, he can unite the team and build it around him and prove he can be the leader.<\/p>\n
“It can be an opportunity for him,” he added, “but he must finish the championship well.”<\/p>\n
As for Massa, his Brazilian countryman Rubens Barrichello said he was sad to hear that his friend had lost his Ferrari seat.<\/p>\n
“But there is life after Ferrari, and I’m proof of that,” he is quoted by Globo.<\/p>\n
“To race for Ferrari is the most sensational thing there is, but afterwards there is a release, a little less pressure.<\/p>\n
“There is a moment of pain, but then life afterwards, and even things in life that are better,” Barrichello added.<\/p>\n
Another former F1 driver and Brazilian, Luciano Burti, also commented: “I know that Sauber would be interested in having him back, but it would not be a high-end car.<\/p>\n
“It depends on what Felipe wants,” he added.<\/p>\n
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