Felipe Massa is preparing to race for Ferrari for the 139th and final time this weekend at his home race in Brazil (live on NBC from 11am), and he has spoken about his best and worst memories with the team today in Sao Paulo.
“I would say the happiest moment was, I think, the first time I won in Brazil, 2006, with the green and yellow overalls,” Massa explained. “I think that was definitely the best moment for me. You know how important it is for a Brazilian to win at home. If you remember well, Senna was more happy to win in Brazil than to win a championship so you can see how important it is for a Brazilian to win here.”
Massa joined Ferrari in 2006 as a teammate for Michael Schumacher, but he proved his worth by claiming two wins during his debut season with the Scuderia including his home race in Brazil. It was a peerless performance at the front of the pack that year, but he claimed a second win on home soil in 2008 as he lost out to Lewis Hamilton by a single point in the championship decider.
“It was a very special moment, not just that time but even 2008 was a special moment. I won the race here, it was Sao Paulo, quickest lap.”
However, Massa picked two rather obvious low moments during his time with Ferrari.
“I think the toughest moment was… definitely the accident was not a great moment and maybe the race in Hockenheim, 2010.”
Massa was hospitalized following a horrific accident during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, but he remarkably recovered to get back in the car in time for the beginning of the 2010 season. However, when he looked set to win the German Grand Prix exactly one year on from the accident, he was asked to move aside for Fernando Alonso as Ferrari controversially used team orders.
As he prepares for a new life with Williams in 2014, Massa will hope to give his faithful following in Brazil one final memory of him behind the wheel of a Ferrari.