Felipe Massa

Felipe Massa (born 25 April 1981) is a Brazilian racing driver who competed in Formula One from 2002 to 2017, forever remembered for losing the 2008 World Drivers' Championship in the most agonizing circumstances imaginable—being World Champion for approximately 38 seconds before Lewis Hamilton passed Timo Glock on the final corner of the final lap of the season to snatch the title by a single point, a moment of crushing heartbreak that defined Massa's career and exemplified both his talent and his misfortune, while his 11 Grand Prix victories, near-fatal Hungarian Grand Prix accident in 2009, and dignified professionalism throughout adversity earned him respect as one of Brazil's finest drivers and one of Formula One's most likeable competitors.

Born in São Paulo and raised in Botucatu, Brazil, Massa began karting at age eight, winning national and regional championships before progressing to junior formulae in 1998. He won the 2000 European Formula 3000 Championship and joined the Sauber Formula One team as a test driver for 2001 before being promoted to a race seat for 2002, making his debut at the Australian Grand Prix aged 20. His early career showed promise but also highlighted raw edges that required refinement—a crash-heavy stint at Sauber (2002-2003) earned him a reputation as fast but erratic, leading to his replacement by Giancarlo Fisichella for 2004. Ferrari, recognizing Massa's potential, signed him as their test and reserve driver for 2003-2005, providing invaluable experience working with Michael Schumacher and developing the Scuderia's championship-winning cars.

After a season back at Sauber in 2005 where he scored his maiden podium in Belgium, Ferrari promoted Massa to partner Schumacher for 2006, beginning an eight-season Ferrari tenure (2006-2013) that would define his career. His first season alongside the seven-time World Champion proved challenging, but when Schumacher retired at season's end and was replaced by Kimi Räikkönen, Massa flourished as Ferrari's number-two driver. The 2007 season brought Massa three victories and genuine championship contention, though Räikkönen ultimately won the title by a single point. For 2008, Ferrari designed the F2008 to suit Massa's smooth driving style, and the Brazilian delivered his finest season—winning six races (Bahrain, Turkey, France, Valencia, Belgium, Brazil) and arriving at the season-finale Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos with a seven-point deficit to Lewis Hamilton's McLaren.

What followed was the most dramatic championship conclusion in Formula One history. At his home race before partisan Brazilian fans, Massa qualified on pole position and dominated from start to finish, crossing the line in first place while Hamilton ran sixth—a result that would give Massa the championship by a single point. Ferrari, Massa, his family in the grandstands, and millions of Brazilian fans erupted in celebration—Felipe Massa was World Champion. For approximately 38 seconds, the title was his.

Then, on the final corner of the final lap, Hamilton overtook Timo Glock's Toyota, which was struggling on worn dry-weather tires as light rain fell. Hamilton's pass elevated him to fifth place—exactly the position required to beat Massa by a single point. In an instant, Massa's championship was snatched away. Television cameras captured his family's devastation turning from joy to anguish, while Massa himself, still unaware in his cockpit celebrating his race victory, would discover moments later that he had lost the title.

His dignified, gracious reaction in defeat—immediately congratulating Hamilton despite his crushing disappointment—won Massa worldwide admiration and sympathy. Years later, evidence emerged of the "Crashgate" scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where Renault ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash to assist Fernando Alonso's victory—a race where Massa had been penalized for a pit lane incident. Massa has argued that without Singapore's race-fixing, he would have won the 2008 championship, and in 2023, he pursued legal action against the FIA seeking recognition as the rightful 2008 World Champion.

The 2009 season brought another tragedy. During qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, a spring that had fallen from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car struck Massa's helmet at approximately 160 mph, causing a skull fracture and life-threatening head injuries. The impact knocked him unconscious, and his Ferrari crashed heavily into the tire barriers. Massa underwent emergency surgery and spent weeks recovering, missing the remainder of the 2009 season.

Many doubted he would race again, and some suggested the accident had permanently affected his performance. Massa returned to Ferrari for 2010-2013, winning two more races (Brazil 2010, Spain 2013) and serving as Fernando Alonso's teammate, consistently scoring points but unable to recapture his 2008 form. When Ferrari replaced him with Kimi Räikkönen for 2014, Massa moved to Williams for what would be his final four seasons (2014-2017). At Williams, Massa partnered first with Valtteri Bottas and then with Lance Stroll, delivering consistent midfield results and helping Williams score podium finishes despite no longer having championship-capable machinery.

He announced his retirement at the end of 2016, but returned for 2017 when Valtteri Bottas moved to Mercedes, finally retiring permanently after the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at age 36. Over 15 Formula One seasons and 269 race starts (272 entries), Massa won 11 Grands Prix, achieved 16 pole positions, 15 fastest laps, and 41 podium finishes, scoring 1,167 championship points. He remains Brazil's most recent Formula One race winner and one of the nation's most beloved drivers since Ayrton Senna. Felipe Massa's legacy is defined by the heartbreak of 2008—a championship lost in the final seconds—and by his gracious, professional response to that devastating moment.

He represents Formula One's cruel reality that talent, speed, and deserving success don't always translate to championships, yet his 11 victories, consistent performances across 15 seasons, survival of a near-fatal accident, and dignified conduct throughout adversity have earned him enduring respect and affection from fans worldwide. The image of Massa's family in the Interlagos grandstands, faces transitioning from joy to devastation as Hamilton passed Glock, remains one of motorsport's most poignant moments—a reminder that in Formula One, championships can be won and lost in a single corner.