Felipe Massa

Felipe Massa is yet another Brazilian F1 exploit with an intrinsic knack for steering and speed. It was Peter Sauber who hunted down this fast and fiery recruit for his team after Kimi Raikkonen’s exit to McLaren in 2002.

Massa began quenching his thirst for speed through karting in the way every enthusiast starts out conventionally. Step by step he graduated from Formula Chevrolet to Italian Formula Renault and European Formula Renault championships with credible performances. His winning act in the Formula 3000 Euro-Series was soon followed up by an offer from Sauber to test in F1. Massa could not deny such an opportunity that was offered to him on a platter.

During his maiden season in F1 in 2002 he demonstrated his quick yet wild driving as he spun off on a number of occasions, exposing undertones of immaturity. Although he finished in points in three races, Massa was replaced by Heinz-Harald Frentzen at Sauber in the following season. In a bid to make the most out of this situation Massa worked as a test driver with Ferrari in 2003 as a step towards ironing out his flaws.

Progress was visible though not largely through the Brazilian’s performances when he raced for Sauber in 2004 and 2005. During the first year of his return to the Swiss outfit he was to race alongside Giancarlo Fisichella. Together they garnered 34 points for the team out of which Massa scored 12. The next season he outclassed his new team partner and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve, finishing 13th in the Drivers’ standings.

Until then, victory was still elusive to the Brazilian speedster. But in 2006, the wheels of fortune turned his way to get him a Ferrari car and Michael Schumacher as his teammate. He reached his maiden pole and victory at Turkey. A resolute Massa then went on to exemplify his finesse, as he finished fifth at the Malaysian Grand Prix after starting 21st on the grid and even finished ahead of Schumacher who classified sixth. Further, the season finale at Interlagos saw him clinch a triumph in front of his home crowd and seal a third place in the Drivers’ standings.

After Schumacher’s retirement at the end of the 2006 season, Massa lost an extraordinary teammate but he had found a mentor in the German stalwart who joined Ferrari as a consultant. That year, even if his Ferrari partner Raikkonen was the one racing for the world title, Massa was getting better and better as his performances and results showed. The season also proved to be a huge learning experience for the Brazilian.

Besides setting fastest laps on four occasions and earning three wins and a fourth place at the end of the year, the 2007 season opener at Australia showcased Massa’s grit where he classified sixth in the race after starting 22nd on the grid courtesy an engine change which got him a 10-place grid penalty. On another occasion in Canada, he was disqualified because he left the pit lane when the red light was still on.

He proved to be an absolute scorcher in the 2008 Formula One season. Along with defending champion Raikkonen and Hamilton he joined a gripping contest for the world title. However, as the year progressed Massa emerged as the favoured one for his team. Illustrating a fighter’s spirit, he refused to throw the towel in until the season finale for the title where only seven points separated him and Hamilton. At Interlagos, he did not leave any chance and claimed the pole, set the fastest lap and earned the victory too. But a P5 for Hamilton was sufficient to stagger the Brazilian’s march towards the world title by a single point. 

The 2009 season had already proved to be unfortunate for Ferrari as the Brawn GP cars had dominated with the double-diffusers. A serious design flaw in the F60, coupled with absolute dominance by the Brawns and the Red Bulls had poured water over Massa’s hopes of reclaiming a title he believed was his. But a freak accident in the qualifying session of the Hungarian GP knocked the Brazilian out of the season with head injuries requiring major surgeries.

Such is the story through which Massa has so far carved his niche in the sport. Hence, in the times to come, irrespective of whether he claims a world title, his loyal devotees will not pause to stake on the fire that he exudes while scorching the circuit.