Massa: “Schumacher was my master”

Felipe Massa will contest his last race this weekend in F1 with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina which will close the 2016 season. The driver Williams notably returned in an interview published on the official F1 website on his best moments. His passage to the Team Ferrari seems to have left the most beautiful traces when he evolved alongside Michael Schumacher, even if the Sao Paulista was the No. 2 of the team.

“Michael was the teammate I was closest with. He was my master in many ways, recognized Felipe Massa. JI obviously wanted to be in front of him, but I still looked at him like an idol. I told myself that I would have liked to be like him. He certainly saw me as the little guy he wanted to help. This relationship was very different compared to those of my other teammates. »

“Maybe that’s why I wanted to announce my retirement in Monza (Italy) because I have a history with this place, added the Brazilian. Kimi had already signed a contract with Ferrari two years before he drove for them and the only option for me to continue with them was for Michael to retire. He did so by announcing it in 2006 at Monza. He was probably a little tired and maybe he thought I was doing a good job and should have a chance. »

Felipe Massa nevertheless admitted that he felt he lacked aggression, particularly during his last season at Ferrari in 2013 before he joined Williams Racing.

“I was tired and lacked motivation, explained the Brazilian. I thought maybe I was too nice. There are many returns to being in life, but not necessarily in F1. Maybe I missed opportunities because you have to be aggressive in this discipline, but I wouldn't have been myself anymore, and I was never someone like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. »

Felipe Massa is studying different options for his future, focusing in particular on WEC and Formula e.