F1 | Williams, Lowe: “Massa? He was a strong candidate for 2018, but we couldn't confirm him before Brazil”

The rush to find out compromised his stay at Williams Felipe Massa. The technical director Paddy lowe revealed the real reason that led to the divorce from the Grove team, and the consequent retirement from Formula 1, of the 36-year-old Brazilian: “By all accounts, Felipe needed an answer before Brazil, but we weren't able to give it to him" – admitted Paddy Lowe to Motorsport.com. “He was still running for a seat and he was a strong candidate, but at that point we weren't in a position to make that commitment. So we decided that he would abandon the dialogues and withdraw from the team.".

Lowe then celebrated the invaluable work done by Massa during his four years at Grove: "It was a great reference for the performance of the FW40. There is always a need for a good reference somewhere in the box. Felipe provided references at each race, and this was really valuable. These references have never been lost. He was always able to give Lance direction (Stroll, ed.), it was quite remarkable”.

Federico Martino