The Formula One world will suffer a significant loss in 2017 as veteran Brazilian driver Felipe Massa retires at the end of this season, while Britain’s Jenson Button is taking a year out to fulfil an ambassadorial role with McLaren before possibly returning to the track in 2018.
Massa, who almost won the Formula One championship for Ferrari in 2008 before Lewis Hamilton snatched it away at the last corner of the final race, competed in his 243rd race at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
The 35-year-old Williams driver won 11 races for Ferrari between 2006 and 2008, and said: “After 15 years in Formula One, this will be my last.”
He is the second longest-serving Ferrari driver of all time, behind only legend Michael Schumacher, winner of the first grand prix staged in Bahrain. Appropriately, Massa explained: “I chose Monza to make this announcement because 10 years ago Michael announced here that he was retiring.
“He chose to stop to give me the opportunity to drive for the team ... and here is almost my second country and it is a very important place to do this.”
One of Bahrain’s favourite sons, he won twice here in 2007 and 2008 and frequently described the Bahrain International Circuit as one of his favourites.
Button, 36, a winner here in 2009, has decided to take a break from the sport but will continue to work with the McLaren-Honda team and remain as the reserve driver.
He said: “There are many things I want to do that I haven’t been able to do because of the F1 schedule. When you drive in F1, it is your life, and I definitely need a break from that in 2017.
“In 2018 the team have an option on me to race for McLaren-Honda, which is pretty awesome.”
