Felipe Massa has been given his Brazilian Grand Prix car by the Williams team as a leaving gift, ahead of his Formula 1 retirement.
The 11-time F1 race winner joined Williams in 2014, following stints at Sauber and Ferrari. At the Italian GP earlier in the year he announced his retirement from F1 at the end of this season.
He will compete in his final race at today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit and will line up 10th on the grid.
Team members, friends and family and fellow drivers gathered at the track on Saturday night for a farewell party to celebrate his 15-year career in F1.
Tributes to the Brazilian driver were given, with Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams thanking Massa for his contribution to the Grove-based outfit.
This evening, we gave @MassaFelipe19 a special farewell. He will be missed… #ObrigadoMassa pic.twitter.com/qFFrjmBuMK
— WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) November 26, 2016
She also presented Massa with several gifts to mark his retirement, including a cartoon of his time in the series.
Williams also said the team was giving Massa the chassis he drove at this year’s Brazilian GP, which featured Massa branding and the phrase ‘Obrigado’ – meaning “thank you” in Portuguese – on the rear wing.
His final F1 race today in Abu Dhabi will be his 250th grand prix start.
