With Felipe Massa announcing his retirement from F1, the sport has lost one of its finest ambassadors, as well as a talented driver.
Although he didn’t use the old excuse ‘I want to spend more time with my family’, it’s safe to assume that is exactly what Massa will do once he steps off the F1 treadmill at this season’s final race, in Abu Dhabi, which will be the 250th start of his Formula 1 career.
When I spoke with the Williams Martini Racing star shortly before his decision was made public, I asked who he’d most like to meet, living or dead, in F1 or outside of the sport.
I half expected to hear the name Senna mentioned, or perhaps Fittipaldi.
Massa paused, rubbed his chin and, eventually, said: ‘Ah, my father.’
Massa is a man who puts family above all else, and members of his family are regular fixtures in the F1 paddock.
Indeed, a photo of his father Luis Antonio went viral during the Belgian Grand Prix last week – it showed Massa Snr looking distinctly unimpressed after his son was passed by the Force India of Sergio Perez.
Massa’s career has brought him tantalisingly close to becoming World Champion – indeed, in 2008, Massa and his fans thought he had won the championship. But, just two corners behind him at Interlagos, Lewis Hamilton was moving up one place, and that would be enough to deny Massa the Drivers’ Championship.
It’s the sort of disappointment that could have destroyed a lesser man but Massa fought on – only for his career and life to be threatened by his 2009 accident.
That he returned to F1 at all was astonishing but, with Williams Martini Racing, he’s remained a regular points scorer and a fantastic brand ambassador.
Just hours before he announced his retirement, Massa was driving guests of Martini and journalists around the Tazio Nuvolari circuit near Milan, before heading off to play football and preparing to meet more VIPs and journalists.
The Italian Grand Prix is Martini’s home race, and Massa couldn’t have picked a higher profile location to announce his retirement.
But, in some ways, Italy is a second home to Massa; his grandfather emigrated to Brazil from southern Italy, and the country has a special place in the family history.
He said: ‘This is almost my second country, and I love it.’
Lest it be forgotten, Massa has tasted victory many times in his career, including championships at both Formula 2000 and Formula 3000 level.
But, although he puts a brave face on it, the memory of that 2008 disappointment haunts him.
Massa told me: ‘To be honest, I have achieved a lot. One thing that would really have been a dream to achieve would be to win the championship.
‘That’s the last dream that has been missing for me. I got very close and I almost – almost – attained it.
‘But, then…’ Another pause. ‘Well, that’s it.’
Kenny Campbell is at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix on behalf of Yahoo Sport UK.
suchasinistergame 