ABU DHABI // Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas secured the illustrious Williams team a double-podium finish for the first time in nine years on Sunday night at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Both men promised even more impressive results will follow next season.
The last time two Williams drivers finished on the same podium was at the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix, when Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber finished second and third, respectively.
Since then, the British racing marque have gradually slipped down the grid and came into this season with five podiums and one victory in 160 races.
Sunday night’s double-podium finish at Yas Marina Circuit took the team’s tally of top-three finishes to nine in the past 12 races.
Read more: Lewis Hamilton crowned F1 world champion in Abu Dhabi
Massa, the Brazilian who joined the Oxford-based marque last winter, finished 2.576 seconds behind dominant race winner Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Bottas, the Finnish driver who started from third but experienced a poor start off the line, was a further 28 seconds behind.
“It was an incredible race for us,” Massa said. “I didn’t expect to have that pace. Unfortunately, Lewis was a little bit too far ahead, but I hope this is just the beginning and we grow for next year. We did a fantastic job and I am so proud to be racing for Williams.
“We can do a lot more than this even.”
Click here to see a photo gallery from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Bottas, in only his second full season in the sport, has impressed throughout the year. Yesterday’s third-place finish was his sixth podium of the season and means he finishes the season fourth in the drivers’ championship standings.
“I always like being on the podium,” Bottas said. “The higher the step the better, but for this season it will do.
“It has been an amazing year, so much improving; we have gotten stronger and stronger. The curve has been upwards and I expect it to keep going next year.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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