Formula One news

'I was crossing my fingers' - Massa

Felipe Massa admits that, despite being a Ferrari driver, he was delighted to see friend and fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello take victory in Sunday's European Grand Prix. In doing so, the Brawn GP driver brings an end to a nearly five-year victory draught.

With Massa up early to watch the Valencia race live from his São Paulo home, the winner of the event last year was enjoying Formula One racing from a different viewpoint. "The last time a saw a Formula One race on TV was the Japanese Grand Prix back in 2003," said Massa of a race which was also won by Barrichello. "It was the race that closed the calendar and I did not travel to Japan because I was Ferrari test driver at that time."

The Brazilian pairing worked together at Ferrari for two years

Following Barrichello's registering of a tenth career Grand Prix victory, one off Massa's total, the latter called his companion in the aftermath of the podium ceremony and post-race press conference. "My first attempt failed because he was debriefing with his Brawn GP people," Felipe continued, "but later I managed to talk to him and congratulated him for his fantastic victory."

During celebrations in parc fermé, Barrichello revealed a personal message to Massa on the back of his racing helmet. "Of course, I also thanked him for everything he's done and said about me during the whole weekend," Massa continued. "In fact, I felt very emotional when I saw his helmet with a design for me.

"I had my fingers crossed all the time, expecting a victory that could keep the Brazilian domination in Valencia; Rubens did a fantastic job - I was checking his lap times and I'm sure he would have won, even without Lewis Hamilton's McLaren problem. He was amazingly quick in his second stint and did not commit any mistakes."

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