MONACO WORDS OF WISDOM
For sure you need
to be in harmony.
I think harmony
is when you are
yourself.
HM: Which was your most memorable win?
FM: I think the most incredible race I won was in Brazil for the first
time — because I’m Brazilian. I always dreamed to be a Formula One
driver and always dreamed to race at Interlagos, which is in São Paolo.
I remember going to the grand stands to support the Brazilian driv-
ers, and I always dreamed that one day I would be there. I managed
to get to Formula One; I managed to race eight years for Ferrari; and
I won for the first time in 2006 at Interlagos. It was what I always
dreamed of and I won two times.
HM: In your accident you lost consciousness when a car piece flew
into your helmet. Did you have a long rehabilitation period?
FM: I actually lost half the season. I was six months in recovery at
home. I broke all the bones in my [forehead] and now I have a metal
plate. It was a big accident, so I am really lucky to be here. Because
a millimetre to the left I could be blind; or a millimetre on the other
side I could have died. Definitely I was really lucky, but it was not my
day. But everything went ok.
HM: You announced your retirement in 2017. What’s next for
Felipe Massa?
FM: It’s a good question because in sport, you stop very early. And I am
37, so I stopped my career in Formula One. It looks like I stopped really
early, but I spent 16 years in Formula One. It’s a lot. I am in the top 5
of drivers who raced the most in Formula One history. But now that
I’ve stopped, that doesn’t mean I’m not doing anything. So now is the
time that I have to understand what I’m going to do. Am I still going
to race? Yes, I still want to race. Maybe Formula E. But also to do other
things in my field where I can be happy. It will take a little bit of time to
figure out what I will do. But racing is what I really enjoy most in my life.
HM: You are an ambassador for Peace and Sport. What does it
mean for you?
FM: I think it means a lot. If you have a lot in your life, you need to
try to help people. To give your image, your mentality, to help to
find some money. Because if everybody does even a very little for
others, it’s a lot. It’s really a lot. We know so many people in so many
countries who are struggling. So it’s really important to me to give a
little bit. Like I said, a little bit from a lot of us will be a big help to the
people who really need it.
HM: You have many charity organisations in Brazil.
FM: Yes, I have done many charity organisations in Brazil that I some-
times help myself. It doesn’t matter what you do, it is important to
34 / Hello Monaco Summer–Autumn 2018
Felipe with his wife Anna Raffaela Bassi
do something that helps. And I think that Peace and Sport is trying
to help countries that really need lots of help.
HM: What about love? There are different kinds of love; the love for
you partner is different than the love for your child, or your country.
What is most important for you?
FM: I think love is very important. I am married and I have an amazing
wife and I think that love makes you happy. Also the love you have
for your kid is difficult to find the size, it’s so big. But just because
you love your kid you give everything to him? No, I think you need to
show and educate him in the right direction. That is quite important
as well. But also the love for your friends, your country, your people,
and your life, it is a different way but also important as well. If you
have all these things together, you can be sure you are happy.
HM: Do you agree with the statement that if you don’t love yourself,
you cannot love anyone else?
FM: For sure, 100 %. You need to love yourself for what you are. It’s
important to be happy for who you are and what you see in yourself.
I’m really happy, even if I’m not racing in Formula One, which I will
miss. But I am happy because [I] achieved a lot; more than what [I]
wanted to. I’m really proud for everything that I passed through on
so many levels.
HM: Is there anyone who inspired you?
FM: Yes, my dad, definitely. I became a driver because of him. I was
always following him in everything so he was very important for me.