Felipe Massa

Felipe Massa was a Brazilian racing driver born on 25 April 1981, an eleven-time Grand Prix winner who came agonisingly close to the 2008 World Championship. A long-serving Ferrari driver, he is best remembered for losing the title in the final corner of the final race of that season.

Massa debuted with Sauber in 2002 before joining Ferrari, where he became a regular race winner from 2006 onwards, taking victories including his home Brazilian Grand Prix. In 2008 he won six races and led the championship across the line at Interlagos, only for Lewis Hamilton to snatch the title with a pass on the final lap, leaving Massa runner-up by a single point. He survived a serious head injury in 2009, returned to Ferrari, and later moved to Williams, retiring with 11 wins, 41 podiums, 16 poles and 1,167 points from 271 starts.

Quick, brave and immensely popular in his native Brazil, Massa combined strong qualifying pace with committed racecraft. Though the 2008 title eluded him by the narrowest of margins, his sportsmanship in defeat and his long Ferrari career secured his place among the most admired drivers of his time.

Massa was a committed, fast and brave racer with excellent qualifying speed, particularly strong during his peak Ferrari years. His dignified response to the heartbreak of 2008 and his recovery from a life-threatening injury defined his character as much as his on-track results, earning him lasting affection from fans, especially in Brazil.