FORMULA ONE:Williams driver Alex Wurz has confirmed his retirement from Formula One with immediate effect.

The 33-year-old Austrian will therefore miss the final race of the season in Brazil on Sunday week, with his team to make an announcement on his replacement today.

Wurz secured a race seat with the Williams team at the start of 2007 having spent several years as test driver for McLaren. His best result was third place at the Canadian Grand Prix in June, and he came fourth at the rain-hit European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring one month later.

He made his F1 debut with Benetton at the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix and claimed his first podium in only his third race at that season's British Grand Prix. He went on to compete in 69 races, scoring 45 points.