Overview

One of the latest in a proud line of Brazilian racing drivers to hail from São Paulo (including Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna and Rubens Barrichello), Felipe Massa currently represents his country's best shot at motor racing glory. Entering his seventh consecutive year as a Ferrari driver, Felipe has endured more career highs and lows than most - and is currently struggling to regain the upper hand over double world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso.

After beginning his karting career at the relatively late age of eight, he began competing in the Brazilian national karting championship, and the equivalent international series. He enjoyed mixed results, taking several wins in both categories, but claiming no titles for his efforts. Nevertheless, he earned promotion into Formula Chevrolet, taking the title with three victories in 1999. At this point his career gathered real momentum, and Felipe triumphed in both the Italian and European Formula Renault series in 2000 - following these successes up with the European Formula 3000 title in 2001. His high profile victories earned him a test with Sauber Formula One team.

Suitably impressed with the young Brazilian's form, Sauber signed Massa to race for them in 2002. Widely considered fast but wild, Massa did show promise, finishing in a well-earned fifth place in that year's Spanish Grand Prix. Nevertheless, he was dropped at the end of the season to make way for Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Nevertheless, Massa enjoyed close links to Ferrari through his manager Nicholas Todt (son of Ferrari general manager Jean) and was awarded the position of test driver for 2003. He impressed enough to retake his Sauber seat for 2004, and was believed to have matured considerably, scoring a fourth place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix - although being outperformed by team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella for much of the year. In 2005 he remained at the Swiss team, and this time outscored new partner and former world champion Jacques Villenueve in a highly credible performance.

With Rubens Barrichello's early defection to Honda, Ferrari found themselves needing a new number two, and turned to their former test driver. Massa was signed, and started the year well. His first podium came at the European Grand Prix, and he later won the Turkish Grand Prix in dominant fashion, before emotionally triumphing in the season finale at his home race in Brazil. For 2007, Schumacher retired to make way for Kimi Raikkonen, and the Finn got off to a flying start. Nevertheless, Felipe won three races - Bahrain, Spain and Belgium - before making way for his team-mate to come through and win the title at the final round. In 2008 the tables would turn as Massa spearheaded the Ferrari challenge, taking six wins and bringing the title fight to the final round in Brazil. Massa put in a stunning performance, leading the entire race from pole and winning in front of his home crowd for a second time. However, he was deprived of the world championship when Lewis Hamilton overtook the ailing Timo Glock to secure fifth place on the final corner of the final lap.

New rules came into force for 2009, and Ferrari found themselves uncompetitive. As the year wore on there were signs of a resurgence, but whilst trying to close the gap in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa was struck on the head by an erstwhile spring from the car of countryman Rubens Barrichello. He sustained a fractured skull, and played no further part in the season.

Massa returned at the beginning of 2010, now alongside double world champion Fernando Alonso. His early form was solid, coming home second in his comeback race and briedly taking to the top of the title standings in the early part of the season. However, as the year went on Alonso began to dominate his team-mate. Ferrari's preference was made clear when they asked Massa, who was leading the German Grand Prix, to move aside for the Spaniard. He did so, and Alonso went on to miss out ont he world championship by a whisker. The partnership endured into 2011, but the Ferrari proved largely ineffective against Red Bull's RB7. Whilst Alonso managed a sole win, Massa became embroiled in multiple spats with former title rival Hamilton - and became the first Scuderia pilot in thirty years to complete a full season without visiting the podium.

Felipe remains at Ferrari for 2012, at the end of which his contract with the team expires. Speculation suggests that the team are looking to replace the out-of-form Brazilian, and so he will need a strong year to change their minds. He has proven in the past that he has the mettle necessary to challenge for wins and titles, giving several world champions something to think about in the process. Now, having not won a race in more than three years, he must hope that the team provide him with the machinery necessary to conjure up that form once more.