Massa claims F1 NEEDS popular driver to stay in the sport for many years
Massa claims F1 NEEDS popular driver to stay in the sport for many years
Felipe Massa hopes that Daniel Ricciardo can stay in Formula 1 for several years after being given a lifeline at AlphaTauri.
The Australian replaced Nyck de Vries at Red Bull's sister team after being dropped by McLaren at the end of 2022.
He hopes to get back to the Red Bull team in due course and take Sergio Perez's seat alongside Max Verstappen.
READ MORE: Horner shares emotional farewell including Vettel tribute amid tragic news
Massa, a former rival of Ricciardo's, believes F1 needs to keep him in the sport thanks to his huge following and marketability.
Massa: It was the correct change
"In my view, it was a correct change, from what De Vries was showing," Massa told Motorsport.com.
"In fact, I expected much more from him for the driver that he is. Something didn't fit, but I think the change was correct.
"I hope that Ricciardo stays there for many years because he is a very important player in F1.
"He is a guy that everyone likes, he is a guy who has a very important charisma, with many fans. Without a doubt, it is a positive change.”
READ MORE: F1 boss breaks his silence on Ricciardo SNUB
Related news
Ricciardo ready to be 'beat up' in Austin after long injury layoff
Embarrassing Ricciardo error revealed ahead of US Grand Prix weekend
Ricciardo told what he must do to earn Red Bull move
F1 team confirm Ricciardo return
Most read
FIA take action after Verstappen track limits mishap
F1 News Today: FIA make changes as Mercedes receive double penalty and Horner curses bad luck
Red Bull to replace driver at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Stroll issues Alonso Aston Martin contract verdict
Horner takes aim at Kravitz with savage jibe at Sky Sports pundit
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nyck De Vries
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Australia 2023
- Grand Prix of China 2023
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
- Miami Grand Prix 2023
- Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
- AWS Gran Premio de España 2023
- Grand Prix du Canada 2023
- Grand Prix of Austria 2023
- Aramco Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Italy 2023
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
- Grand Prix of Japan 2023
- Qatar Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of the United States 2023
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
- Rolex Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2023
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860