The 2017 Formula One season is over and observers’ verdicts are in. There is a general consensus that the season just past was a marked improvement on the three turbo-era years that preceded it.

For the first time in five years few were definitively sure about who would take the World Drivers’ Championship until October.

However, as Lewis Hamilton edged out Sebastian Vettel in what was for two-thirds of the season a really close fought battle, there was a sense of anti-climax as Mercedes steamrollered their way through Belgium, Italy and most of Asia.

From as early as winter testing, we were told that we were getting a title battle that was going right to the wire in Abu Dhabi. Yet it didn’t quite last, whether it was because the wheels fell off at Ferrari or because Mercedes’ relentless turbo juggernaut still has life left, or perhaps a bit of both.

A now four-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Valtteri Bottas at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix were a perfect metaphor for Ferrari’s title challenge this season.

The Brit constantly harangued Bottas for the first three-quarters of the race, but in similar fashion to Ferrari over the season, ran out of puff.

That is not to say that 2017, on the track at least, has not shown promise.

We got on track battles between world champions that were genuinely exciting, if not on a regular basis.

The faster, wider and more challenging cars brought in to give F1 cars their aggressive edge back worked. On track, they looked more natural and authentic without severely affecting the racing.

Overtaking was more difficult as the aero-effect increased even further, but the best drivers often found a way.

That DRS was less effective than in previous seasons meant that in many cases, there was still a challenge despite the overtaking aid, which was the original idea when the concept was introduced in 2011.

Certainly, it didn’t stop Daniel Ricciardo’s daring late-braking manoeuvres such as those seen at the US Grand Prix.

There are still issues with independent teams not likely to break the glass ceiling that Force India, despite another brilliant season,  appear to have hit with fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Bearing in mind that is clear of two more factory outfits in Renault and McLaren – although the latter used clearly inferior engines  – it is an excellent achievement for a team with a budget smaller than at least two thirds of the grid.

Until running costs are brought down and prize money equalised, the glass ceiling – barring a Brawn-esque miracle – is likely to remain.

Meanwhile, F1’s new owners have likewise been busy, though perhaps sometimes fighting the wrong opponents in their battle to market Formula One.

They have been excellent with the increase in accessibility for fans, and particularly with digital media with F1 ringleader Chase Carey having rightly identified that medium as a place to grow the sport further and attract younger fans.

The endorsement of the F1 eSports Championship, in which computer gamers get their chance to become a World Champion, has further helped connect with younger fans.

And in Ross Brawn, F1’s American owners have made the right choice with their sporting director. But he has to play peacemaker too often as teams squabble over the next engine regulations and despite having “plans” a year ago, little progress has been made.

Liberty have made mistakes along the way, though.

Plenty of changes are needed in Formula One to attract teams, manufacturers and most importantly, fans.

One of those changes is not the logo, with the new one unveiled at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix looking as if the thought process and design took roughly five minutes in total.

Intended to reflect the changes in Formula One and increase brand exposure, it replaces an iconic logo recognisable the world over and makes little sense.

Surely, that time, even those five minutes, would have been better used on other issues.

Issues such as the decrease in TV audiences this decade.

Germany does not have a free-to-air deal for 2018 as of yet, while 2018 is the final year that every one of the UK’s 65m people will have access to F1.

Those are two of the biggest Formula One markets and just at a time when emphasis is on extending the sport’s media reach, it risks alienating two countries that have given so much to it.

Without being presumptuous, with all the tales of Lewis Hamilton’s rise from a council estate in Stevenage it is difficult to imagine that he had access to pay-TV in his early karting days.

F1 has certainly upped its game in 2017 and the show improved, which it needed to.

It must now make the right decisions to ensure that improvement is built upon.

Felipe Massa’s Formula One career doesn’t come to an end for another two weeks at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

However, after his address to an adoring public at the Brazilian Grand Prix following a typically gritty seventh place, it feels only right that a reflection on his career is made now.

Massa has said since his first announcement of retirement 12 months ago that while he did not win a World Drivers’ Championship, he would not trade the respect given to him by almost every member of the Formula One paddock.

Rarely has an entire sport taken one of its protagonists to heart in the manner that F1 has with Massa.

He first appeared on the Formula One scene as a fresh-faced 20-year-old with Sauber in 2002, regarded as one of Brazil new prospects. After a strong 2002 season he was drafted into test for Ferrari in 2003, returning to Sauber for 2004 and 2005.

His strength against teammate Jacques Villeneuve earned him a seat at the top table in Formula One as Ferrari replaced Rubens Barrichello with Massa for 2006, where he took his first win at the Turkish Grand Prix before winning at home for the first time.

In 2007 he was a successful rear gunner for Kimi Raikkonen’s victorious World Championship quest against the might of McLaren, Lewis Hamilton and future adversary Fernando Alonso, before roles at Ferrari were reversed the following year.

Few will forget the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix. Few will forget the celebrations in the crowd as Felipe Massa crossed the line for victory, seemingly on his way to a maiden World Championship.

Few will forget the manner in which Hamilton stole it from him with a last gasp pass on Timo Glock to move back into fifth place.

Few will forget the emotion, dignity and passion shown on that podium as Massa realised that it was not to be. It was the other side of sport, as Hamilton celebrated with his entourage and mechanics in the garages below.

That was far from the last time the 36-year-old showed grit in adversity, as in 2009 the Ferrari was uncompetitive heading into what was to become a sombre Hungarian Grand Prix when Massa was struck by a spring from Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn and knocked unconscious.

A fractured skull was to rule him out for the rest of the season, a small price given the initial fears for his life.

He was never to win a race again.

Alonso joined Ferrari for 2010 and became top dog, as Masa operated as a reliable back-up. The controversial German Grand Prix saw shades of the old Felipe, as he led for much of the race before a now-infamous team order to allow Alonso through to victory, with many feeling he had been cheated.

A mixed 2011 was marked largely by an ongoing spat with Hamilton, the collided on several occasions, while an uncompetitive Ferrari in 2012 seemed to affect him more than Alonso.

A podium appearance at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix was as good as it got, before he was jettisoned by Ferrari in favour of Raikkonen. He resurfaced for 2014 at Williams.

At Williams, he became team leader once again and his consistency during a successful first two years peaked with a pole position at the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix, with the team finishing third and fourth in the Constructors’ Championships.

2016 and 2017 have been more disappointing for Williams. Force India relegated them to fifth in 2016, while they are battling with Renault and Toro Rosso for a top five Constructors finish this time around.

Should he finish outside the top three in Abu Dhabi, In 14 seasons Massa has taken nine victories, 16 pole positions and 41 podiums.

Felipe will leave the sport not as a champion, not as a man known for a ruthless streak and not as a driver with a fearsome reputation.

He will leave as driver known for facing down adversity and for keeping his dignity when others with more glittering careers sometimes failed to.

Massa leaves Formula One as a driver as well-liked as much as he is well respected by peers and fans alike.

In Formula One, that does not often happen.

Obrigado and Ciao, Felipe.

Mika Häkkinen on a world wide mission, to make our roads a safer place; that sounds great; its a valued initiative that in many parts of the world traffic and road skills may not be to scratch.

This week Mika, is in one of the largest countries in the world in terms of population: India.

One of the leading causes of road deaths is alcohol. thats why Johnnie Walker has over the last 10 years promoted responsible drinking, #JOINTHEPACT is Johnnie Walker’s global initiative for people to make their commitment to NEVER DRINK & DRIVE.

Since the 2007 launch of the campaign, more than 4.8 million pledges have been collected in over 40 countries worldwide. The campaign’s goal is to collect 5 million commitments by 2018.

Our man in India Kunal Shah, was at a facebook live season with mika – here is the video below

https://www.facebook.com/firstpostin/videos/1620801137979535/