Unfortunately, he could not become the second Ayrton Senna: Who is Felipe Massa?

Ayrton Senna, the great star of Formula 1 and Brazil, passed away in a tragic accident that took place at the Enzo & Dino Ferrari track on May 1, 1994. In those days, Formula 1 was the scene of such accidents frequently, but it was perhaps the first for the deceased pilot to declare mourning in his country and hold a state ceremony. After this death, Brazil followed the races for a long time, devoid of championship excitement.

A young man born in Sao Paulo, just like Senna, convinced Brazilians that he could be the new face of this sport with his successes in karting in the late 90s and his championship in the Formula Chevrolet series. This young pilot named Felipe Massa decided to take his talents across the ocean at the beginning of the millennium and joined the Formula Renault series and won championships in this series. At this point, the usual scenario develops as follows; The pilot who proves his talent joins Formula 3 and tries to sign a contract in a higher class based on his performance. Massa started racing in the Euro Formula series. This move may seem like a circuitous route at first glance, but it turned out that the shortcut to Formula 1 was through the Euro series. With his tremendous performance here, Felipe signed a contract with the Formula 1 team of the period, Sauber, and stepped into this organization, where he would stay for 15 years.

EARLY YEARS IN F1

In 2001, Sauber achieved one of the best results in its history by finishing the season in 4th place, with the partnership of Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen. The gap between them and the top three was very wide, yet they had pilots who managed to impress the teams at the top. The retirement of Finnish legend Mika Hakkinen was an opportunity for young Kimi and, indirectly, Felipe Massa. Raikkonen replaced his compatriot in the McLaren Mercedes team, while Massa was transferred to Sauber. In 2002, Sauber collected 10 fewer points than the previous year and finished the season 5th behind Renault. Four of the 11 points collected belonged to Massa, who was 13th in the drivers' classification.

Felipe Massa (born 25 April 1981) is a Brazilian racing driver currently competing in the Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series with TMG Racing. He competed in 15 seasons of Formula One between 2002 and 2017, where he scored 11 Grand Prix victories, 41 podiums and finished as championship runner-up in 2008.

After his only season in Formula 1, Felipe experienced one of the first turning points of his career. Jordan was looking for a driver for his team for 2003 and Massa was one of the candidates. Everything was okay on the Massa front, he could be transferred at any time, but despite all the positive developments, Jordan signed an agreement with Ralph Firman. After this development, Massa would thank team boss Eddie Jordan. Because instead of competing with Jordan, who had a bad year, he signed a contract with Ferrari as a test driver, with whom he crossed paths again in the following years. After experiencing the races, he had the opportunity to benefit from the last champion Michael Schumacher, and his compatriot Rubens Barrichello for a year.

When Felipe Massa returned to Sauber in 2004, Formula 1 switched to a new scoring system. The number of drivers who could score points was increased from five to eight. Massa - somewhat by this rule, of course - won points in more races in the next two seasons, but was again outside the top 10 in the table at the end of the season. However the Brazilian pilot should not be held responsible for these results. Sauber cars were far from what they were in 2001. Massa was also aware of this and did his best. Fortunately, he was not the only one who was aware of this effort.

FELİPE MASSA IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SENNA

Ferrari, which embargoed the championship from 1999 to 2004, lost the championship to Renault in 2005, and McLaren finished 3rd after Mercedes. As a result of this stumble, in which he was caught unprepared, it was thought that a change of blood should be made in the team and he parted ways with Rubens Barrichello. Ferrari appointed Felipe Massa, who was familiar with the team from test drives, to fill the vacant seat. Massa, who had the chance to race side by side with Schumacher, who once coached him, took advantage of it very well.

On March 12, 2006, with the Bahrain Grand Prix, Felipe took to the track for the first time in that red car, which is every pilot's dream. On this day when his dream came true, Massa also had a bigger opportunity; The Brazilian pilot, who fought with the last champion Fernando Alonso in the 7th lap of the race, spun while entering the corner side by side with Alonso. If Alonso had reacted incorrectly, we could have witnessed a dangerous accident. While Schumacher and Alonso won the race, Massa paid the price for his spin by not getting any points. After this race, Massa's Ferrari days were mostly perfect. In Malaysia, he finished the race ahead of Schumacher and scored his first points of the season. While he was expected to score points in Australia, he was sandwiched between Williams' Nico Rosberg and Toro Rosso pilot Christian Klien in the first round and could not continue the race. After this accident, Felipe Massa had a long points scoring streak. Thanks to leaving behind both Renaults in some races, Prancing Horse's championship belief increased.

On August 27, 2006, Felipe Massa met a track with which he would establish ties other than his home country of Brazil: Istanbul Park. The Renault-Ferrari rivalry was getting tighter with each race, and Turkey was an advantageous track for Ferrari and Schumacher in terms of fan base. The famous '8th Circuit', where four cars crashed at the first corner on the very first lap. In the race where the cars spilled out at the bend, Felipe Massa achieved the first victory of his Formula 1 career without any difficulty, as if he were driving on a straight road. The chemistry between Felipe and Istanbul matched so well that Massa did not lose both the pole position and the first place to anyone in 2007 and 2008.

Kimi Raikkonen took the vacant Ferrari seat in 2007. Undoubtedly, Kimi was someone who proved himself in every race he competed under the McLaren umbrella. Massa also proved himself from time to time and fulfilled his primary duty at Ferrari. In a team with two pilots close to each other in terms of age and experience, it was a matter of curiosity who would be respected and how the balance within the team would be maintained. Even though Kimi Raikkonen won his first race, both pilots started the season well and Ferrari was hesitant about leaving one of them on the back burner. The turning point that made the decision a little easier occurred at the Canadian Grand Prix. Massa pitted as the safety car entered the track. According to the rules of the period, vehicles entering the pits while the safety car was on the track had to wait for the light at the pit exit to turn green in order to exit the pits and join the convoy. When Massa lined up at the pit exit he was at the end of the convoy, which is what the rule was intended to do, but the light was red. This rule violation led to Massa's disqualification.

After that, Felipe Massa managed to maintain his stability. In the European Grand Prix, which was accompanied by rain and caused most teams to change tactics, Massa and Alonso competed until the last laps. Massa did his best, but it wasn't enough to overtake leader Alonso. The rivalry between the two turned into tension before the podium ceremony. After winning the race, Alonso accused Massa of breaking his sidepod, just like he did in Barcelona. Massa denied these accusations and found himself embroiled in an argument where they tried to teach each other racing ethics.

Maybe he was not in the championship race, but Massa became one of the main heroes of the Brazilian GP, ​​where the champion was determined. With Hamilton entering the gravel pit in China, there were three championship candidates before the Brazilian GP; Hamilton, Alonso, and Raikkonen. Even though it would not affect his place in the rankings, Massa had the ambition of being in Interlagos. The Brazilian pilot took pole position and led the race until the 50th lap. The problem he had with his car on that lap required leader Massa to pit. When he returned to the track, Massa was in second place, behind teammate Raikkonen. The Finnish pilot also pitted on the 53rd lap but returned to the track maintaining his ranking. Massa controlled himself in this race which meant a lot to him and helped Raikkonen win the race without pushing him at all.

SERIES OF UNHAPPINESS

Before the 2008 season, Felipe Massa renewed his marriage with Ferrari and tied himself to the Prancing Horse until 2010. It was thought that Massa would be the second pilot in the team where Raikkonen won the championship. The disappointments in the first two races also supported this claim. Massa, who arrived in Bahrain without any points and without completing a race, took his first victory of the season here. Massa, who came second behind his teammate Kimi in Spain and added a new victory to his victories on this track in Turkey, reversed the thoughts about him. Looks like this time it was Felipe Massa's turn to fight for the world title. Everything was fine until the British GP, the ninth round of the season. In the race hosted by Lewis Hamilton, heavy rain accompanied the pilots. The British weather officially helped Hamilton and Massa lost two laps ahead of Hamilton due to his spins. Two races after such misfortune, Massa continued to experience bitter experiences. Felipe Massa, who started the Hungarian GP third, passed Lewis Hamilton in the pole position at the beginning of the race and widened the gap. During the break, he lost the leadership to Heikki Kovaleinen for a short time, but he was able to take it back. On the 68th lap, 3 laps before the end of the race, the Brazilian pilot's engine stopped without any warning. While Kovaleinen finished the race first, what was remembered was Massa leaving the track with both hands on his helmet. The psychological advantage now belonged to Hamilton.

Back-to-back European and Belgian victories brought Massa back to his senses, but Hamilton was also reluctant to get off the podium. Another breaking point in this conflict occurred in Singapore.

In the last two races of the season, it was unpredictable who would become the champion. It was eagerly awaited to see what Lewis Hamilton, who had suffered a major injury on his way to the championship with the mistake he made in China the previous year, would do that season. The British pilot made no mistakes in the race he started in the pole position and came first. Even though Massa finished second in the race he started third and earned 2 extra points, this was not enough to pass Lewis. The championship dream is left to Brazil. Massa's motivation was at a different level as it was his first Formula 1 championship at both his home and his hometown. As in most of the previous Brazilian legs, this time he started from pole position. In the race where weather conditions were constantly changing, Massa and the Ferrari team continued the race flawlessly, and Toro Rosso pilot Sebastian Vettel passed Hamilton on the 68th lap. Now all Massa had to do was finish the race as the leader and pray that the ranking behind him would not change. Felipe Massa completed his 71st lap and became the first pilot to cross the checkered flag. While screams of joy dominated the Ferrari grid and dead silence dominated the McLaren grid, Hamilton moved up to fifth place from the left of Tim Glock at the 12th turn. Ferrari and McLaren teams on the grid changed roles, and Hamilton won the first championship of his career.

If we were to describe 2009 for Ferrari, it would be the beginning of the end. They reached their first points with Raikkonen in Bahrain. Felipe Massa, who missed the championship in the last round, won his first points in Spain. Massa performed well enough to get things back on track after this race, but an unfortunate accident endangered not only the season but also Massa's life.

THE SECOND FERRARI ERA

In 2010, the scoring system was changed to its current state, and the number of pilots who could score was increased by 2. Massa, who had a long recovery with the new rule, also brought color to Formula 1. The Brazilian pilot successfully climbed the podium in Bahrain and Australia. But like Ferrari, he was no longer at his old speed and continued his career in the shadow of his new teammate Fernando Alonso. While the Spanish driver brought victories to Ferrari, Massa could only reach the podium three more times in the continuation of the season, which he started with two podiums. In addition to his seventh place in Istanbul, finishing 15th in Sao Paulo was one of the biggest disappointments of the season.

Massa, who has not been able to reach the podium since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, waited until 2012 to do so. However, in a season where McLaren and RedBull were dominant, Ferrari was looking forward to its old days. His podium finishes in Japan and Brazil in 2012 were followed by the 2013 Spanish GP.

Ferrari announced in September 2013 that it had parted ways with Felipe Massa for the 2014 season and had agreed with his former driver Kimi Raikkonen, who was pushing for the top again with Lotus Renault. Williams, another legendary team of Formula 1, announced the transfer of the Brazilian pilot, who was not sure which team he would race in for 2 months, in November 2013. At that time, Williams was not anchored at the bottom of the constructors' standings as it is today, but it was very difficult to dream of a championship like in the old days.

LAST ACT: WILLIAMS

Massa was not Williams' only transfer in 2014. After a bad season with the Renault engine, an agreement was reached with Mercedes for engine supply. The seat next to Massa was entrusted to the young Finnish Valtteri Bottas. This duo managed to show a performance that would make Williams forget the previous year. He took his first podium with his Williams car at Monza, the home of his former team Ferrari. He also got the chance to get to the Brazilian GP podium, which he missed in 2013, with this car. In the Abu Dhabi GP, the last race of the season, he competed with Hamilton and showed us a long sequence reminiscent of 2008.

The Brazilian pilot showed a similar performance in the following season. He further increased his performance, in which he scored points in six of his first seven races, by claiming the 40th podium of his career in Austria. Two races later, in Italy, he reached the podium in front of the Tifosi for the second time in a row - not knowing that it would be the last of his career. In Singapore and America, problems with the gearbox prevented him from completing the race. Despite the negativities in the last races, most Formula 1 followers expected Massa to get a good result in Brazil. When we looked inside the track, the expected scenario occurred. Although Massa could not reach the podium at home, he managed to score points. However, the tire temperature measured before the race was above the maximum limit, causing Massa to be disqualified. He finished the 2015 season by regaining the points he lost here in Abu Dhabi. In both seasons, Williams finished third in the points table, above Ferrari.

After performances above his standards, Williams entered a period of decline in 2016 that he could not stop afterwards. Although Felipe and Valtteri continued to score points, the British team began to fall behind their rivals. In September, Felipe Massa made a statement that he would retire from Formula 1.

After this statement, all eyes turned to the race in Interlagos. The Brazilian pilot's last race at home attracted great attention despite the heavy rain, and the people of Sao Paulo showed great support to Massa. Massa, who started the race in 12th place, struggled to get points at the beginning of the race. After his pit stop on the 9th lap, it became difficult for him to get back into the race. He remained stuck in the ranks where no points were scored for a long time. While turning the corner on the 48th lap, it overflowed the road due to the rain and crashed between two opposite walls. He was applauded by all teams' teams as he walked to the pits, and he couldn't hold back his tears as he hugged his wife Rafaela and son Felipinho.

In January 2017, Mercedes signed Valtteri Bottas and Williams had a difficult time with the pilot. An emergency meeting was held, and as a result of this meeting, it was decided to sit down with Massa again. Both parties sat at the table and talked. Claire Williams was aware that it would be difficult to change Massa from his idea, but he must have said the words the Brazilian wanted to hear, so the MAS abbreviation returned to the F1 screens. Massa stated many times during the season that he was happy with the car. He wasn't very high in the rankings, but he could still score points. Carlos Sainz Jr. in Montreal The accident he had with him caused him to throw in the towel on the race. The next leg was in Baku and it was very close to the podium. Taking advantage of the safety car on the 19th lap, Massa rose to fourth place and came close to Ferrari pilot Sebastian Vettel. In an accident that occurred on the 23rd lap, parts from the car of Esteban Ocon, who was racing for Racing Point, were scattered all over the track. When the race resumed, Massa had already lost his momentum. He was able to continue until the 26th lap and was content to watch the rest of the race from the sidelines due to his broken rear damper.

Both Williams and Felipe Massa continued to make statements satisfied with each other. In this regard, most Formula 1 followers thought that the Brazilian pilot would continue in 2018. But the opposite happened, Felipe announced his retirement again. Massa, who had the chance to race at Interlagos again, this time left the track with points and had a sad farewell.

RETIREMENT DAYS

A year later, Felipe Massa experienced the different experiences he promised himself in 2016. Although how different he was is debatable, because he couldn't break away from competing. It was thought that he would now rest and do more of a desk job. The 37-year-old pilot switched to Formula E, a series that we can call "baby" due to its innovation, in which the FIA ​​has set a more environmentally friendly mission. Massa spent two seasons with the Venturi team in this series, which has different dynamics than Formula 1. In this process, he did not get the results he expected. He managed to get on the podium only once, in Monaco. This series is not just about passing the car in front of him. Responsibilities that are mostly the responsibility of engineers, such as energy monitoring, are also placed on the shoulders of pilots.