Ferrari are facing quite a dilemma in finalizing a team mate for Fernando Alonso for the 2013 season of Formula 1 as they look to secure a new driver by the end of September.

Although there have been lots of names mentioned as possible targets and negotiations with drivers as well, the Italian team is yet to finalize who will take the place of Felipe Massa in the next season. Although there have not been any concrete decisions made by the team regarding the Brazilian, it is understood that he will not be retained.

Ferrari have held informal talks with Jenson Button of McLaren Mercedes but it is highly unlikely that he will make the switch and sources close to the team have also quickly dispelled rumors that they are looking at the Lotus F1 Team driver as a possible replacement for Massa. At this time, the favorites to win a place in the driver’s seat of the new Ferrari car look to be the Force India pair of Paul di Resta and also Nico Hulkenberg, alongside Mexican driver Sergio Perez of the Sauber F1 Team.

But according to the reports, The Prancing Horse is extremely eager for Jenson Button but the switch is extremely complicated as Button has a contact agreement with the British team. He is in just the first year of his ‘two plus one’ contract with McLaren which will end in 2013 and even after that, the team will have the option of retaining him.

Moreover, Ferrari also don’t want to give the Briton the 2 year contract he wants as they try to leave the option of getting Sebastian Vettel in from the 2014 season. And all these complications are threatening to push Ferrari’s search for a new number 2 driver to the level of desperation.