Alesi to Massa: Don't come back!

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Former Ferrari stalwart Jean Alesi believes that Felipe Massa would be making a mistake should he decide to stay with Williams for one more season following his initial retirement announcement.

With Mercedes placing protégé Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber, a move which all but confirms Valtteri Bottas move to the German outfit and Felipe Massa remaining with Williams, the final pieces of Formula 1's jigsaw appear to be falling in place.

But Alesi contends that Massa's will to rescind his decision to retire and remain a Grand Prix driver in 2017 is wrong.

"Honestly to me this is a mistaken decision," Alesi explained in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Felipe has stopped, he’s turned a page. And what if he discovers that the Williams isn’t quick?”

As a veteran of 250 races and having enjoyed a career which spanned 14 years, Massa's decision to retire appeared to have been taken for all the right reasons. His year was capped off with an emotional farewell at his home race in Brazil and a tribute by Williams at the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Alesi also dwelled on Nico Rosberg's decision to call it a day, which the Frenchman did not understand initially as a freshly crowned world champion.

"To start with I thought the same as Lauda; I was surprised and angry. Let’s say I didn’t really get the logic of announcing your retirement the same week in which you won the title.

"But then I thought about it some more and I thought of Senna, of how he said he would drive for Williams for nothing and how hard he worked to make it happen and then he died. Perhaps Nico just didn’t feel like racing anymore."

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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.