JULY 16, 2002

Massa denies Ferrari link

FELIPE MASSA says that he has no contract with Ferrari. Speaking at a Credit Suisse-organized lunch at the Automobile Club de France in Paris, the young Brazilian said that "there is no contract with Ferrari. I have a contract with Sauber and I hope to be with the team for another two years".

There has been speculation since last year that Massa has some kind of arrangement with Ferrari for the future.

Massa's rise to F1 has been meteoric with one season of Formula Renault and then a year in the European Formula 3000 series before being plucked from relative obscurity by Sauber.

Massa paid tribute to the team's chief engineer Jacky Eeckelaert for helping him in his career.

"He's really important," Felipe said. "Jacky's a bit like a father to me."

The function at the ACF was attended by a variety of luminaries including the Malaysian ambassador in France Her Excellency Tunku Datuk Nazihah Tunku Mohd Rus.