Massa
 

Looks like Felipe is staying with Williams so that Bottas can move to Mercedes.

I'm a bit surprised by this. Looked to me he was ready and happy to retire.

Other than a £5M contract, I'm not sure what they offered to lure him back. I understand Williams wanting him though; can't make good comparisons between 2016 and 2017 cars without someone who's driven the 2016.

One of my favorite drivers on my all time favorite team. I wish them well. Massa was a champion for all of what, six seconds? What a shame. He deserves one. Williams can no longer deliver in this world of modern F1, I'm afraid. Massa's star has set. Bottas's is still rising. I hope he kicks Hamilton's ass...

It is surprising that Massa would return after retirement for what a few weeks? I presume he retired because the fun was gone and he did not have that burning desire to win. I wonder what they offered him to return. I don't see Bottas as an equal to Hamilton. Lewis will like being the clear number one.

Isn't next year when the cars change dramatically? That could well shuffle the deck with the drivers. Some drivers do better in certain kinds of cars. Some do well in precise, constrained, relatively docile cars where others do better in hairy chested he-man uncontrollable beasts. Rally experience seems to help with the latter, and I believe Bottas has some? I believe next year moves towards that harder to drive end of the spectrum, after the flatulant blat of the current crop was routinely drowned out by the snoring emanating from the grandstands.

This should also serve to reset the clock with the manufacturers. Maybe someone else will get a technical head start as Braun did at that big rules change, enabling another solid mid-pack driver to sneak in a championship before the rest can react.

Yea, the rules change the cars a LOT for 2017. We can all hope Mercedes does not continue the absolute domination of F1. I like Mercedes, but I do want to see a more even spread of the winners. I really hope Hamilton has a hard time with the new car and becomes a mid pack guy.

i was hoping this thread was about Christmas Tamales. :(

I think Felipe retired because there appeared to be no place at Williams for him in 2017, and he didn't want to drive for one of the bottom feeders.

Money is money, and then there is just hellaciously outrageous wonga type money.

Report: Lance Stroll's father spent $80 million to get son F1 seat

Not sure that Massa chugging around the track punching a clock will help Lance, but wth gotta be happy for Felipe. He can have more money to retire with.

And a chance to reach the checkered flag at his last home GP?

^^^este

Ha ha.. I've got some ready to serve up on Christmas Eve!

Hmmmm, a day after Mercedes makes it o'fficial that they hired Bottas, massa decides to come out of retirement and drive for williams for another year.

Coinky-dink?

Either way, big mistake.

He wasn't fast before, now he's going to end up being the object of pity.
He should have retired two years ago and stayed retired.

^ No, the deal with Stroll was that Williams would hire a mentor for him. That's Massa's role.

As I said, it is doing Massa no good, but hey money is money.

That has been in the works since Rosberg retired, it was no big secret that was the only way Bottas was leaving, Williams wanted an experienced driver to go with Lance-pay-driver (who might actually be decent).. Massa was the easiest way for continuity (paid for by Mercedes by the way) and they also got Paddy Lowe without any complications from Mercedes. Well played Claire Williams but you get a sense they won't do wonders - Bottas trounced Massa this year...

Is the surprise that he would come back ? He was contracting to do Formula E so full retirement was not in the cards anyway... Personally I think it's too bad, after all the outpouring of emotion during his retirement, to go back and do that again is a little weird, like 2 b'day parties... Especially for the glory of another year at Williams and at best, solid top 10s...woop dee doo..

And if he gets hurt this year, his family will be kicking themselves (I doubt you can get hurt in Formula E, they're too slow ;-) but I'm eager to see what Bottas can do at Mercedes, he's been talked up for years, time to deliver or else...

Note Valteri has a 1 year contract with options (on merc's side) in case you know, in 2018 Alonso or Vettel are tired of their respective Crapwagons or Hamilton decides to become a full time rapper ;-)

Really looking forward to see what Bottas can do in a Merc. Thrilled Massa stays on.

This next season may be one of the most memorable in years so I see can wanting to stay it for one more year. Last year the cars were close to and even slightly exceeding the V10 car's lap times which were the fastest F1 cars ever. Now they're expected to be 4-5 seconds a lap faster than that! Looks to be pretty exciting especially sitting behind the wheel.

On the other hand, with the expected much higher cornering speeds, wider cars, more aero, and a couple of young wild drivers, this year is likely to have some horrendous crashes which many of the old timers are happy to miss.

I wish my dad had been a BILLIONAIRE! :mad:

The kid must have talent but money sure helps open doors.