 |
| Team |
Ferrari |
| Nationality |
Brazilian |
| Podiums |
17 |
| Points |
201 |
| Grand Prix entered |
88 |
| World Championships |
0 |
| Wins |
5 |
| Pole Positions |
9 |
| Date of Birth |
25/04/1981 |
| Place of Birth |
Sao Paulo |
|
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Felipe Massa's transformation into an established Formula 1 front-runner continued in 2007; now he wants to take the next step to the very top this year.
Ferrari's buoyant Brazilian has finally shed the ‘fast but erratic' tag that dogged the early part of his career, and silenced the detractors who said he wasn't worthy of a Ferrari seat.
Now a proven race-winner with electric pace few can match, he is confident he's ready for a full-blown crack at the world title.
Of course his world champion team-mate Kimi Raikkonen stands more firmly than ever in his way – and the pair's relative form over the second half of 2007 suggests the Finn will be heard to beat.
But Massa proved in spells last year that on his day he has the measure of F1's new yardstick driver.
Three crushingly dominant lights-to-flag wins in Bahrain, Spain and Turkey showed how unstoppable he can be when leading from the front.
His six pole positions further underlined his exceptional speed.
Questions remain over how he handles less straightforward weekends – with his anonymous Hungarian GP last season after qualifying problems a case in point.
That type of performance must disappear if he is to fulfil his title dreams. 2008 should prove whether he is ready to make that step.
Career log
Massa had been on his current team's radar long before he eventually joined the Italian squad as a race driver.
It was with Ferrari-powered Sauber that the then 20-year-old made his F1 bow with in 2002.
A turbulent rookie year followed, as he struggled to get close to team-mate Nick Heidfeld – while his wayward driving style drew widespread criticism.
According to Jacques Villeneuve, the young charger “couldn't even drive in a straight line”.
His technique needed refining and after being dropped by Sauber he was put through a year at Ferrari finishing school as its test driver.
He returned to Hinwil in 2004 a far more rounded driver and fared well alongside Giancarlo Fisichella, before making Villeneuve eat his words a year later.
The clear improvement prompted Ferrari to come calling in 2006 to replace Rubens Barrichello alongside Michael Schumacher.
Massa got off to a shaky start, with costly crashes at the first corner in Melbourne and in Monaco qualifying.
But as the F2007 improved, so did Felipe, and he quickly became a podium regular and a very able wingman for Schumacher.
He also proved he could lead the team's challenge when the great German stumbled, consummately taking a first pole and victory all in the same weekend in Turkey.
He then brilliantly rounded off his season with an assured lights-to-flag victory on home turf in Brazil.
The early years
Massa made the move to the junior Formula Renault championships in 2000 after coming through the karting ranks in Brazil.
Immediate success followed as he won the Italian and European Formula Renault championships first time out.
He then dominated the 2001 Formula 3000 Euroseries, winning six times in eight races, attracting the attention of Ferrari and earning an F1 seat at Sauber.
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