Massa negotiating with Toyota?

Further to the rumours that Ferrari could be courting Fernando Alonso for their 2008 driver line-up, Felipe Massa is reportedly in talks with Toyota about a possible switch next season.

The latest development in a story that has gathered pace since the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, the Daily Mail is reporting that plans are in place for Massa to be manoeuvred out of the Scuderia in favour of double World Champion Alonso.

Much of this rumour stems from speculation that Jean Todt could be ousted in a management shuffle at Ferrari, putting his son Nicolas, Massa's manager, in a precarious position within the team.

As such, Massa is said to have opened negotiations with Toyota in readiness for being dropped, Toyota are argubly the only other available team on the grid with the capacity to provide the funds required to secure the five-time race winner.

Should this occur, it could provide a crucial opening for Alonso to defect to Ferrari as his position in McLaren becomes increasingly isolated in light of his involvement in the spying scandal, one that that has cost the team $100 million and all of their constructor points.

Although it is thought Ferrari will have to pay a substantial sum to buy Alonso out of his fixed contract, the fact that the Spaniard and team principal Ron Dennis are no longer on speaking terms could massage his exit from the team before it expires.