Breaking news
Formula 1
Massa returns to F1 as Bottas replacement
The Williams team has confirmed Felipe Massa will race alongside Lance Stroll in the 2017 Formula 1 season, replacing Mercedes-bound Valtteri Bottas.
Pablo Elizalde
Edited: Jan 16, 2017, 2:44 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Massa, who had announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the past season, will thus continue racing for another year with the Grove-based squad.
Williams said the deal was for one year.
The team also confirmed Bottas has been released to join Mercedes.
The 35-year-old Brazilian was convinced to return to racing as Williams wanted an experienced driver to partner rookie Stroll in a season with big regulation changes.
"Firstly, I am very happy to have an opportunity to return to Williams," said Massa. "I always intended to race somewhere in 2017, but Williams is a team close to my heart and I have respect for everything it is trying to achieve.
"Valtteri has a great opportunity, given the turn of events over the winter, and I wish him all the best at Mercedes.
"In turn, when I was offered the chance to help Williams with their 2017 Formula 1 campaign, it felt like the right thing to do. I certainly have not lost any of my enthusiasm for racing and I'm extremely motivated to be coming back to drive the FW40.
"The support from my fans over the last few weeks has been a huge boost and I'm grateful for that. I also look forward to working with Lance; I've known him for many years and seen his talent develop during that time, so I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together."
Bottas had a contract with the team for this year, but the Finn will leave the squad to replace world champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.
An official announcement is expected later today.
Massa, who has 250 grand prix starts to his name, finished the 2016 season in 11th position, three places and 32 points behind Bottas.
Claire Williams added: "I'm delighted that Felipe has agreed to come out of retirement to be a part of our 2017 campaign.
"With Valtteri having a unique opportunity to join the current Constructors' Champions, we have been working hard to ensure that an agreement could be made with Mercedes to give Valtteri this fantastic opportunity.
"Valtteri has been part of the Williams family since 2010 and in that time has proved a huge talent, securing nine podium finishes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him on behalf of the whole team, and wish him a successful season as he joins Mercedes.
"Felipe has always been a much-loved member of the Williams family, and having the opportunity to work with him again is something we all look forward to.
"He was always going to race somewhere in 2017, as he has not lost that competitive spirit, and it was important that we had a strong replacement in order for us to let Valtteri go.
"Felipe re-joining us provides stability, experience and talent to help lead us forward. He is a great asset for us."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article "A new challenge" - Sauber signs Pascal Wehrlein for 2017 F1 season
Next article Completing the F1 2017 driver puzzle – Felipe Massa stays on at Williams, Valtteri Bottas moves to Mercedes
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Pablo Elizalde
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP Jan 27, 2025
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
MotoGP
MotoGP Dec 14, 2024
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
Formula 1
Formula 1 Nov 27, 2024
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
More from
Felipe Massa
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
2 mo
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Formula 1
Formula 1 8 mo
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
Formula 1
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
11 mo
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
More from
Williams
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
13 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 d
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
3 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
4 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 8 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe