Sergio Perez is not a leading candidate to replace Felipe Massa next season, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said.
“We never take a decision before the second half of the season,” the Italian told Reuters.
Montezemolo acknowledged Brazilian Massa’s surge of form in Monaco last weekend, amid speculation Sauber’s Perez – already the cream of Ferrari’s driver development programme – might nonetheless be fast-tracked into the race seat for 2013.
“No,” he said of the 22-year-old Mexican. “Perez is a good driver but to drive a Ferrari you need more experience.”
That is where 35-year-old Australian and Monaco winner Mark Webber might come in, with multiples sources indicating a one-year Ferrari deal for 2013 would pave the way for Perez to step up a season later. But Red Bull’s Webber insisted: “This (speculation) always happens around this time of year.
“Only rarely does anyone do anything now, or make any major decisions,” he is quoted on Saturday by AFP news agency.
Source:GMM
