Formula One: Felipe Massa to retire at the end of 2017 season

Felipe Massa has announced his retirement from Formula One racing for the second time in two years, leaving an opening at Williams for the 2018 season.

The youth movement is strong in racing around the world, and the Formula One world championship is no exception. Young guns like Lance Stroll, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Pascal Wehrlein have made a name for themselves in F1, and another opportunity could be coming in 2018.

For the second time in as many years, Felipe Massa has announced his retirement from Formula One racing, effective at season’s end.

Originally, Massa was set to retire at the end of the 2016 season, with Lance Stroll taking his place with the organization. But following the surprise retirement of Nico Rosberg after winning the world title, Mercedes poached Valtteri Bottas from the team, leaving a void for 2017. Massa was drafted back into the team for at least one more year.

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Much uncertainty has surrounded the Williams team for 2018, particularly around that second seat alongside Stroll. The team has slipped in recent years from the third to fourth best team on the grid consistently to battling near the bottom of the points. Williams has tested two former F1 drivers, Paul DiResta and Robert Kubica, as possible drivers for the 2018 season, but no decision has been made yet. Massa wanted to know his plans for the next year before his home Grand Prix in Brazil, which comes next week.

Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal at Williams Martini Racing, had this to say about the retirement of Felipe Massa from the team at the end of the season:

"“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 1 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.”"

Massa will likely have another emotional ride next Sunday for the final time at Interlagos, very similar to last year’s race there. His final Formula One event will come in the season finale in Abu Dhabi. With eleven wins to his credit in F1, Massa will have two opportunities to add to that number, though Williams is currently seen as the fourth or fifth best team in the paddock at the moment.

Next: Could Lewis Hamilton Win 7 Formula One Titles?

Are you sad to see Felipe Massa officially retiring from Formula One? Who do you think will replace him at Williams Martini Racing? What will Massa’s legacy be among past F1 drivers?

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