Massa: Williams F1 team paying price in '18 for putting money first

Williams has endured a tough start to the 2018 season and is the only team yet to score a point after the first three races.

Massa, who retired from F1 at the end of last season, believes Williams's difficulties can be traced back to it lacking the kind of money the big manufacturer teams have, prompting it to run the inexperienced but well-backed pair of Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin.

Speaking to Autosport at last weekend's Rome Formula E round, Massa said: "It's true that the team was suffering from the financial situation and I think they made decisions for 2018 putting money first.

"But this is not enough to make a competitive championship.

"All I can say is that I came out with my head held high. I have a good relationship with everyone at Grove and I hope that the best for the team comes out as soon as possible.

"But I can add that I'm happy to have made my decision last year."

When asked if, based on Williams's current struggles, his retirement from F1 was perfectly timed, Massa said: "Yes. I chose the right time and now I'm enjoying my life.

"I hope Williams can recover."

Reflecting on the battle at the front of the grid, Massa said the early season success of another of his former teams, Ferrari, had surprised him.

Sebastian Vettel won the first two races of the season for the outfit, and also has two pole positions from the opening three rounds.

"To tell you the truth I didn't expect it," he said. "I expected Mercedes to be far ahead of Ferrari, and I think even Red Bull could be fighting them.

"What we saw in the first races was great for the sport because we did not see just one team winning.

"I am happy that Ferrari has started well. In the Maranello team they have made several changes in the last two years and many thought they were backwards.

"[But] they have shown that they have a large group that knows how to work very well.

"This makes me happy because I've always been a Ferrari fan."