Felipe Massa

Felipe Massa finished eighth and Valtteri Bottas 13th in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Both drivers were able to make up positions after the first lap, during the short first stint of the race on the super soft tyre. Massa spent most of the race in a battle for seventh place. He passed Kvyat for P8 in the final stint but was unable to catch Hulkenberg before the finish.

Bottas made contact with Button in his first pit stop, damaging his front wing. He had to pit again for a new nose and later serve a five-second penalty, which dropped him down the field. Bottas and Massa clinched fifth and sixth places in the Drivers’ Championship, with the team having already sealed third in the Constructors’.

Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering: “It wasn’t the way we wanted to end our season, so we will go away and analyse how we could have done better at this race. We seemed to go forward in pace compared to Force India and Red Bull, but starting behind them in qualifying didn’t help us. We shouldn’t dwell on this race too much, we’ve had a really good season and finished a solid third again, which is important to the growth of the team. I’m incredibly proud of the way this team is constantly growing and improving. Our focus has been on the 2016 car for quite a long time, now we’ve got a long winter ahead and we have to come out the starting blocks in a full sprint next year.”

Felipe Massa: “It was a very tough race, but not much happened apart from trying to overtake a car with very similar pace. We didn’t have the pace we wanted and we’ve paid the price in the last few races. This is a poor way to end the season, but it is a good motivator to come back strong in 2016. The guys are working hard so we hope to make gains over the winter.”

Valtteri Bottas: “Of course that was not the way we wanted to finish the season. But in the end this could be good – it was a proper wake-up call that we really need to raise our game if we want to challenge for the wins next year. We all know the facts, we need to find big gains with the car during the winter, and there are operational things we need to do better. Everyone knows it and we are fully motivated to fix these things and have a much better season next year. I need to say a big thank you to everyone in the team because we achieved third place in the Constructors’ and with this team I managed to be fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship. This season gave me some good things to remember, like a couple of very special podiums, but we want more so none of us are fully satisfied yet.”

Valtteri Bottas

Felipe Massa

Valtteri Bottas qualified sixth and Felipe Massa eighth for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Both drivers improved their lap times throughout the three segments of qualifying, but did not have the grip required to challenge the second row of the grid. The positions from fifth to ninth were closely contested with five drivers covered by just four tenths of a second.

Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering: “We probably got as much as we could out of today, given the conditions and how we’ve set up the cars. Obviously that’s not where we want to be, but we’re inside the top 10 and we can look forwards tomorrow and finish higher up. We’ve set the cars up well for the race knowing it would be a compromise for qualifying, so we are still aiming to finish on a high on the podium.”

Valtteri Bottas: “We expected slightly more from qualifying, but I think we have a competitive car for tomorrow to fight with Force India, Red Bull and hopefully Ferrari. The balance felt good today but we were just missing some speed, as we have been all weekend. It should be an exciting race and we will fight to the end for every position to finish the season on a high.”

Felipe Massa: “The lap wasn’t too bad, but the times were very tight at the top. The Force India was very strong and the two positions in front of me were split by just a tenth. Our long run pace is good, but the teams in front are strong so the race could be tough, a hard battle. But we have the opportunity to improve as there will be a few teams with similar pace to us in the fight.”

Felipe Massa, Williams FW37 Mercedes, in the pits.
Photo: Glenn Dunbar/Williams

Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Felipe Massa meets some fans. Photo: Glenn Dunbar/Williams

Valtteri Bottas finished fifth and Felipe Massa eighth in today’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Bottas made a brilliant start to regain two of the three places he lost to a grid penalty. He settled into P5 from the first lap and made a two-stop strategy work. Massa ran in the battle for P6 all day with Hulkenberg and Kvyat. He was unable to find a way past so gambled on a late pit stop for fresh tyres, but was unable to close the gap before the end.

Williams has sealed third place in the constructors’ championship for the second successive season. The race stewards excluded Felipe from the results after his right rear tyre was believed to be in excess of the 110-degree Celsius limit prior to the race. The team has served notice of an appeal.

Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering: “We have achieved our primary target for the season which was to retain third in the constructors’, showing a marked improvement compared to where we were a few years ago. We’ve shown consistency in consolidating that position and the team has worked very well to achieve that. Today’s race was not what we wanted, we just didn’t have enough pace. Valtteri was able to get past Hulkenberg and Kvyat in the first stint and show the car’s true pace, while Felipe was unfortunately caught behind them for most of the race and unable to do the same.”

Valtteri Bottas: “The start was the most exciting part of the race for me as I gained a few places. After that I just had to maintain the tyres and make them work on a two-stop strategy. We were missing pace today so we need to have a look at why and improve for Abu Dhabi. I am so proud of the team to get P3 in the constructors’. We are competing against teams that are much bigger than us, and in some cases beating them, which is really cool. The guys at the track and in the factory have done really well this year, so a massive thank you must go to them and also to Mercedes HPP for a really strong power unit. We want to win though, so next year we must continue to make that step forward.”

Felipe Massa: “The atmosphere is always fantastic here, it’s a great feeling from the people. Unfortunately my race today was not anything to compare with the atmosphere. I was struggling all weekend with lap time. I started eighth and finished eighth, so there isn’t much to say. It was a frustrating race for me. We just need to finish the championship on a high now, with a much better result than I had here.”

Valtteri Bottas leads Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull Racing RB11 Renault), Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM08 Mercedes), Felipe Massa and the remainder of the field at the start.
Photo: Glenn Dunbar/Williams

Another Massa pit stop. Photo: Glenn Dunbar/Williams

Valtteri Bottas

Valtteri Bottas in Parc Ferme after qualifying.
Copyright: Steven Tee/LAT Photographic

Valtteri Bottas qualified fourth and Felipe Massa eighth for tomorrow’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Bottas will start the race from seventh on the grid, following a three-place grid penalty for overtaking under a red flag in practice on Friday. Both drivers improved their lap times in each qualifying session, but traffic cost Felipe time in both Q2 and Q3.

Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering: “Valtteri got all he could out of the car, but Felipe is still missing a little bit so we need to understand why. We now have to focus on the race. The championship position is a priority and we’re in a good position against Red Bull. We need to push on and come out of this race with more points than them, and see what we can do about Ferrari. That’s an important target for us in the next two races.”

Valtteri Bottas: “It was a good qualifying session. I felt more and more comfortable with the car as the grip of the track increased. It’s always a good feeling when you have got the maximum out of the car. It was good to have one quicker car behind, which is always nice. With the penalty I’m starting seventh but we can do a lot of good things from there, it’s a long race and we have good race pace.”

Felipe Massa: “The struggles I had yesterday are still there. We have made changes but I am still losing time in sector two. Normally I don’t have any issues on this track but for some reason it’s not working for me. We will have to look and see where we can gain some time with the limited options available now. The fans will give me such a boost tomorrow so I hope it can be the deciding factor and things will be in my favour.”

After four successful years with Williams, Susie Wolff will retire from competitive motorsport at the end of the 2015 season.

Since being appointed as Development Driver in April 2012, Susie has worked closely with the team over the years before being promoted to Official Test Driver in 2015. Her role has seen her play a big part in the development of the FW35, FW36 and FW37 through extensive simulator work alongside getting behind the wheel for straight line aerodynamic tests and during numerous test days.

This culminated in her driving the FW36 during FP1 at the 2014 British and German Grands Prix, becoming the first female driver to drive in a Grand Prix weekend for two decades.

Speaking on her recent news Susie said: “I’d like to thank Williams for the opportunity they have given me over the last few years which has allowed me to achieve my dream of driving a Formula 1 car. It has been great to work with everyone at the team, both at Grove and trackside, and I’d like to thank everyone who has been part of my journey at Williams. I am now closing this chapter but looking forward to new challenges in the future.”

Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal commented: “It has been a pleasure to work with Susie over the years and see her develop as a driver within the team. Her feedback and knowledge of the car has been an important part our recent development and we will be sorry to see her go. We want to thank her for all her efforts and wish her the very best for her future endeavours. We will of course be supporting both Susie and Felipe at the Race of Champions, and hope Susie has a great weekend to mark the last time we see her race.”

Valtteri Bottas finished third and Felipe Massa sixth. Both cars had good starts but were caught out when Vettel slowed with a puncture and lost ground to the Red Bulls. Early pitstops gave the drivers free air to push and each overtook a Red Bull as the pitstops evened out. A late safety car allowed Massa and Bottas to pit for new option tyres and Bottas  took the opportunity to overtake Kvyat at the restart for the final podium spot.

Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering: “Overall, it was a positive day. The team equipped itself very well to deal with a new track. In terms of altitude, it’s quite a change from other tracks but we didn’t let it affect us. The Red Bulls were very strong around here so to outscore them is pleasing. We have missed a few podiums over the last few races, so to be back up there is great. We made good strategic calls, both drivers drove exceptionally well and the team as a complete unit operated very well.”

Valtteri Bottas: “I’m very pleased with the result today. Every decision from the team on strategy was right, so I’m really delighted with what we achieved as a team. It feels so good, after so much bad luck recently and so much hard work, to get the reward. It was a great feeling on the podium, that was very special. Regarding the incident with one of the Ferraris, it was unlucky that it was me and him again but of course I didn’t want it to end up like that.”

Felipe Massa: “It was a very positive race for the team, to have a good fight with Red Bull and come out with a podium is encouraging on a track that suits them better than it does us. From my perspective it wasn’t the best race, I struggled with the rear tyres in the second stint and lost one position because of it. After the safety car I didn’t have the best run, and as a result didn’t get the chance to pass the cars ahead. I am a little disappointed, but as a team we can be really proud of the performance.”

Valtteri Bottas qualified sixth and Felipe Massa seventh for tomorrow’s Mexican Grand Prix. Both cars made it safely through Q1 and Q2 as track conditions changed with slight drizzle during Q2. Neither driver was able to improve their time on their second run of Q3.

Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering: “We are a little disappointed as we think we could have been a little higher up. Our preparations were as good as they could have been, and we feel we have missed out on fourth and fifth. We are in a good position for the race tomorrow, but we must now focus on the strategy and make sure we take the opportunities on offer. It was so close today and we have just missed out.”

Valtteri Bottas: “The track has improved a little over the weekend and Qualifying was very close, as we expected. It is a shame Red Bull are in front of us, but we have the advantage of straight-line speed which will help when overtaking. The aim tomorrow is to move forward.”

Felipe Massa: “We are sixth and seventh so we cannot be too happy with our performance. I did my quickest time on the first set of tyres in Q3. I tried all I could on the second set but I couldn’t improve my time. It sets the beginning of what could be a very difficult race where many things can happen, accidents, cars off the track, rain, so we need to wait and see as it can all change. I hope we can move forward tomorrow.”

Well, here we are again, and it’s been a while.

For seven years from 1986-1992, Mexico hosted one of Formula One’s great power races. Three long straights, broken up by a demanding Esses section and the infamous Peraltada final corner, gave the track a distinctly Monza-like character which was tremendously popular among drivers, despite the punishing bumps.

But that was then…

The altitude of 7500ft ensures both man and machine are tested to and beyond their limit. I’m pleased to say the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit is back for 2015, with circuit reprofiling by Hermann Tilke (who else) and new pit and paddock facilities.

Williams says it’s on a hat trick of Mexican Grand Prix victories, having claimed the last two races there in 1991 and 1992 with Riccardo Patrese and Nigel Mansell respectively. Great times. One just wishes they could do it.

Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas both retired from the US Grand Prix with damper failures. Both cars suffered contact in separate incidents at the first corner. Bottas gambled on dry tyres when pitting for repairs but retired shortly afterwards. Massa fought his way back up to 10th after his spin at the first corner, but was forced to retire on lap 24.

Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering: “A truly disappointing weekend for us to finish with no points. Valtteri was very quickly into retirement from a rear suspension failure. Felipe had good pace on the intermediate, we stopped him to fit the dry tyre and things were looking positive until he retired with the same problem. It’s bitterly disappointing, but there are three races to go and we have to bounce back to extend that gap to Red Bull. Mexico is a new circuit for everybody, the team has to remain positive and do the absolute best that we can. And finally congratulations to Lewis Hamilton for his third world championship.”

Felipe Massa: “It was a disappointing race. The first corner was very difficult with many things happening. I was involved in an accident which damaged the right side of my car. I carried on and was catching the cars in front but we had a problem with the damper, on both cars actually, so we had to stop. It’s not a nice weekend for all of us, so we need to concentrate on the next one.”

Valtteri Bottas: “It’s just not my day. I think that really sums it up. Two technical failures in the same day and it was the suspension failure that ended my race. The race didn’t start that well, there was damage to my front wing after lap one so I had to pit for that. We had to make a call to go to intermediates or risk the slicks. We tried the slicks, which was guided by me, I thought it could be possible. But it was the wrong call and we lost a lot of time there. In the end none of that matters because of the technical failure so there was no possibility for a result today, unfortunately.”