According to reports, Felipe Massa has accepted Williams’ offer to return to Formula One for 2017. The Brazilian retired at the end of 2016, but his return would allow Valtteri Bottas to make the move to Mercedes to replace Nico Rosberg.
Valtteri Bottas has emerged as the leading candidate for the Mercedes seat left behind by the retired Rosberg. In exchange for the Finn, Mercedes has reportedly offered Williams lower engine customer rates and Pascal Wehrlein. However, Williams is not interested in Wehrlein because he is too inexperienced and would not be as helpful with the regulation changes coming this season. The team’s title sponsor, Martini, is also unable to sponsor two drivers under the age of 25 because they cannot be featured in any of their promotional material.
As a result, the team has been in talks with Felipe Massa. The team offered him a contract, which is reportedly worth an estimated €5.9m. Although the Mercedes driver will not announced until after the new year, Massa has reportedly already accepted the Williams offer. This would mean that his retirement would be postponed until the end of 2017.
Of course, the contract is contingent upon Bottas leaving the team. If he doesn’t leave the team, Massa’s contract will be void and the driver lineup will remain unchanged.
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