Alex Wurz Confirms Immediate Retirement From Formula 1

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Story below, from SkySports

Williams driver Alex Wurz has confirmed his immediate retirement from Formula One, with the Austrian driver missing the season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix next weekend.

The announcement brings to a close a decade-long career, the 33-year-old having made his debut for the Benetton team at the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix.

Wurz finished third in only his third race, that year's British Grand Prix, and went on to make a total of 69 grand prix starts.

Although he raced for Benetton until 2000, he only returned to a full-time race seat at the start of this season, when Williams offered him a place alongside Nico Rosberg.

Skills

The intervening period saw Wurz emerge instead as a highly-rated test and development driver, with his skills being used by McLaren-Mercedes - for whom he also finished third at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix - before transferring to Williams in 2006.

Explaining his decision, Wurz said: "In such a hard fought environment as Formula One, I have always maintained that if you have a moment's doubt about what you are doing, then it is time to stop.

"Privately I began to have these thoughts earlier this year and so have decided that now is the time to make my announcement."

Although Wurz's performances this season have generally been shaded by those of the up-and-coming Rosberg, he did nevertheless score Williams best result of the season so far - a third place at the Canadian GP.

Tribute

Team boss Sir Frank Williams paid tribute, saying: "Alex has made an invaluable contribution to the team for the past two years, first as one of the best test and development drivers the team has ever worked with, and more recently as a race driver.

"This season Alex has had some very strong drives in difficult circumstances and we would like to thank him for all he has contributed.

"Alex is well known, immensely popular and widely regarded as one of Formula One's gentlemen."

Wurz also expressed his desire to remain in Formula One in some capacity, and refused to rule out racing again in another category.

Meanwhile, Williams said they would announce Wurz's replacement for Interlagos on Tuesday.
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I'm gonna need a new f1 driver school nickname for next year :lol:

that's sad to hear but not unexpected, he is a great usually solid driver.
 
Yes, he's been getting some solid fifteenth positions this year ... but then, he did have that huge accident in the tunnel at Monaco 1998, and I don't think he quite recovered from it mentally.
 
Alex.
I'm gonna need a new f1 driver school nickname for next year :lol:

that's sad to hear but not unexpected, he is a great usually solid driver.
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You can't use great to describe Wurz, he was a decent driver and did well in weird circumstances in Montreal, the best I can describe him is a 'reliable' driver.

So who races at 'Lagos, Nakijima?
 
Sureshot
So who races at 'Lagos, Nakijima?
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Yes:
Nakajima to race for Williams in Brazil

Williams’ tester Kazuki Nakajima will make his Formula One race debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix next weekend, the British team has confirmed. Nakajima will step into the seat left vacant by Alexander Wurz, who announced his retirement on Monday.

The 22 year-old Japanese driver, who was named GP2 rookie of the year this season, has enjoyed a testing role with Williams since November 2006. He has covered over 7,000 kilometres in the FW29 and has already represented the team at five Grands Prix as a Friday driver.

“I am very grateful to the team who have given me this opportunity,” said Nakajima. “I hope I now know the car very well and thankfully have done some Friday driving as recently as Shanghai. This is a chance I intend to grab with both hands and repay the faith the team are showing in me with a strong performance.”

The Williams team stressed that the reason behind the opportunity was to build and develop Nakajima’s experience in the car, rather than to evaluate him for a race seat for 2008.

“You cannot assess a driver’s capability on the basis of one race but this is an ideal opportunity to develop Kazuki’s experience,” explained team principal Frank Williams. “I am confident he will approach the race in a very workmanlike and focused way.”

Nakajima, who is the son of Satoru Nakajima, who raced for Lotus and Tyrrell in the mid 1980’s and early ‘90’s, last drove the FW29 during Friday practice at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
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From Formula1.com
 
Strange that Williams would want to bring a rookie for the championship deciding round. I hope he won't cause any problems for the front runners.
 
It's not so strange considering that Williams aren't actually in the hunt for anything. I'd be willing to bet Sir Frank would have a talk with Nakajima before the race telling him to keep cool, don't interfere with the front runners unless he actually is one (unlikely), obey the blue flags, etc.
 
<_Spike_>
And I doubt Williams will be so fast that they'll be mixed in with the Mercs and Ferraris..
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Kind of my point: Sir Frank will probably tell Nakajima not to get in the way unless he's up front, which he won't be unless he's the Second Coming of Lewis Christ (at least, that's how ITV tell it). Besides, Nakajima's forms in testing hasn't been stellar. There have been comments that he's good at wht he does, which basically means he probably won't be getting a full-time drive any time soon.
 
I don't see Nakajima getting the 08 race seat at Williams, which makes me wonder who they could get for 2008. Liuzzi springs to mind since he is getting replaced at STR, but I can't really remember who is out of contract.

Certainly not Ralf, because lets face it, he's now hopeless. The 2nd seat at Williams is starting to interest me alot and who'll get it. [/lifelong Williams fan]
 
Nico has stated that he is happy with Williams, so I see him staying, regardless of a possible McLaren seat.
 
Sting
Nico has stated that he is happy with Williams, so I see him staying, regardless of a possible McLaren seat.
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"Happy at -insert team name-"

Where have I heard that before? Trust me, in sports that means nothing most of the time. Whether it's footie or F1.
 
Money talks.

Anyway, I applaud Mr. Wurz for retiring like this. Giving the last race to Nakajima after knowing he isn't 100% is very selfless of him.
 
Even though he may not have had great finishes, I think he is a great driver because of his attitude and his actions off-track. Formula 1 needs more drivers like him, he is a great ambassador for the sport.
 
Ouch, did'nt see that one coming. He may not be the fastest driver on the planet, but he is still very good. It is a shame. He has had a good long career, but he has only competed in 66 GP's. I have posted a link below were you can see all his qualifying and GP results!

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I thought that Alex would have been happy as a Williams F1 driver, but maybe the oppisite is why he chose to retire. Or maybe it was for an entirly different reason...
 

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