![\"Claire-Williams-1\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2013-rif-images\/f1-2013-persons\/Claire-Williams-1.jpg\")
“It is very exciting for us to be able to confirm our 2014 driver lineup as part of a number of announcements we will be making over the coming weeks,” said the British team’s deputy boss Claire Williams.<\/p>\nMore news will follow now that Felipe Massa has been signed up by Williams for 2014.<\/p>\n
“It is very exciting for us to be able to confirm our 2014 driver lineup as part of a number of announcements we will be making over the coming weeks,” said the British team’s deputy boss Claire Williams.<\/p>\n
Brazilian Massa, whose Ferrari career has ended after eight seasons, replaces the lucratively PDVSA-backed Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.<\/p>\n
There is little doubt PDVSA, the state-run Venezuelan oil company, has had to buy its way out of the estimated EUR 40 million per season deal, which was set to run until 2015.<\/p>\n
“It (the branding) won’t be on the car for next year,” Claire Williams told Reuters on Monday.<\/p>\n
“I think when our numbers come out next year, people will see what has actually gone on behind the scenes with this whole arrangement,” she added.<\/p>\n
Massa and Williams insist the 32-year-old Paulista cannot be described as a ‘pay-driver’.<\/p>\n
Indeed, Monday’s announcement did not coincide with the expected news that Massa would be followed to Grove by the Brazilian company Petrobras.<\/p>\n
Williams, however, said it intends to capitalise on the strong Brazilian economy.<\/p>\n
“I think Brazil is one of the sport’s biggest markets, so it’s really up to us to go out and commercialise Felipe as our driver,” said Claire Williams.<\/p>\n
Livio Oricchio, the well-connected correspondent for O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, hinted that the Massa rumour has been bandied around for some time, ostensibly to drum up interest among potential Brazilian sponsors.<\/p>\n
But Massa’s manager Nicolas Todt insists that the key part of the deal is the 2008 championship runner-up’s talent and experience.<\/p>\n
“They saw the opportunity to have an experienced and winning driver, still young at 32,” said the Frenchman.<\/p>\n
“Williams wants to renew itself, they need motivated people, so Felipe will bring a great motivation for them,” added Todt.<\/p>\n
“And for Felipe it was very important to feel wanted.”<\/p>\n
Todt admitted that his role in the deal has been complicated, given the fact he also manages Maldonado, who has been linked with a move to Lotus.<\/p>\n
About Maldonado, Todt said: “We should have news later this month.\u00a0 Pastor has lost none of the support he had before.”<\/p>\n
Williams said both Massa, and his Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas, have ‘multi-year’ contracts.<\/p>\n
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