Ahead of his home race in Brazil, Felipe Massa has announced he will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2017 season after 15 years in the sport.
The 37-year-old’s future has been uncertain with his current Williams team assessing several options to replace him for next year, with former Renault driver Robert Kubica and current reserve at the Grove outfit Paul di Resta both completing two tests in the 2014 car at Silverstone and the Hungaroring.
Other names have been mentioned too, including Pascal Wehrlein and recently Daniil Kvyat, therefore, Massa, who was also in the frame, has apparently decided to take matters into his own hands by deciding he will not continue.
“As everyone knows, after announcing my retirement from F1 last year, I agreed to return this season to help Williams when the call came,” he began in a video posted on Instagram. “I have now enjoyed four great years with the team, but my career in F1 will finally come to an end this season.
“Once more, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this time: my wife and my father, my whole family, my manager Nicolas and all my friends, colleagues and sponsors. I would also like to add a huge thank you to all of the fans who have been incredibly supportive and passionate over the years.
“I take so many great memories with me as I prepare for my final two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and although they will be emotional, I am looking forward to ending on a high note and preparing for a new chapter in my career.”
Massa’s departure brings to an end a 15-year career flooded with highs and lows, including an eight-year stint at Ferrari which saw him claim 11 wins and famously come to becoming the champion in 2008.
In 2010, he would return from a near-fatal crash in qualifying in Hungary the previous year when he was hit on the head by a flying spring but wouldn’t reach the same levels he had before instead playing number two to Fernando Alonso. A move to Williams in 2014 resurrected his career with podiums across 2014 and 2015.
A major factor in his decision is likely the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix with the Sao Paulo native wanting to enjoy his final home race and hopefully repeat the emotional scenes from his premature farewell last year though without the mid-race crash.
“I would like to thank Felipe for all he has done for the team over the last four years,” William Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams said. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with him.
“We are especially grateful that he agreed to postpone his retirement from F1 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.”
What will that future bring? Well previously Massa has admitted an interest in Formula E but for now, he will look to enjoy his final two races as an F1 driver.