This morning Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas took to social media to announce that they would be staying with Williams Martini Racing for 2016.
Williams retain Massa and Bottas for 2016
This is not an unexpected announcement, With Bottas rumoured move to Ferrari having being quashed due to the Scuderia announcing Kimi Raikkonen for a further season. It was looking evermore likely that Williams would keep Felipe and Valtteri for a further year.
Having secured seven podiums so far with team Valtteri Bottas has shown he has the speed and consistency to fight at the top. Felipe Massa a proven race winner for Ferrari and runner up in the 2008 championship continues to bring his speed and experience to the team, securing pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix in 2014 and four podiums are his best results for Williams.
Speaking from the official announcement released by the team Felipe Massa said; “I am very happy to be a part of the Williams family. I am in my second year here and am so pleased to be staying as we are working very well together as a team. They respect me a lot and the results are there, and it has been so nice to be part of the big turnaround the team has seen since the end of 2013. I can’t wait to carry on and continue pushing even more for the team, and for myself. Thank you to Frank, Claire, Mike, Pat and the whole Williams team for their ongoing support and belief in me, as we build on what is already a great relationship.”
Valtteri Bottas added; “I am really pleased to be staying with the team for a fourth F1 race season. We have been getting stronger as a team and I look forward to what next year will bring, as I believe we can achieve even stronger results than what we have seen so far. I can’t wait for 2016, however I am still fully focused on this season as we still have plenty of challenges to achieve. I must thank Frank, Claire, Mike, the Board, and everyone at Williams for their continued trust in me.”
Heading into 2016 Williams will be looking to make further in roads into the works Mercedes team advantage at the top and with Ferrari looking to do the same, 2016 could be a very close season in the chase hunt down Mercedes.
Main image:
