Jenson Button’s Fear of Retiring from F1 Will Deny Him the Farewell He Deserves

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: September 10, 2016

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Make no mistake, Felipe Massa knew the moment—the day he would announce his retirement from Formula One—was coming.

As long ago as last November, he had hinted the 2016 season could potentially be his last, telling Brazil's UOL Esporte (h/t ESPN F1's Nate Saunders) he would only continue if he had a "competitive" car in a team who made him feel "loved."

The competitive element faded away at a very early stage of the year as Massa, the only driver to score points in each of the opening six races, scored just one in the next six.

And as that barren run continued—and Williams became increasingly aggressive in their pursuit of McLaren-Honda's Jenson Button and Force India driver Sergio Perez—it was obvious Massa was no longer held in such high regard by his team.



It was, at last, time to go.

But it didn't matter how much Massa prepared himself, how accepting he was of his retirement or how often he visualised the day itself and what was to come.

Because it wasn't until he appeared in the busy Williams hospitality unit ahead of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, with his family sat on the front row, that he knew exactly how it would feel to walk away from the sport that had become his life. 

"So, yeah, erm...what should I say?" he laughed anxiously at the beginning of the televised press conference with all those eyes fixed on him. "I think I'm more nervous now than all my race starts in Formula One, I would say.



"So after 27 years of my career, since I started in the go-kart and I was eight years old, 15 years in Formula One, so...this will be my last season in Formula One."

As with all these things, Massa found a way to get it over and done with and—as he wrote in his Motorsport.com column—he went on to enjoy "some very beautiful moments" throughout the weekend as his supporters, colleagues and fe...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Formula 1

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