Massa Bigger Gamble than Raikkonen, Says Sauber

Sauber may be taking more of a gamble with Felipe Massa than they did in signing Kimi Raikkonen this year, the Formula One team's boss has said.

Sauber announced on Friday that 20-year-old Brazilian driver would replace 21-year-old Raikkonen at the Swiss-based team next season on a one-year deal with further options.

"I hope we can have the same results with him as with Kimi," said team principal Peter Sauber at the Japanese Grand Prix. "I hope so. It's a risk, a calculated one. But maybe the second time the risk is bigger."

Finland's Raikkonen arrived in Formula One after winning the British Formula Renault title and with just 23 single-seater car races under his belt. Sauber had to convince the ruling International Automobile Federation (FIA) to give him a superlicence to race and he was on probation for the first four Grands Prix.

Several people in the sport, including FIA president Max Mosley, argued that the Finn was too inexperienced but Sauber won the day and Raikkonen has been an impressive debutant. He became only the 50th driver in Formula One history to score a point on his debut, in Australia, and has since been signed by McLaren to replace compatriot Mika Hakkinen next season.

Sauber said he might have been more wary of signing Massa, the European Formula 3000 champion, had Raikkonen not been such a success. The Brazilian, who lives in the western Italian coastal resort of Viareggio, won five races in the Euro F3000 series this year with five pole positions. He completes the season in Spain on Sunday.

He also won the Italian Formula Renault title in 2000 and Brazilian Formula Chevrolet in 1999.

Quick Times

Massa impressed Ferrari-engined Sauber after remarkably quick times over 1,589 km of testing at the Mugello test track in Italy this month and last. Reports in Italy have suggested that Ferrari are interested in Massa but the Swiss boss said the Italian team had no deal with the Brazilian.

"There is no pre-contract with Ferrari. He lives in Italy, and I believe he drove a race for Alfa Romeo (like Ferrari owned by FIAT) one week ago," he said.

Sauber said Massa was very different to Raikkonen in temperament but had stood out like the Finn for his sheer speed in driving and adapting to the car. He said Germany's Nick Heidfeld would be seen as the team leader but both drivers would have equal status next year.

"Nick is not a number one driver but he has the position of leader. They have equal status," he said.