According to the latest rumour, Felipe Massa may have agreed a ’Barrichello-clause’ in the pages of his new Ferrari contract.
As the 29-year-old arrived in Turkey mid last week, the Italian team said Massa will keep racing a Ferrari in 2011 and 2012, contrary to speculation that Mark Webber or Robert Kubica might replace him.
But so far in 2010, Massa has struggled to match the pace of his new Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso, including in Turkey, where he was outqualified before driving a messy race and crossing the line a lap down.
The latest edition of the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell reports rumours that one of the conditions of Massa’s contract renewal was that he agree to be the number two driver.
’Barrichello clause’ is a reference to Michael Schumacher’s former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, who famously raced to support the championship charges of the team’s favoured driver.
Massa is quoted as responding to the rumours: "Rubbish", while Alonso refused to comment.