Massa: I know who will replace me at Williams

Felipe Massa has claimed that he knows the identity of the driver who will replace him as the second driver of Williams alongside Lance Stroll after he retires following the climax of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina this weekend.

The Brazilian will retire after the final Grand Prix of the season on Sunday and speculation has been rife as to who his replacement will be with Williams. The current frontrunner for the role is Robert Kubica, who could be making an incredible return to the sport after suffering a major hand injury in 2011 which required 30 operations to fix.

Other names linked with the spot are Daniil Kvyat, Pascal Wehrlein, Sergey Sirotkin and Paul Di Resta.

Massa, however, said that he knows who will be driving for Williams next year.

"I already know who it is, so I don't need to put money on it," Massa claimed when asked who he would put money on to get the seat.

"But I will not tell you."

I hope it is the best option for the team. But I'm leaving, so it doesn't matter to me. I am happy and I wish the team all the best."

His current team-mate at Williams, Stroll, has also given his opinion on the soon-to-be absent driver seat, claiming that he is unaware of Kubica's plight in particular.

“I just want a driver by my side who is a team player, the bottom line is that you’re totally focused on your own task and do not pay much attention to what’s happening in the box next door," said the young Canadian.

"A battle with your team-mate can cause you to split the team, which pulls everyone down. Ultimately, it’s Williams’s decision. I do not know Robert Kubica."