Felipe Massa Gifted F1 Car As Gesture Of Goodwill

Williams is giving Massa his Mercedes-powered FW38 F1 car as a goodwill gesture which he drove in the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix

Updated: Tuesday, November 29, 2016, 19:30 [IST]

Felipe Massa has completed 15 seasons in Formula One and he has called it a day and will hang up his F1 boots this year.

Felipe Massa Gifted F1 Car As Gesture Of Goodwill

His last race was the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but his team are not letting him go without a gesture of goodwill. Williams is giving Massa's F1 racer as a parting gift. The Mercedes-powered FW38 is the same as the one he drove in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

For Massa's last race at his home Grand Prix in Brazil, Williams Martini Racing had worked up a special livery by replacing the Martini name with Massa's and embellished the word "Obrigado" (Portuguese for "thanks") on the rear wing.

Felipe Massa made his F1 debut for Sauber back in 2002 and was called up to drive for Ferrari in 2006. He spent his last three seasons with Williams Martini Racing.

Though he has not won a world championship, he was instrumental in helping Ferrari win two constructors championship titles.

Massa has won 11 Grand Prix and his career was managed by Nicolas Todt, son of current FIA president Jean Todt who was also the chief of Ferrari F1 racing team.

Formula One teams have been known to give out gifts on rare occasions. Renault gave Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso their cars after winning their back-to-back world championship titles.

However, Jenson Button who has also called it a day from F1 racinghad a bit of a trouble getting his promised car from Mercedes after winning the championship for Brawn GP.