Williams Technical Director Paddy Lowe is playing down suggestions of a rift growing between the team and Felipe Massa as deliberations over their 2018 line-up continue.
With the Brazilian’s chances of staying appearing to be slim, he has become increasingly critical in his comments towards two drivers known to be in the frame to replace him after completing two tests with Williams recently, Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta.
But, despite potentially having just two races left in Formula 1 amid the uncertainty, Lowe claims the distraction is not affecting how they work together at the racetrack.
“It’s something that we’re managing internally. Relationships between teams and drivers around renewals is always tense, unfortunately,” the former Mercedes boss admits.
“Most of us when we got and apply for a job, it’s done in private. In F1 it’s a very public affair and that does make it more awkward than we’d like but Felipe’s a great guy, and he’s got a great relationship with Williams, it’s very respectful both ways. Whatever we conclude together, we’ll remain on good terms.”
12 months after what was thought to be an emotional farewell, next week, Massa will head back home to Interlagos for what again could be his final home race in F1 with the 37-year-old hoping a decision would be in place.
“We’re talking all the time to Felipe, and we’ll see where we get to with that. There are all sorts of scenarios,” Lowe added.
As for the man himself, however: “For sure I will not wait until December,” he said. “I don’t put a timeline but I hope it will be in the next weeks, so I don’t want to arrive in the last two races not knowing about my future. So we will wait and see what the decision is going to be and I hope it will be soon.”
Another twist comes follows the admission of another new name joining the list of potential options following Daniil Kvyat’s dropping from the Red Bull program.
“As I said in Austin, we are considering all drivers who are not contracted,” Lowe said. “That is a fact. Kvyat is a very respectable driver so he should be in the frame.”