Why Felipe Massa should not return

Published 12/19/2016, 7:39 AM EST

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In the wake of Nico Rosberg’s retirement from the sport, Mercedes have engaged in a frantic drive to replace the outgoing German with an equally talented and proven performer who can perform at the top end of the rank while also give Hamilton atleast some form of competition and not merely play 2nd fiddle to the Brit.

And their requirements are not ill-placed either. Next year the focus is set to shift in the favor of chassis as compare to the engine oriented Formula for the last three years which allowed Mercedes to reign supreme. Mercedes dominance is looking like under trouble come next year as Brackley has hit the saturation point with its engine, The RBR-Renault, err TAG-Heuer partnership has made inroads into the Silver Arrows lead and as the “aero” element will become the dominating factor from next year, Red Bull will come back more strongly than ever.

With your lead under threat and your other star driver leaving the sport, what would you do? Rope in a guy with limited racing experience or go for a someone who is proven performer?

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It becomes a no-brainer when put this way right?

I understand the situation at hand is far more complex and the management at Stuttgart has decided after evaluating all the solutions to go after Valtteri Bottas. However as the situation stands, Williams had this year decided to bet on the young talent (and money) of Lance Stroll and this resulted in the ouster of Massa from next year and a team leader role for Bottas. Williams’ dependency on Bottas has grown manifold to lead the team as the young rookie comes to grip with F1 after jumping directly to highest echelon from Formula 3.

For Massa the story begins sometime before the Italian Grand Prix as Williams regressed through the ranks and looking at next year’s proposed changes decided that it needed more money. So instead of calling it that they put it in a more respectable way and said they wanted young talent now, fresh blood if you will, in the team. The choice was immensely talented and rich Lance Stroll and Massa was the obvious choice to be replaced with.

Th Brazilian did look for drives elsewhere on the grid but having failed to do so saw no choice but to quit. And he made up his mind and convinced the racer within that its time to stop atleast in F1. And then came the announcement in Italy followed by tears and joy and grace and admiration from everyone.

For Massa who could only cling on to the World Champion title for 30 odd seconds became the icon of magnanimity following his defeat and it earned him the respect which he enjoys even today. After his horrible accident in 2009 and subsequent comeback, he was no longer the same racer that he was and alongside Alonso his stock took a further beating. Who can forget the now famous “Alonso is faster than you” radio message that was aired for the whole world to listen to.

His stint at Ferrari became that of receding into obscurity before he received a lifeline in the form of Williams which not only revived his career but also his reputation and respect.

For a driver who has driven for a top team but could not clinch the title, respect is the next big thing one can hope for and by God’s grace and his own hard work, Massa earned abundance of it.

It is this respect that earned him a Guard of Honor from pit crews at Brazil, the fans turning out to see their home hero drive for the last time, the Massa liveried car that Williams gifted him as a farewell gift and all those kind words and a tear eyed farewell from everyone.

All of that would become a rather awkward memory for him and for everyone if the reports coming in that he has agreed a 5 million Euro offer from Williams to return and allow Bottas to join Mercedes are true.

Regardless of the behind the scenes situation that played out which resulted in his retirement, it had the effect of coming at the right time for Felipe to bow out. He left on a high and in turn received a swansong retirement he truly deserved.

Timing is incredibly impossible to get right more so for retirement. For a sports person it’s incredibly tougher because he/she still want to keep doing what they love doing i.e. competing. Take the case of Jenson Button whose inability to just call it a day resulted in him striking a very strange deal with McLaren to make way for Stoffel. What he got in return? a very long shot to return to the grid in 2018. So while he and Ron Dennis maintained that it was not a case for retirement, fate had a different plan and the internal battle at McLaren resulted in Ron Dennis having to walk away from the team, any window that Button had of making a return in 2018 closed with it too.

And because of all of this Jenson Button never quite got any farewell. His persona in Abu Dhabi was that of a man who lost a huge bet and not that of a man who was saying goodbye on his own terms.

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Even Michael Schumacher faced the irate when his return did not go as planned and his second and final retirement was more of ‘thank God he’s gone’ rather than a teary fare thee well.

By retiring at the right time Massa has the advantage of being remembered as bowing out at the right time and by returning he risks tarnishing that legacy.

As for Mercedes and Williams, if the former are really adamant at availing the services of Valtteri Bottas, then the latter should get Jenson Button to replace the Finn. The Brit is still fast, highly experienced, can develop the car and the incoming rookie and what better way for both the British team and driver to have a highly respected British Driver as their leading man and for him to end his career at the same team where it all began. And given Button’s Contract requiring him to be in an ambassadorial role at McLaren, the 25% shareholder in McLaren Group Mansour Ojjeh will not be much bothered in letting him go.

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Before Felipe Massa makes any final decision he must remember that the rule for a graceful retirement is that you retire at the top of your game and that you go out on your own terms.

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Written by:

Muktesh Swamy

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