Sep.9 (GMM) Ferrari is moving towards appointing Felipe Massa the number one driver for the balance of the 2008 season.
Niki Lauda, a former title winner with the Maranello based team, believes any other policy would not make sense."Starting from Monza, Raikkonen must start driving for Massa," the Austrian told the Swiss newspaper Blick."Any other team strategy would not make sense."Lauda said Kimi Raikkonen, the reigning world champion, has had his chance to try to defend that title in 2008."Kimi has not done a good job this season," he said. "He has been quick in races, but not in practice. At Spa he did a perfect job, until the end when he threw it away."Most elements of the Italian media believe Lauda is right in calling for Raikkonen to now be demoted to a supporting role."Kimi as number two? Now is the time for Ferrari to decide," said the sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.Referring to the Belgian grand prix, La Repubblica surmised: "The real outcome: Massa is now number one."