Massa gifted engine as Ferrari farewellFelipe Massa was back at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters over the weekend to share in the team’s Christmas celebrations and to bid them a final farewell ahead of his move to Williams for 2014. And he came away with a rather special present - the V8 engine from the Ferrari F2008 which so nearly took him to the 2008 world championship.
“We started together so many years ago and I want to thank all of you, mechanics, engineers, everyone who works at the track and behind the scenes in Maranello,” said an emotional Massa, who first raced for Ferrari in 2006.
“Each one of you has always given me so much support, especially in the most difficult moments and I will never forget what Ferrari did for me when I had my accident in 2009. It’s in these circumstances that one understands what it means to be really loved and the atmosphere at Ferrari and the unique feeling of being part of the family is something I will miss a lot.”
The Brazilian driver also paid tribute to Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, and found time to joke with his former team mate Fernando Alonso about the 2010 German Grand Prix, where he was famously asked to move aside for the Spaniard.
“I look on you as my big brother,” he said of Domenicali. “I thank you for everything you have done for me and for the opportunities you and the President have given me. Thanks also to you Fer, we will meet again on track and this time I will try not to let you through.”
Massa, who is succeeded at Ferrari by the returning Kimi Raikkonen, will now be spending some family time in Brazil before beginning in earnest his 2014 preparations with Williams.