Felipe Massa will this year enjoy the support of the most famous name in contemporary motor racing, according to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
F1’s 76-year-old commercial rights holder suggested to the ‘Bild-Zeitung’ newspaper that he would put some of his multi-billion dollar empire on Ferrari’s Brazilian ace becoming world champion in the near future.
“(Michael) Schumacher is already like a Ferrari team manager,” Bernie observed to the German tabloid at his Chelsea office, “and he will use his power to help Massa in this season.”
Ecclestone, meanwhile, was asked whether he thought Germany’s Ralf Schumacher and Nick Heidfeld would shine in ’07.
“Ralf is fast but you have to wonder if he sits in the wrong car,” he said, “and BMW look strong but in the past years Heidfeld was never really at the front — why should that change all of a sudden now?”
Bernie also insisted that he is not yet thinking about hanging up his famous white shirt.
“When I turn 100 I will start to think about it,” the diminutive Englishman smiled. “There is still plenty to do.”
