Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

Williams felt "bad" about tempting Massa out of retirement

Claire Williams admits she felt "bad" about asking Felipe Massa if he would return to drive for Williams in 2017, and was relieved to realise that the Brazilian had not wanted to end his F1 career in the first place.

Felipe Massa, Williams

Felipe Massa, Williams

Williams F1

Rob Smedley, Head of Vehicle Performance, Williams, and the team say a fond goodbye to Felipe Massa, Williams, after his final race for the team and in F1
Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India F1 with Felipe Massa, Williams on the drivers parade
Felipe Massa, Williams FW38
Felipe Massa, Williams F1 Team
Felipe Massa, Williams, waves to his home fans after retiring from the race
Felipe Massa, Williams

Williams contacted Massa in December, just after he had been at the factory for the team's Christmas party.

The Brazilian did not take much persuasion, as it became clear that he had stopped primarily because he knew that a top drive would not be available, and not because he had had enough of the sport.

"Bless him, Felipe had announced his retirement, we had a whole fanfare around it, and then to have to phone your ex-driver up and say 'would you mind coming out of retirement?', you feel quite bad about it," Williams told Sky Sports News.

"But I've never heard anyone so happy and excited, so it was a big relief for us."

She is confident that Massa can still do a good job for the team, and insists his motivation is still intact. 

"We are never going to put a driver in the car who we don't believe can deliver. As everyone saw even in his last race last year, he delivered for this team.

"He has lost none of his motivation. I know there's a lot of talk out there, 'Let the guy retire, leave him alone.' He wants to come back.

"Little known to me, I didn't actually realise that he didn't really want to retire, and so I think Felipe is going to do a good job this year."

Williams made the interesting observation that this 'bonus' season will mean that Massa is not under pressure, implying that he has already accepted that he will stop for good at the end of his new one-year deal.

"He's got a year to just have some fun and sometimes when that's the case the pressure is off. He can just go out there and deliver, without worrying about anything else.

"So I'm looking forward to seeing what he could do, and having that pairing with Lance I hope is going to work really well for us."

 

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Analysis: Will Newey find the loopholes in the 2017 F1 rules?
Next article Mercedes signs Russell as F1 junior driver

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global