Massa: Williams paying price for putting money first
Felipe Massa believes former team Williams is paying the price for putting money first in some of its decisions for this year, although he hopes it can bounce back in Formula 1 soon.









Williams has endured a tougher than expected start to 2018, and is the only team that has yet to score a point in the first three races of the campaign.
Massa, who retired from F1 at the end of last season and was replaced by Sergey Sirotkin, believes the difficulties that Williams is facing can be traced back to it not having the kind of money that is enjoyed by the big manufacturer teams.
The Grove-based outfit announced this week that it had enjoyed a slight increase in revenues for last year, but was aware of the gulf in spending between it and the major squads.
And its lack of freely-available resources has played a part in prompting it to take the inexperienced but well-backed duo of Lance Stroll and Sirotkin rather than well-paid superstar drivers.
Speaking to Motorsport.com at last weekend's Rome Formula E race, Massa said: "It's true that the team was suffering from the financial situation and I think they made decisions for 2018 putting money first.
"But this is not enough to make a competitive championship.
"All I can say is that I came out with my head held high. I have a good relationship with everyone at Grove and I hope that the best for the team comes out as soon as possible.
"But I can add that I'm happy to have made my decision last year."
When asked if, based on Williams' current struggles, his retirement from F1 was perfectly timed, he said: "Yes. I chose the right time and now I'm enjoying my life. I hope Williams can recover."
Ferrari surprise
Reflecting on the battle at the front of the grid, Massa said that he surprised at the early season success of Ferrari.
"To tell you the truth I didn't expect it," he said. "I expected Mercedes to be far ahead of Ferrari, and I think even Red Bull could be fighting them.
"On the other hand, what we saw in the first races, was great for the sport because we did not see just one team winning.
"I am happy that Ferrari has started well. In the Maranello team they have made several changes in the last two years and many thought they were backwards.
"On the other hand, at the Cavallino, they have shown that they have a large group that knows how to work very well. This makes me happy because I've always been a Ferrari fan."
Interview by Franco Nugnes

Previous article
What F1 can learn from IndyCar's downforce U-turn
Next article
F1 future: A big Five weeks to decide what's in and who's out

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Felipe Massa |
Teams | Williams |
Author | Jonathan Noble |
Massa: Williams paying price for putting money first
Trending
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end