Felipe Massa says Williams’ proposed plan to evaluate Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta in a 2014-spec Formula 1 car will not give the team any concrete conclusions.
Massa has been with Williams since 2014 and came out of retirement to remain with the squad for 2017, in the wake of Valtteri Bottas’ move to Mercedes to replace Nico Rosberg.
While rookie Lance Stroll is expected to stay on, Massa’s future remains unclear, amid speculation that the team is to run Kubica and di Resta in a 2014 car this month.
Kubica is evaluating the prospect of a comeback and tested for Renault earlier this year, though the manufacturer opted to sign Carlos Sainz Jr., once the Spaniard became available.
Di Resta, meanwhile, raced for Force India between 2011 and 2013 and became Williams’ reserve driver last year, stepping in to replace an unwell Massa for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Massa, though, is unconvinced that the test will yield the required results for Williams.
“I think it doesn’t change anything for me,” he said. “Williams know 100 per cent what I can give to the team and, even if you do a test with a car that is four years before, completely different.
“You cannot evaluate too much, as well. So, it doesn’t change anything for me, to be honest.”
Massa is also hopeful that the situation can be resolved by the time the sport arrives in Brazil next month.
“Definitely I think it would be good for the team and also for myself that we know what’s going to happen before the race in Brazil,” he said.
“We’ll see if this will be possible but I really hope so.”
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