Villeneuve Backs Massa Move
Felipe Massa will have no regrets about his decision to go up against Michael Schumacher at Ferrari next season
That is the view of his current Sauber teammate Jacques Villeneuve, who is convinced the young Brazilian will thrive in his new surroundings.
"It's great for him," said Villeneuve, who is hoping to remain at the BMW-owned Sauber team next season.
"He has been a test driver there, he has spent enough time there and he should be quite at ease. They are used to Brazilians there as well so that will be probably easy to move in.
"His manager (Nicolas Todt, son of Jean) is involved so that makes life easier as well, so for him that's great."
Although some doubts remain about Massa's maturity as a Formula One driver, especially because he is still only 24, Villeneuve is convinced that it will not be an issue.
"He is very good, he has matured a lot compared to a couple of years ago when he was very young. He is still young but now he has maturity so that is good.
"He has got to learn how to drive at the front which he'll have to do once he's at Ferrari and which he didn't have the opportunity to practice here.
"I'm not sure Michael will want to teach him, that's not what drivers do; you don't teach other drivers how to beat you."
Massa's opportunity at Ferrari has come about because of the frustrations that Rubens Barrichello has encountered in being a number two to Schumacher.
Villeneuve believes that the number two status Massa will inevitably have at the team could well prove to be a bone of contention.
"He doesn't seem to have the personality for a number two so I don't think that's the reason they signed him. He is a fighter.
"I would be surprised if he just goes there and sits down and accepts everything. It's hard to compare different teams and different situations, Michael is used to being at the front and Felipe has never had the opportunity to be at the front so that's a different mindset.
"He's not one who will just accept being behind. He still has a lot of good years in front of him, he's still in a learning period, he is still progressing and Ferrari can only be good for him.
"He has been a great teammate he's fast, he works hard and we get along. In his position it's the best thing he could have done. For him it's great."
Villeneuve Not Interested in other Teams
Barrichello Warns Massa of Tough Times
Why the future is bright for the British GP
It wasn’t so long ago the situation looked bleak at Silverstone with the future of the British Grand Prix under threat. But a transformation has seen it restored to one of the most important races on the Formula 1 calendar, with bigger and better to come
Could mixed fortunes for F1's leading Brits turn around at Silverstone?
For the first time in many years, none of the local racers starts among the favourites for the British Grand Prix. But George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could have reasons for optimism
Verstappen exclusive: Why F1’s champion isn’t fazed by Silverstone return
Max Verstappen is the world’s number one racing driver… and he’s determined to keep it that way. Speaking exclusively to GP Racing's OLEG KARPOV, the Red Bull driver explains why he’s relishing the 2022 championship battle with Charles Leclerc – and why he’s not worried about returning to Silverstone, the scene of the biggest accident of his career last year
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career