After Massa, Brazil's slow decline in Formula 1

As in 2019, the date of the last incursion of the Formula 1 in Brazil, local spectators will not find any local drivers to support from the stands of the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

The National Grand Prix, exceptionally renamed after the city adjacent to the Interlagos track, Sao Paulo, was for many decades the theater of Brazilian madness, embodied by drivers who entered the pantheon of the discipline.

Brazil is even the country most represented at the top of the podium of this major meeting of the calendar, with nine successes (tied with Germany). Carlos Pace (1975), Emerson Fittipaldi (1973, 74), Ayrton Senna (1991, 93) and Felipe Massa (2006, 08), held up the winner's trophy between the two large artificial lakes of Guarapiranga and Billings, Nelson Piquet being the only one to have triumphed at Jacarepagua, near Rio (1983, 86).

Of the 32 Brazilians to have settled on a starting grid, two names reflect the melancholy of this country for F1: Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa. Rubinho particularly felt the “saudade” at home. Dubbed by the icon Ayrton Senna, the Paulist carried the hopes of an entire people for a good twenty editions.

The passion of the Brazilians for their drivers no longer needs to be demonstrated (here towards R. Barrichello in 2004). © DPPI

Often placed at the forefront thanks to his role as pilot n°2 within the Team Ferrari, the man with 323 GPs, has always been struck by bad luck at Interlagos: hydraulic problems in 2000, accident in 2001, hydraulics again in 2002, running out of fuel while he was in the lead in 2003, etc. It was only in 2004 (pole and 3rd) as well as in 2009 with the BrawnGP plane (pole) that he managed to exult.

His compatriot Felipe Massa also grew up in the sometimes heavy admiration of God Senna. Originally from the same city, his replacement among the Reds benefited from more fortune, but his false joy in 2008 occupies everyone's thoughts today at the mention of his name alone.

There is no need to return to the improbable scenario of the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, as it is still dissected 13 years later. Author of a perfect race, he becomes world champion, to the cheers of an excited public... for a handful of seconds, until Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) déborde Timo Glock (Toyota) au dernier virage de l’ultime tour.

Shortcuts are easy, but this outcome illustrates Brazil's loss of aura in F1. Felipe Massa has never been in such a good position since then, and more generally, Nelsinho Piquet, Bruno Senna, Lucas di Grassi and Felipe Nasr have produced forgettable performances.

Moreover, it is enough to rewatch the tearful abandonment of Felipe Massa in the rain in 2016 to realize the exemplary image that this driver had within the paddock and with the public (guard of honor by Mercedes and Ferrari, hugs from photographers and even sobs from an anonymous track marshal). Since then, no Brazilian driver has been able to permanently replace him in the minds of his followers.

https://youtu.be/5gXPdp27DlE

However, like the Star Wars saga, a new hope is on the horizon. The young guard of the Auriverde nation wants to take up the torch. For that, Hi Collett seems best placed. A native of… Sao Paulo, the 19-year-old young man leads the promotion formula peloton (vice-champion of the Formula Renault Eurocup 2020 and 9th in the FIA Formula 3 in 2021) all supported by Alpine and protected by Nicolas Todt.

The Paulist was just a kid when he witnessed, stunned, the dramatic outcome of the 1 F2008 season. A moment so memorable that he is no stranger to his love for driving, and ultimately, to his quest for a seat at the top of motorsport. “I have a particular affection for Felipe Massa, with whom I discovered F1, he told us at the start of the year.

I was at Interlagos in 2008 when Hamilton snatched the title from him on the last lap. It was heartbreaking, I was in tears. With my father, it broke our hearts. Since that day, I started to become passionate about it. »

Even younger (16 years old), Rafael Camara recently became the third Brazilian to be placed in the fold of the Ferrari Driver Academy, following Enzo Fittipaldi and Gianluca Petecof. This year, in karting, he shone by winning the WSK Champions Cup or even a European championship race. On the flag of Brazil, we can read the motto “Order and Progress” inscribed on a constellation of stars. These two symbols reflect the desire of these young men to grow until they reach the firmament of this sport.