Massa returns with a new 'baby' for reborn Ferrari

Felipe Massa looked every inch a man reborn yesterday; leaner, fitter and hungrier than ever as Ferrari unveiled the car on which he is pinning his hopes of winning the Formula One world championship he believes he was cheated out of by Renault's race-fixing in 2008.

Ferrari unveil 2010 Formula One car

Ferrari launched its car for the upcoming Formula One season today, naming it the F10 in hope of a return to the team's winning tradition.

Fernando Alonso set for Ferrari deal

• Spaniard will replace Kimi Raikkonen from next year• 'He's pulled off the deal of his life,' says close friendThe two-times world champion Fernando Alonso has signed a deal with Ferrari starting in 2010. It could be officially announced in the run-up to this Sunday's Japanese grand prix at Suzuka.The Spanish driver, who finished third in Sunday's Singapore grand prix to score the Renault team's first podium finish of the season, will partner Felipe Massa after agreeing a three-year contract worth in excess of $30m (£19m).Although Kimi Raikkonen has a contract with Ferrari for 2010, it is believed that the Finn will return to the McLaren-Mercedes squad next year to partner Lewis Hamilton, replacing his fellow Scandinavian Heikki Kovalainen who has been disappointing this season.Neither Ferrari nor McLaren would officially comment on the matter, but a close friend of Alonso said he had little doubt that the Ferrari deal was already done. "Fernando isn't always the most demonstrative of guys, but when he was walking down the paddock he almost looked as though he wanted to leap into the air and click his heels together," he said. "He looked like a guy who'd pulled off the deal of his life."Ferrari currently have three other potential drivers they could call on in the event of Massa not being fully race fit by the start of next season, although the present signs are that the Brazilian driver is well down the road to recovery from head injuries sustained in practice for August's Hungarian grand prix.The other drivers on their books include Giancarlo Fisichella, Luca Badoer, Marc Gené and potentially the seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher, although sources close to the Italian team have ruled out the prospect of the 40-year old making a full-time return to the Formula One field.Meanwhile, Jenson Button will be going to Suzuka knowing that a race win on this challenging high-speed track near Nagoya could set him up to clinch the world championship in Brazil a fortnight later. Button finished fifth at Singapore, crossing the line just ahead of his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, his only serious remaining rival for the title with three races of the season left to run.Next year Button will probably not have to worry about Barrichello driving a similar car as the veteran Brazilian is likely to be replaced by Nico Rosberg, a move which will further strengthen the ties between the Brawn team and their engine suppliers Mercedes-Benz who are anxious to have a German driver in the team.FerrariFormula OneRenaultMotor sportAlan Henryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Alonso 'better' for Ferrari - boss

Fernando Alonso is arriving at Ferrari because the famous Italian team needs a race driver in the Michael Schumacher-mould...  

Alonso ready to end career at Ferrari

Newly-announced Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso said Thursday that he wants to end his career with the famous Italian team and emulate Michael Schumacher's achievements.

Massa sets pace for Ferrari on return

• Massa led seven-car field at Valencia's Cheste circuit• Brazilian completed 32 laps and will test again tomorrowFelipe Massa returned to a competitive Formula One car today and the Ferrari driver was fastest in a morning testing session, the first since a life-threatening crash last summer.Massa led the seven-car field at Valencia's Cheste circuit to start a three-day test session with a best lap time of 1min 13.088sec. Massa, who completed 32 laps, was nearly two-tenths of a second faster than Pedro de la Rosa of Sauber.Massa, 28, suffered a skull fracture during a crash at the Hungarian grand prix in July. The Brazilian underwent lifesaving surgery and missed the rest of the season. Massa has driven older model Ferraris since late last year, but today's outing was his first in the new F10 car.Ferrari set the pace as this year's Formula One campaign got under way, with Michael Schumacher expected to return to the track with Mercedes GP later today. The 41-year-old German is racing again for the first time since retiring in 2006. Team-mate Nico Rosberg was on the track in the morning and was third with a best lap of 1min 13.543sec in the former Brawn GP car, nearly half a second slower than Massa.The McLaren test driver Gary Paffett was fourth, Rubens Barrichello of Williams was fifth, while Renault driver Robert Kubica and Toro Rosso's Sébastien Buemi completed the standings. Massa will also drive tomorrow before giving way to new team-mate Fernando Alonso on Wednesday.Felipe MassaFerrariFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds