Massa almost called it a day in 2013

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Felipe Massa has revealed that he was close to retiring from Grand Prix racing at the end of 2013 when he was replaced at Ferrari by Kimi Raikkonen.

A veteran of 243 Formula 1, the Williams driver recently announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the current campaign.

The personable Brazilian collected 11 Grand Prix wins over the course of a 14-year career at the pinnacle of motor sport which started in 2002 with Sauber.

Massa almost won the championship in 2008 but was pipped by Lewis Hamilton by a single point in an epic home race in Brazil which saw the British driver clinch the title on the very last lap at Interlagos.

Five years later, when Ferrari parted ways with the Brazilian, Massa seriously thought of hanging up his helmet.

"I was thinking to do it myself three years ago," he said in an article published by Autosport.

"You need to be strong enough to decide things that are sometimes quite difficult. That is what I did. I'm relieved and happy with what I'm doing. I think this year was the time to do that."

While losing the championship by a single point in 2008 will undoubtedly remain a painful memory for Massa, the 35-year-old casts a positive glance towards the past.

"So many things happened and it would have been different at the end of the season, but anyway...

"As I've said I'm really, really proud of my career. In these moments, like I am now, you have to talk with your heart."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.