Rookie Stroll delighted with Massa return

©WRI2

Williams rookie Lance Stroll says he is happy to be paired with Felipe Massa this year for his maiden season in Formula 1.

Williams were always going to require at least one experienced driver in its line-up to tackle this year's challenging season given the introduction of new regulations.

The 18-year-old Canadian won the European F1 championship last season, and has been preparing intensively for the forthcoming campaign by accumulating mileage at a diversity of venues over the past year with a 2014 Williams.

While he was preparing to race alongside Valtteri Bottas, the subsequent return of Massa is just as good he said

"I'm sure many fans are happy to see Felipe return," Stroll told Le Journal de Montreal newspaper.

"We have been cooperating for a long time -- ever since I became a Williams development driver."

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It is believed that when Bottas was negotiating to leave Williams, Stroll's influential billionaire father Lawrence intervened to ensure Massa would replace him.

It's been suggested that Stroll feels that his son may perhaps fare better against Massa than he would have against Bottas who regularly outqualified his Brazilian team mate last year.

"It's the perfect solution," Lance Stroll said. "He is the perfect replacement for Valtteri.

"But for me, his return to the team doesn't change anything -- I still have to cope with the same challenges as before."

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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.