Massa bids F1 fans farewell

SAO PAULO: Felipe Massa said farewell to his home Brazilian Formula One fans in the way he wanted yesterday, thanking them after a seventh place that felt like a victory.

The Williams driver, whose last win was at the same circuit in 2008 when he finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the championship, savoured every minute of his final grand prix on home soil, which was won by Sebastian Vettel, with Valtteri Bottas second and Kimi Räikkönen third.

There was a lump in many a commentator’s throat, and fans around the world, as the 36-yearold’s son, Felipinho, hailed his father over the team radio after the chequered flag. “I am really emotional today,” Massa said. “To be honest I am so happy for my race. I did the best that the car could achieve.”

One of the most popular racers in the paddock, with 11 victories for Ferrari, the little Brazilian also retired at the end of last year to make way for Canadian teenage rookie Lance Stroll.

He was back in the line-up within months, after Valtteri Bottas moved from Williams to Mercedes. “I drove a perfect race from the beginning to the end... today definitely was like a victory and it was so amazing to finish and feel the emotion of the people.”

He had produced the national flag as he stepped from the car that time, wrapping it around his shoulders, and this time it fluttered from the car as he did his slowing down lap with his family watching.