The 35 year-old Williams driver has announced today that he will be retiring from Formula One at the end of the current season. During a 15 year career, he has won 11 races and came within one point of winning the 2008 world championship. He has said that he is: “relieved and happy” and added that: “You need to be strong enough to make decisions that are quite difficult.”
His career will come to an end at the Abu Dhabi grand prix, his 250th race within F1. Despite deciding to retire “some months ago”, he chose to announce his retirement today in tribute to Michael Schumacher who announced his departure from F1 on this day in 2006. Schumacher leaving Ferrari gave Massa the opportunity to join the successful Italian team, with whom all 11 of his races were won.
Button and Perez are two potential candidates to replace Massa at Williams, with Button likely to be replaced in favor of Vandoorne at McLaren.