user icon
user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
'Number of announcements' to follow - Williams

'Number of announcements' to follow - Williams

  • Published on 12 Nov 2013 12:07
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
More news will follow now that Felipe Massa has been signed up by Williams for 2014. "It is very exciting for us to be able to confirm our 2014 driver lineup as part of a number of announcements we will be making over the coming weeks," said the British team's deputy boss Claire Williams.

Brazilian Massa, whose Ferrari career has ended after eight seasons, replaces the lucratively PDVSA-backed Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado. There is little doubt PDVSA, the state-run Venezuelan oil company, has had to buy its way out of the estimated EUR 40 million per season deal, which was set to run until 2015.

"It (the branding) won't be on the car for next year," Claire Williams told Reuters on Monday. "I think when our numbers come out next year, people will see what has actually gone on behind the scenes with this whole arrangement," she added.

Massa and Williams insist the 32-year-old Paulista cannot be described as a 'pay-driver'. Indeed, Monday's announcement did not coincide with the expected news that Massa would be followed to Grove by the Brazilian company Petrobras.

Williams, however, said it intends to capitalise on the strong Brazilian economy. "I think Brazil is one of the sport's biggest markets, so it's really up to us to go out and commercialise Felipe as our driver," said Claire Williams.

Livio Oricchio, the well-connected correspondent for O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, hinted that the Massa rumour has been bandied around for some time, ostensibly to drum up interest among potential Brazilian sponsors. But Massa's manager Nicolas Todt insists that the key part of the deal is the 2008 championship runner-up's talent and experience.

"They saw the opportunity to have an experienced and winning driver, still young at 32," said the Frenchman. "Williams wants to renew itself, they need motivated people, so Felipe will bring a great motivation for them," added Todt. "And for Felipe it was very important to feel wanted."

Todt admitted that his role in the deal has been complicated, given the fact he also manages Maldonado, who has been linked with a move to Lotus. About Maldonado, Todt said: "We should have news later this month. Pastor has lost none of the support he had before." Williams said both Massa, and his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas, have 'multi-year' contracts. (GMM)
F1 News Valtteri Bottas Felipe Massa Pastor Maldonado Williams Lotus F1 Ferrari

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

Related news

World Championship standings 2022

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
759
2
Ferrari
554
3
Mercedes
514
4
Alpine F1
173
5
McLaren
159
6
Alfa Romeo Racing
55
7
Aston Martin
55
8
Haas F1
37
9
Alpha Tauri
35
10
Williams
8
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Driver profile

FI Valtteri Bottas 77
  • Team Alfa Romeo Racing
  • Points 1,598
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 163
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (33)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Williams
Williams
Show full profile

Formula 1 Calendar - 2022

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
18 - Mar 20
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
25 - Mar 27
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
8 - Apr 10
Australia
Albert Park
22 - Apr 24
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
6 - May 8
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
20 - May 22
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
27 - May 29
Monaco
Monte Carlo
10 - Jun 12
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
17 - Jun 19
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
1 - Jul 3
United Kingdom
Silverstone
8 - Jul 10
Austria
Red Bull Ring
22 - Jul 24
France
Paul Ricard
29 - Jul 31
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Aug 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
2 - Sep 4
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
9 - Sep 11
Italy
Monza
30 - Oct 2
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
7 - Oct 9
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
21 - Oct 23
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
28 - Oct 30
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
11 - Nov 13
Brazil
Interlagos
18 - Nov 20
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2022

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
18 - Mar 20
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
25 - Mar 27
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
8 - Apr 10
Australia Albert Park
22 - Apr 24
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
6 - May 8
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
20 - May 22
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
27 - May 29
Monaco Monte Carlo
10 - Jun 12
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
17 - Jun 19
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
1 - Jul 3
United Kingdom Silverstone
8 - Jul 10
Austria Red Bull Ring
22 - Jul 24
France Paul Ricard
29 - Jul 31
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Aug 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
2 - Sep 4
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
9 - Sep 11
Italy Monza
30 - Oct 2
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
7 - Oct 9
Japan Circuit Suzuka
21 - Oct 23
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
28 - Oct 30
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
11 - Nov 13
Brazil Interlagos
18 - Nov 20
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar