Massa set for emotional farewell

NOW that Lewis Hamilton has wrapped up the world title all attention will be on Felipe Massa as he bids farewell to home fans for the second time, and now for real, at the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix.

The popular 36-year-old Williams driver Massa initially retired from racing last year but returned for one more season after Valtteri Bottas left in the off-season for Mercedes to replace retired world champion Nico Rosberg.

Massa said last week that he will now call it quits for good after partnering with rookie Lance Stroll who has so far outperformed him by four points.

The race in his home town of Sao Paulo and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Nov 26 will be the finale to a career spanning 15 years, but most emotions will clearly come at the Interlagos course.

“It is fair to say that I’m living with a lot of emotion on the eve of my home race, in Sao Paolo,” Massa said in a column for motorsport.com this week.

“Last year I received an affection that I will never forget, but at every Brazilian Grand Prix I’ve always received great support from the public and there have been many special moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“It would be a dream to be able to return all this support from the fans with a good result so we can celebrate together. I know it will not be easy, but on my part I will do as much as possible so that it can happen.”

Massa in 2006 was the first Brazilian to win the home race since legendary Ayrton Senna. He won again in 2008 and believed for a few seconds that he had won the world title – only for Hamilton to snatch it by one point by finishing fifth with an overtaking manoeuvre in the penultimate turn. That victory, then for Ferrari, was also Massa’s last of 11, and a year later he suffered serious head injuries when hit by a suspension spring from another car.

His last podium was in September 2015 and although Stroll has managed to make the top three once, Massa could find it hard to bid farewell from the rostrum, given the dominance of others. – dpa