Vitaly Petrov thinks it is possible Felipe Massa will lose his Ferrari seat long before the 2012 season is over.
But Caterham’s Russian driver, who moved from Renault (now Lotus) at the end of last season, does not believe reports that Ferrari could sack the struggling Brazilian imminently, such as after next weekend’s Monaco grand prix.
"I don’t think they’ll fire Massa just now. At least not until August," Petrov is quoted by the state owned Moscow news agency Ria Novosti.
There are six races until August’s month-long calendar ’summer’ break.
So while Petrov thinks Massa’s career is genuinely in danger, he does not agree that Ferrari is ramping up the pressure on the 30-year-old.
"I wouldn’t say that Ferrari are criticising him that strongly," he said. "They’re not saying he has one more chance or anything like that."