Abu Dhabi: Massa and Bottas, authors of a double podium for Williams F1

Finishing in second place due to Nico Rosberg’s problems and close to contesting the victory with Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa was the first to be surprised to be in such a position: “I didn’t expect that, to have this pace. We tried, but Lewis was just a little bit too far. With 10 laps to go, I thought ‘if the tires stay like this, I can win the race’ but they were degrading a little bit. In the last four laps, I didn’t have enough [pace] to catch up to him like I was before.”

Failing by only two seconds to Hamilton, the Paulista sees a very encouraging sign and momentum that he hopes will continue in 2015: « I wanted this victory so much, but we were close and I hope this is just a beginning for next year. »

With this double podium completed by Valtteri Bottas for the Williams F1 team, it is also the Constructors’ Championship podium that the Grove team clinches with third place.

Massa was particularly grateful to his team. You could even say that this race really pumped him up: « Today, it was really great to see that we are present. We are still here, we have the opportunity to fight for victory and that’s what makes me proud, what makes me happy and what motivates me even more to keep working hard every day. »

Thanks to his sixth podium of the 2014 season, Massa’s Finnish teammate, Valtteri Bottas, secures the fourth place in the drivers’ standings at the end of his third full season. For him, who has experienced the back of the grid with Williams, this season is a true revelation: As Felipe said, an incredible conclusion to the season and since last season, it’s just amazing how much we’ve improved as a team.

He is pleased with the upward trend followed by his team since 2013, as well as during the 2014 season: « Two cars on the podium really shows how much we have improved during the season, which is the main thing since next year things will be very difficult, » he states.