Felipe Massa
Massa to leave F1 later this year. Getty

Felipe Massa will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the current season, aged 35. The Williams' driver, who made his F1 debut in 2002, is currently sat 14<sup>th in the Drivers' Championship with Williams fifth in the constructor standings.

Massa announced his decision ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

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"I am very proud to have raced in F1 for so long," Massa said. "I achieved a lot more than l expected. Even if l lost the championship by a point l am very prod of my career and what l have achieved."

The Brazilian driver began his career with Sauber 14 years ago before joining Ferrari as a test driver. He returned to Sauber for another two years then became Ruben Barrichello's permanent replacement at Ferrari in 2006.

He would spend the next eight years with the Italian giants, where he won 11 races. In 2008, he battled Lewis Hamilton in one of F1's most memorable season finales, with the Briton clinching the championship by a single point in the final race of the season in Massa's native Brazil.

In 2014, he linked up with Williams to race alongside Valtteri Bottas and has clinched five podium places to date.

After this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Massa will race at the Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, United States, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi GP's before leaving the sport.

"I will enjoy my last eight races in F1 as much as I've always done. I just want to say thank you to everybody who is around me and who have followed me in my career."