Felipe Massa has hinted he has other options to race in F1 outside of Williams in 2017 but is in no rush to decide his future.
The Brazilian joined Williams from Ferrari ahead of the 2014 season but his current contract expires at the end of this season. After three years with the same driver line-up, Williams is open to making changes - with Jenson Button linked with a seat - but Massa himself also appears willing to race elsewhere.
Speaking to F1i during an exclusive interview, when it was put to Massa his dream scenario would be to race in a competitive Williams car next year, he replied: “Or maybe if you have some more interesting opportunities…”
Asked what those interesting opportunities were, Massa said: “I don’t want to put names down because I don’t think that is really the right thing to do.
"But not a small team, so maybe teams like the ones I raced for but maybe also teams that are pushing to be better."
Massa has only previously race for Sauber and Ferrari in F1, and he insists he would not take an uncompetitive seat just to stay in the sport.
"I feel ready for everything. I feel ready to stay, I’m ready to do everything I can, I’m ready to enjoy myself. And if I don’t have a good opportunity I’m ready to find a new job in something different!
"So I’m not in a rush and we’ll decide in the right way for everything. So if I have a good opportunity, yes, this is what I like to do anyway. But I’m not here to be in the back of the field and just not enjoying myself. I’m not ready for that."
Exclusive Felipe Massa Q&A on a Williams resurgence and his future
Romain Grosjean interview: I can stop Haas sliding
Silbermann says... Referendumb
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that nine Formula 1 teams stand in opposition…
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…
Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United…
Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…
The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…
The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…