F1 news: Felipe Massa chance of 2018 seat ‘high’, Robert Kubica and Paul Di Resta to test
GETTY Felipe Massa is the current occupant of a seat at Williams
Massa actually retired at the end of the 2016 season but was quickly recalled by Williams after Valtteri Bottas made the winter switch to Mercedes. And the 36-year-old has shown he has plenty left in the tank with 33 points so far this season and a best finish of sixth, achieved twice in Australia and Bahrain. But Williams technical chief Paddy Lowe says the team would be doing themselves a disservice if they did not look at who else might be available for 2018. “Of course Felipe is very much in the frame - very, very high on our list of possibilities,” said Lowe.
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“But we owe it to ourselves to take a look around and see what could be the best option for the team going forwards.” If Massa is not chosen, Robert Kubica is one of the favourites to replace him. The 32-year-old Pole was one of the fastest drivers on the grid in his 76 Grands Prix between 2006 and 2010. But after making a switch to rally driving, Kubica suffered a huge crash that left him with massive injuries and led to a partial amputation of his forearm.
But despite his apparent impediment, he returned to rallying and tested with Renault in an F1 car a number of times earlier this year before they opted for Carlos Sainz to replace the struggling Jolyon Palmer. He will now battle Paul Di Resta, the Williams’ test driver who stepped in for an ill Massa at this year’s Hungarian Grand Prix, for the chance to drive in F1 next year. “We will test those two drivers,” Lowe aded.