Out with the old, in with the new! (kinda) It was announced wednesday afternoon that Brazilian Formula One driver, Felipe Massa, will make his departure from Scuderia Ferrari at the end of the 2013 season. The announcement came after a lackluster performance in the first half of the 2013 Formula One season. Felipe has had an uphill struggle to match the performance of his teammate two time Formula One world champion, Fernando Alonso. 32 year-old Massa started racing for Ferrari in 2006 and hasn't won since 2009. For all of you wondering, that's 79 races (so far) without gracing the top step of the podium. That's the longest winless streak of any Ferrari driver in the team's 63 year history in racing.
Ferrari expects that all to change next year. 2007 Formula One world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, will return to Scuderia Ferrari, the team that helped guide him to his illustrious world championship winning season in 2007. In order to fill the gap left by Massa, Kimi will be expected to perform, well, like Kimi. He has the upfront race experience, resume, and confidence that Felipe Massa always seemed to lack. Raikkonen will finish out the 2013 season at Lotus before returning home to Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello, Italy. Given the budget that Lotus has, Raikkonen has done quite well scoring a win last year while finishing third in the points and scoring a win this season in Australia, currently seated fourth in the points with seven races to go.
Kimi Raikkonen's move to Ferrari could definitely be a potential roadblock for Fernando Alonso. We all know Raikkonen won't allow himself to play second fiddle to the Spanish champion and fernando alonso won’t allow himself to play second fiddle to the finnish champion. However both Alonso and Raikkonen are optimistic about what the future will hold for them next year. Kimi commented on the move, "I can't wait to be driving a Prancing Horse car again and to reacquaint myself with so many people with whom I had such close links, as well as working with Fernando, whom I consider a great driver, in order to bring the team the success it deserves." Needless to say, every Formula One fan will be interested to see what magic they’ll bring to the table next season, but will it be enough to bring down the Red bulls’ of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo?
-Dallas Hollins
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Photo Credit: Ferrari Spa/ Ercole Colombo
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