SEPTEMBER 5, 2002

Massa and Toyota

We hear that attempts are going on to try to put Felipe Massa into a drive at Toyota, despite the fact that all the signs at the moment are that the Toyota team is going to hire the soon-to-be-crowned CART champion Cristiano da Matta.

We hear that attempts are going on to try to put Felipe Massa into a drive at Toyota, despite the fact that all the signs at the moment are that the Toyota team is going to hire the soon-to-be-crowned CART champion Cristiano da Matta. Our sources in America say that a settlement has been made with da Matta's current employer Carl Haas, and all that is now needed is a deal between Toyota and Da Matta.

Other sources are suggesting that there is a move afoot to get Massa into the team alongside Olivier Panis. This may be part of a negotiating game that is going on, but it also makes a lot of sense because Massa has F1 experience, is clearly quick and is available cheaply - if only because he does not have many options.