FEATURE
T
earful Felipe Massa received
a guard of honour at the
premature end of his home
Brazilian Grand Prix in his final
Formula 1 appearance at Interlagos
before retirement.
The 35-year-old Brazilian lost
control of his Williams and crashed
into the barriers just ahead of the pit
lane after 49 laps of the rain-hit race.
Massa draped a Brazil flag
over his shoulders as he walked
back to Williams garage earning
warm applause and embraces from
watching pit crews including former
team Ferrari.
Along the way he passed the
Mercedes crew who formed a line to
honour him as he walked past. He
was greeted and hugged by his wife
and young son in the pitlane.
“It is so difficult to explain the
feeling, this is such a special place
for me,” Massa told Sky Sports.
“God knows what to do. Just
stopping in that place, the feeling
from the people was so special.
“I just say ‘thank you’ to
everyone. It is an honour to be part
of this world and it is difficult to
explain the feeling. It was not the
right result, but I will never forget this
day, all of these people will be in my
heart for the rest of my life.”
Massa’s last race will be at the
season-concluding Abu Dhabi Grand
Prix on 27 November.