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Bernie Ecclestone has said that he is happy rather than angry that some drivers have chosen to retire.
2009 world champion Jenson Button won't be racing in 2017, and at the Italian Grand Prix Felipe Massa decided he would no longer continue past 2016.
However it is believed that Massa's retirement could be short lived as another retirement may cause a chain reaction to bring him back.
As Nico Rosberg has shockingly retired after winning the world championship, Valtteri Bottas looks set to join Mercedes, causing Massa to return to Williams to partner rookie Lance Stroll.
F1 supremo Ecclestone insisted he is not angry with Rosberg. "He did his job," the 86-year-old Briton told Germany's Sport Bild. "He wanted to become world champion and he has it now. Why should he continue? I can understand him."
In fact, Ecclestone said Rosberg's exit actually "helps" F1. "It shows that the world champion has a clever head on his shoulders. He has reached his great goal, so we can't blame him for wanting to do something else in his life," he added.
As for Button and Massa, Ecclestone said: "I am glad that they are able to get out of their own choosing, as in the old days we lost drivers for other reasons, like if they were killed in accidents. So these retirements are even joyous events for me," he insisted.
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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ianf1
Posts: 185
Why doesn't he create a joyous event for the rest of us by retiring himself?