Massa eyes podium in ‘emotional’ final home race

Felipe Massa says he is targeting a return to the podium at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix, with the Williams driver expecting an “emotional” weekend for his final home race before he retires from Formula One.

Hailing from Sao Paulo where the historic Autodromo José Carlos Pace is located, Massa is preparing to sign off an impressive career in the top flight that has brought him 11 wins and another 30 top-three finishes so far.

“Interlagos is home,” said the 35-year-old ahead of the event. “It’s the place where I grew up. It will be emotional racing there for the final time on such an amazing track.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying every single lap and hopefully I can manage to finish the race with a good result.”

Massa has enjoyed much F1 success at Interlagos, though the place will for ever remain associated with the nail-biting 2008 title showdown when he came tantalisingly close to sealing the Drivers’ crown but earned as many plaudits for the way he handled defeat in a truly gracious manner.

“I have won twice at there, and have finished on the podium many times over the years and I hope we can get another one. It won’t be easy, but I will do everything I can for my people and for Brazil in my last race at home.”

Besides his 2006 and 2008 victories for Ferrari, Massa stood on the Interlagos podium in 2007 and 2012 (still with the Scuderia), and in 2014 during his first season at Williams.

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