Williams retains Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas for 2016

Williams has announced that it will retain Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas for the 2016 Formula season.

It will be the third successive season that Massa and Bottas have been teammates for the Grove based squad and the decision follows months of speculation that Bottas could leave Willimas to join Ferrari, before the Scuderia decided to resign Kimi Raikkonen for 2016.

The new deal means Bottas will enter his fourth season of racing for Williams, having previously been the team’s test and reserve driver in 2012.

Bottas said. "I am really pleased to be staying with the team for a fourth F1 race season. We have been getting stronger as a team and I look forward to what next year will bring, as I believe we can achieve even stronger results than what we have seen so far.

"I can’t wait for 2016, however I am still fully focused on this season as we still have plenty of challenges to achieve. I must thank Frank, Claire, Mike, the Board, and everyone at Williams for their continued trust in me."

Massa joined Williams from Ferrari at the start of 2014 and explained that he appreciated the team’s respect for him as their relationship enters a third year.

He said: "I am very happy to be a part of the Williams family. I am in my second year here and am so pleased to be staying as we are working very well together as a team.

“They respect me a lot and the results are there, and it has been so nice to be part of the big turnaround the team has seen since the end of 2013."

Team principal Frank Williams explained that continuity was important way to keep the team improving for 2016.

He said: "To be able to enter a third season with one of the strongest driver line-ups on the grid puts Williams in a fantastic position to continue its momentum towards the front of the grid in 2016.

"Felipe thrives in an environment where he is valued and can build a long-term relationship and we are delighted he has become such an important part of the Williams family.

"We are as excited about the prospect of Valtteri's potential as a championship contender as we are about returning the Williams name to the top of Formula 1.

"Felipe and Valtteri quickly developed an exceptional working relationship from the beginning of 2014 and, while they remain fiercely competitive as rivals, they have always recognised the value of their collaboration in driving the team up the grid."