Massa eyeing vacant Lotus seat for 2014 season

Brazilian keen to land new deal at a competitive team.

Brazilian Felipe Massa has revealed that he is currently in negotiations with Formula One team Lotus about a 2014 race drive, according to ESPNF1.

As Kimi Raikkonen will replace Massa at Ferrari next season, the possibility of a straight swap for next year has opened up. Lotus have confirmed that they are in talks with a number of drivers for the vacant seat and will ‘shortly’ make a decision.

Massa says that out of all the options remaining in the grid, Lotus appeals to him as being the most competitive one. “We are negotiating,” he said. “In my opinion, Lotus has a competitive car, which is what I want. We are having many conversations to try to find a way, not only for me but for Lotus, to continue with a good car.”

The Brazilian revealed he had also talked to McLaren as one of the possibilities. “I’ve had contact with McLaren but I cannot judge, it’s hard to say,” he added. “With Lotus, the contact was very good.”

According to his manager Nicolas Todt, Massa is determined to land a deal at a competitive team next year. “He never would go to a smaller team to be second driver,” said Todt. “We need to find a car that can challenge at the front in F1.”

Lotus chasing podium return at Marina Bay

Lotus remain optimistic about their chances in Singapore, as Formula One coming back to higher-downforce circuits could enable them to return to podium-finishing contention, according to Sky Sports.

Team Principal Eric Boullier said there was plenty of reason to believe their season is far from finished yet. “We head to the final flyaway races with plenty of fight left in us,” he said.

Asked if a podium finish was achievable at Marina Bay, Boullier said: “There’s no reason to think that a podium will be out of reach. We’ve been quite competitive on twisty circuits this year.”

Meanwhile, Trackside Operations Director Alan Permane says the team is eager to return to higher downforce tracks. “We’re looking forward to a return to the higher downforce tracks that arise in the next few races where the aim is to get back on the podium.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2013.

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