In-form Massa extends Ferrari deal

Felipe Massa has signed a one-year contract extension with Ferrari for the 2013 Formula One season.

Following a resurgence in form, 31-year-old is to remain with the Maranello marque for an eighth consecutive year. Earlier this year, it appeared as if Massa was on his way out of the team, collecting a miserable 11 points from the opening eight grands prix.

It was a point emphasised by president Luca di Montezemolo, who claimed given Massa’s form at the time, he had little chance of being retained.

At that stage, at the end of June, Ferrari were known to be on the lookout for a replacement, holding talks with Mark Webber before the Aussie opted to re-sign his own new one-year deal with Red Bull.

However, since the British GP, Massa has only finished out of the points once in the subsequent eight races to claw his way up to ninth in the drivers’ championship.

The Brazilian’s surge has also helped Ferrari overhaul McLaren into second place in the constructors’ championship as the duo attempt to hunt down Red Bull. In finishing second in Japan nine days ago, his first podium for 36 races — the longest top-three drought by a Ferrari driver in the team’s history — and in coming fourth in Korea on Sunday, Massa firmly thrust himself back into Di Montezemolo’s good books.

That prompted talks between the two men at Maranello yesterday, and the offer of a new deal, with Di Montezemolo claiming Massa was “back at a high level”. It will mean another year of feverish speculation next season for Massa, in particular given speculation Sebastian Vettel is primed to join Ferrari in 2014.

Ferrari has long opted for a policy of having a number one driver, as with Alonso at present, and a strong second rather than a duo both vying for the championship, but that is unlikely to stop the rumours from continuing.

Ferrari join Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes in confirming their 2013 line-up, with Lotus certain to retain Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.