After a lengthy period of speculation as to his future the Williams Martini team confirmed that Felipe Massa will be leaving the team at the end of the 2017 Formula One season. Felipe has been with the Williams team for four years and was meant to have left the team back in 2016 but the departure of Valtteri Bottas saw Felipe stay with the team for 2017. As for who will replace him the team stated that they will announce their 2018 driver line-up in due course.
Massa to leave Williams
Martini Racing
Williams Martini
Racing confirmed that Felipe Massa will leave the team at the end of the
2017 Formula One season.
Felipe made his debut with Williams in 2014. During the last four years, he
has helped the team secure third place in the Constructors’ Championship in
2014 and 2015, and fifth place in 2016. After initially indicating he would
retire at the end of last year, he returned at Williams’ request for the
2017 season, and the team currently stands fifth in the Constructors’
Championship.
Felipe Massa said: “As everyone knows, after announcing my retirement from
Formula One last year, I agreed to return this season to help Williams when
the call came. I have now enjoyed four great years with the team, but my
career in Formula One will finally come to an end this season. Once more, I
would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me
throughout this time: my wife and my father, my whole family, my manager
Nicolas and all my friends, colleagues and sponsors. I would also like to
add a huge thank you to all of the fans who have been incredibly supportive
and passionate over the years. I take so many great memories with me as I
prepare for my final two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and although they
will be emotional, I am looking forward to ending on a high note and
preparing for a new chapter in my career.”
Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, Williams Martini Racing added: “I
would like to thank Felipe for all he has done for the team over the last
four years. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with him. We are
especially grateful that he agreed to postpone his retirement from Formula
One for a year, after Valtteri joined Mercedes, which demonstrated the depth
of the relationship we built during our time together. We appreciate that it
wasn’t an easy decision for him to return, after having such an emotional
send-off at the end of last year. On behalf of Sir Frank, and all the team,
we give our very best wishes to Felipe for the future.”
The team will announce its 2018 driver line-up in due course.
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