This Formula 1 season saw Lewis Hamilton suffer a close defeat in the competition for Drivers’ Championship to, his Mercedes team-mate, Nico Rosberg at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the 27th of November 2016. Unexpectedly, Nico Rosberg revealed shortly after that he would be retiring from Formula 1 after this season due to his victory. Two other iconic drivers are also retiring from the sport this season, one being the UK’s own, Jenson Button, and the other being the long-running Brazilian driver, Felipe Massa.
Jenson Button has competed in Formula 1 for 17 seasons since he first started for Williams F1 in 2000, winning one Drivers’ Championship in 2009 and also securing the Constructors’ Championship for Brawn GP. With 15 victories and 50 podium finishes, Jenson Button is a Member of the Order of the British Empire due to his contribution to motorsport for the UK.
Starting in 2002, Felipe Massa has been in Formula 1 for 15 seasons, spending the majority of his time driving for Ferrari. In 2006 he became the first Brazilian since Ayrton Senna to win the Brazilian Grand Prix. After a hard-fought battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2008, Massa finished second in the season’s Drivers’ Championship. Suffering an injury from a suspension spring at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa had no option but to retire for the rest of the season to recover. Making a return in 2010, Massa completed his contract with Ferrari until he partnered with Williams F1 in 2014, to drive for what would be his final three seasons in F1.
Nico Rosberg entered F1 in 2006, driving for Williams F1, like his victorious father before him in 1982. After four seasons of racing for Williams, Rosberg partnered with the newly re-branded Mercedes team in 2010 after their acquisition of Brawn GP. Throughout his time with Mercedes, Rosberg claimed 23 victories and 30 pole positions, making his time with Mercedes his most successful period. Facing fierce competition from his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg came a very close second place in both the 2014 & 2015 Drivers’ Championships behind Hamilton. However, in the 2016 season, Rosberg finally claimed his long-awaited Drivers’ Championship by beating Hamilton, who finished in second place.
The 2016 Formula 1 season has been incredible throughout every moment! Who was your favourite Formula 1 driver out of these three? Cast your vote over on our Facebook poll and comment why you think so for a chance to be entered into a prize draw for a GSM gift card! Alternatively, if you’re after for some safety equipment to get you off the start line in motorsport or even upgrade your current gear, why not book an appointment to visit our specialist advisers in our showroom. Whatever your preferred form of motorsport, we have the perfect equipment for you, so contact us today!
