• The Inside Line

The tale of the two Felipes

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Wednesday's announcement that Felipe Nasr had signed for Sauber certainly put the cat among the metaphorical pigeons roosting at the Swiss team, with driver contracts thrown into confusion and the need for much discussion between team principal Monisha Kaltenborn and those drivers who thought they were in position of a valid 2015 contract with Hinwil.

But there is a chance that the signing of Nasr could have ramifications elsewhere on the grid.

The mystery of Fernando Alonso's next move has yet to be resolved, but the signing of Felipe Nasr could prove to be key to finding the answer.

Alonso wants to race for a team that can give him the chance of adding at least one more drivers' championship title to the two he racked up nearly a decade ago. There has been much speculation that the Spanish racer will move to Honda-powered McLaren for 2015, but given that the Woking racers have challenged for fewer championships than Ferrari in recent years, the move never seemed entirely logical.

Added to McLaren's recent run of average form is the complication of the new Honda power unit. It might be excellent, but it might be rubbish. No one knows, and no one will know until the unit is tested, ideally on a race track while inside a car. Dynos can only tell you so much, after all - there is little substitute for the real world.

Which is why there have been quiet mutterings of late that Alonso's new home would not be Woking, but Grove.

The original version of the rumour saw Valtteri Bottas making way for Alonso, the Finnish driver moved across to another Mercedes-powered team so that Felipe Massa would retain his seat. As the only Brazilian driver in the sport, Massa's continuing presence was vital to Brazilian broadcaster Globo, who pay the same high fee for broadcasting rights to FOM as do the likes of Sky and NBC.

In order to get a worthwhile return on their investment in Formula One, Globo need a Brazilian driver on whom to anchor their coverage. As the only Brazilian left in the sport, Felipe Massa was that man, his position partly protected by Bernie Ecclestone's need to keep his high-paying broadcasters happy.

But now that Nasr is on the scene, giving Globo another focus for their coverage, Massa is no longer the protected entity he once was. And as a consequence, Felipe could be told to move over for 2015, Fernando being faster than he is.

It may be speculation, but it makes an awful lot of sense. And in the absence of a spare seat at Mercedes, a move to Williams is the only way that Fernando Alonso can leave Ferrari for a Mercedes-powered championship contender. Watch this space...

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