Massa unlikely to keep Ferrari seat

Felipe Massa is unlikely to retain his Ferrari seat in 2007.

With Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Valentino Rossi more strongly linked with the red team, Massa – the number two seat incumbent – appears increasingly as the odd man out.

He signed only a one-year contract for 2006, and is already linked with a return to the now BMW-powered Sauber team.

Rumors from South America suggest that Massa may return to Hinwil next year to replace Jacques Villeneuve, according to the sport1.de publication.

Team principal Jean Todt, however, explained that – with Schumacher, Massa, Raikkonen and MotoGP champion Rossi all in the wings – Ferrari 'must make careful decisions' about next year.

The comments come amid claims that a movement within the walls at Maranello now object to the employment of the 27-year-old motorbike racer.

''If Rossi does not win for us within two races,'' the Frenchman admitted hypothetically to the 'Neuen Zurcher Zeitung' newspaper, ''then he would face attacks on every side.''