Felipe Massa © Ferrari S.p.A.
Ferrari has swiftly denied reports Felipe Massa could be dumped even before his 2012 contract runs out.
Among the Italian press' hypothetical candidates for the struggling Brazilian's seat are Sergio Perez, Adrian Sutil and even the out-of-work Italian Jarno Trulli.
But according to O Estado de S.Paulo correspondent Livio Oricchio, Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni dismissed the reports as being "without foundation".
Colajanni added that Ferrari is fully supportive of Massa's situation, and has built up a new F2012 chassis for him to race this weekend after underperforming in Australia.
Oricchio quoted Massa as having said after Melbourne that he believed there was a problem with his original chassis.
"My setup was not very different from Alonso's," said the 30-year-old, "but my tyres were gone after five laps."
