Felipe Massa's return to Formula 1 - or staying rather - appears to be done and dusted as everyone awaits the official announcement of Valtteri Bottas' signing with Mercedes.
It has now emerged that the Brazilian driver was forced to break off a deal to race in the burgeoning Formula FE series.
According to Spanish sports daily Marca, Massa had apparently agreed terms with an FE team.
But when Nico Rosberg announced his shock retirement and Mercedes went into overdrive to seek a replacement and set its sights on Valtteri Bottas, Massa was left with no other alternative but to back out of the deal, albeit on amicable terms.
"The deal was done," correspondent Jaime Martin said.
"However, with Rosberg's decision, everything changed."
Mercedes announcement that it has recruited Bottas is imminent, and should be followed, or indeed grouped, with news that Massa will be extending his stay at Williams.
GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
