By Joe Murphy
Massa’s overall career statistics and facts highlight his accomplishments as a driver in Formula 1. With drives for Sauber, Ferrari, and Williams under his belt, the Brazilian was a competitive driver in the grid for well over a decade. He was known for his speed and ability to win Grand Prix and for narrowly missing out on a world tile which still has controversial ramifications to this day, over 18 years later.
Massa remains a figure in Brazilian motorsport and has been involved in various racing and promotional activities post-Formula 1, but it all began long before today.
Felipe Massa was born on 25 April 1981 in São Paulo, Brazil, and raised in Botucatu, a city in the interior of São Paulo state. He began karting at age eight, competing in various national and regional championships in Brazil and quickly establishing himself as a talented young driver. Progressing through junior formulae in the late 1990s, Massa won several titles in Formula Chevrolet and Formula Renault, showcasing his adaptability and speed in different racing categories.
In 2001, Massa won the Euro Formula 3000 Championship with Draco Racing, a significant achievement that led to his entry into Formula One. Massa entered Formula One with Sauber in 2002, scoring points in his debut season alongside teammate Nick Heidfeld. During his two seasons with Sauber, Massa demonstrated potential but was replaced by Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 2003, leading him to become a test driver for Ferrari that year.
Massa eventually partnered Michael Schumacher at Ferrari from 2006, taking his first win at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix from pole position, a breakthrough performance. In 2007, Massa continued to show strong pace but was overshadowed by teammate Schumacher’s performances. In 2008, he had a highly successful season with Ferrari, winning six races (Bahrain, Spain, Turkey, Monaco, Britain, and Brazil) and being in contention for the World Drivers’ Championship. Massa ultimately lost the championship by one point to Lewis Hamilton in a dramatic finale at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
There were later allegations of race-fixing at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix involving Renault’s Fernando Alonso and teammate Nelson Piquet Jr., dubbed “Crashgate”, which Massa brought up in 2023 in legal action against the FIA, claiming it cost him the title. In 2025, the case is still ongoing.
Massa left Ferrari after the 2013 season and joined Williams from 2014 to 2016, partnering Valtteri Bottas for two seasons before Bottas moved to Mercedes.
Massa initially announced his retirement from Formula One at the end of 2016, citing a desire to pursue other opportunities. However, he made a return to Formula One in 2017 after Valtteri Bottas’ departure from Williams to Mercedes created an opening, partnering Lance Stroll. “I would not have returned for any other team,” Massa said regarding his comeback. “It was Williams!”
During his time in Formula One, Massa accumulated statistics including 11 wins, 16 pole positions, 15 fastest laps, and 41 podiums from 269 Grands Prix. Massa drove for Sauber, Ferrari, and Williams during his career, competing against notable drivers like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel.
Massa retired from Formula One for the second and final time at the end of the 2017 season, concluding his 15-year career in the sport. Following his departure from Formula One, Massa competed in Formula E from 2018 to 2020, driving for Venturi Grand Prix, and has participated in the Stock Car Pro Series in Brazil. Massa’s career in Formula One included drives for three different teams and competing against many of the sport’s top drivers. He remains involved in motorsport following his retirement from Formula 1, competing in other racing series in Brazil and beyond.
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