He also came close to winning the World Championship, losing out by a solitary point to Briton Lewis Hamilton in 2008. The Brazilian has eight more races to add to his 11 victories, 41 podiums and 16 pole positions, and if he can do so in a middle-of-the-pack Williams, then that will be quite a way to bow out.

Massa survived a life-threatening accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix the following year when he was hit in the head by a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn, fracturing his skull. So after 27 years of my career since I started in go-karts at eight years old, 15 years in Formula 1, this will be my last season in Formula 1.

Massa's contract expires at the end of this season.

"Williams is a team I have such affection", Massa said.

"I'm so proud to have been part of this team", said Massa.

Aguero charged by FA for alleged violent conduct
That would rule him out of City's next game, the eagerly-awaited derby away to Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 10. If he is found guilty by a three-person panel of former officials, Aguero could receive a three-match ban.

Massa started his career with Sauber before moving to Ferrari in 2006 and then Williams. "I know that I didn't make it for reasons that are not related to a driver error or a team problem".

"It's always a unusual feeling when someone retires from the sport who has achieved so much, so many victories and being so close, but we all have our own reasons".

"I want to thank Claire (Williams) for the opportunity I had to be part of this team that is in my heart - for all the mechanics, engineers and all the people who are part of my history of my career at Williams". In fact, the German driver's retirement that year paved way for Massa to continue driving for Ferrari in the following seasons, after being signed on for just one year.

He paid tribute to his former team-mate Michael Schumacher, whose decision to retire for the first time at the end of 2006, when the two were team-mates at Ferrari, was key to the continuation of Massa's career. "Definitely with all his experience and different situations he's been in in his career you can learn different things". "I have so many great memories over the years and thank everyone in all the teams I have come through to help me get to where I am today", Massa said on his retirement. But there can have been no better place for such a popular man to end his career than with a team whose warmth and likeability matches his. Even if I lost the championship by one point, I managed to achieve many dreams.