Felipe Massa Announces Retirement from F1: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Williams' Felipe Massa has announced he will retire from Formula One at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
According to Pablo Elizalde of Motorsport.com, the driver revealed his plans on Thursday:
"In recent months I have been thinking a lot about my future and I have taken the decision that at the end of this season, I will leave Formula 1.
Life presents us with many choices and I think for me it has got to the time where I have to go and do something different.
Maybe you will see me again at the wheel of a race car, but at the moment the only certainty I have is that I will have a lot of time to decide on what I do in the future.
"
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Per Channel 4 F1, he reflected positively on his career:
F1 shared some of the numbers behind his time in the sport, while Williams marked the announcement with a video:
The 35-year-old started out at Sauber in 2002 before joining Ferrari in 2006.
It was with the Italian team that Massa enjoyed the best season of his career—in 2008, he won six times, including the final race of the year at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but he missed out on the world title to Lewis Hamilton by just one point.
Massa has been unable to replicate the feat since, with sixth place being the highest he's finished—it was his final position last year in the second of what will have been three seasons spent with Williams, whom he joined from Ferrari in 2014.
Reaction to the news poured in on Twitter, with many offering tributes to the driver:
Meanwhile, F1 broadcaster Jennie Gow is already looking to Williams' future:
Indeed, the team must not set about finding his replacement for next season. Reserve driver Paul di Resta could be promoted alongside Valtteri Bottas, while it would not be a surprise if Jenson Button were to move given his recent struggles at McLaren.
As for Massa, he's sure to get a magnificent reception at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix on Sunday.
He is currently in 10th place in the drivers' championship with 39 points.
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