The Williams driver concluded his F1 career with a ninth-place finish at Yas Marina, a result that left him 11th in the standings of his 14th season.

The Brazilian insisted he was very proud of all he had achieved in the sport.

"To be honest I feel happy, I feel proud. I was fighting to the last lap, in the same way I was fighting the first lap of my career," said Massa.

"So I'm really happy for the result and for my race today and I am definitely emotional for this moment but proud. Proud for everything I did."

He added: "I'm proud of my career, I'm proud of everything I managed to achieve, managed to get. A lot of dreams, a lot of results, a lot of incredible things that happened.

"But I'm also proud that I always respected people and I feel a lot of respect. And that's a really amazing feeling."

Massa will get the car he raced in Brazil and Abu Dhabi as a parting gift from his Williams team.

He joked he was more careful with it now that it was his, having crashed it in the previous race at Interlagos.

"It's the same one I raced today. So I'm really happy and proud and for sure I was taking care a lot more in the car today, when I knew this car was mine!

"So anyway, it's really a fantastic gift from the team, from Claire, from Frank, from everyone that was working together at Williams. This team will always stay in my heart."