Je suis presque intimidée de vous présenter Felipe Massa. En fait pour être tout à fait honnête j’ai mis deux semaines à écrire ces quelques lignes. Je comptais vous expliquer qu’il a débuté la F1 chez Sauber, rejoint Ferrari en 2006 avant de signer chez Williams en 2014. Mais je trouve ça trop académique. Qu’en dites-vous ? Je pense que se serait beaucoup plus authentique de le présenter comme un pilote brésilien, résident monégasque, mari et père de famille attentionné. Non ? Disons que ça a au moins le mérite d’être clair ! Et si je rajoutais : intègre, discret et attaché aux valeurs humaines. Trop ? Naahhhhh ! Des chiffres ? Facile : 215 courses et 39 podiums. BIM ! Je pense que l’essentiel est dit. Il ne vous reste plus qu’à suivre le boss ! PS : je ne vous raconte même pas l’angoisse lorsque se sera Lenny Kravitz qui répondra à mes questions (rêve ma fille, rêve) (pari lancé) ! 

I am almost intimidated to present Felipe Massa. In fact, to be brutally honest, it has taken me two weeks to write these few lines. I was planning on talking about how he started his Formula 1 career with Sauber, how he joined Ferrari in 2006 before signing at Williams in 2014. But I found it too academic, don’t you think? I find that it would be much more authentic to present him as a Brazilian pilot, Monegasque resident, caring husband and father. Better, and much clearer! What if I add: honest, discrete, and attached to human values. Too much? Naaaahhh. Now some numbers. Easy: 215 races and 39 podiums. Bam! I think the essential has been said. The only thing left to do, is to follow the boss! PS: I’m not even going to mention my state of anxiety when Lenny Kravitz will be the one to answer my questions (dream girl, dream) (challenge accepted)!

1) Best Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix souvenir? For sure my best memory of the Monaco Grand Prix is the Pole Position I did back in 2008 when I was driving for Ferrari. It was a great feeling to be the fastest in the streets of the town where I live. The day after, I finished 3rd and it was also a special moment to be on the podium. 2) Which event do you like to attend in Monaco? I would greatly recommend the F1 Grand Prix of course ! But besides that, football games are very nice as Monaco has a great team. The stadium is very close to my house so I can easily go. There are also some good Tennis games but as I travel a lot, I’m usually away when there is a nice tournament. 3) During the Monaco Grand Prix where do you recharge batteries? Without a doubt, my home. I live in Monaco so it’s very pleasant to wake up home and walk to the track. And it’s even better in the evening, after a busy day on track and in the paddock, to spend some quality time with my family and friends at home. There is no better way to recharge my batteries. You know, I’m lucky to have 2 home races in the season: one in Monaco and one in Brazil. 4) What is your favorite restaurant? I would say the Sass Café. This is a very nice place, the food is great, the music is very nice, and there are good people. I really enjoy this place. But there are many amazing restaurants in the Principality. 5) Where to escape from the principality? Well, the area is very nice around Monaco. First you can enjoy a sea tour as the Mediterranean Sea is always welcoming you. Then Italy is not far, you can also go to France… You have plenty of choices! 6) Where to celebrate perfectly the end of Monaco Grand Prix? Monaco is like a giant party during the Grand Prix week. But we, drivers, have to wait for Sunday evening to enjoy it. There are a lot of nice places to have fun, it’s hard to pick just one… 7) Where do you usually practice sport in Monaco? I like to run, I go every day. I run in Cap d’Ail port, which is not Monaco anymore but it’s very close to my house. I also often go to the Louis II Stadium to use the gym and to train there. The facilities are very nice. 8) Which is your favorite season in Monaco & why? I prefer the summer time in Monaco. As a Brazilian, I like summer, the heat, you can go to the beach, enjoy time on boats. You know in Monaco the weather is amazing even in winter, when Europe is cold, Monaco is a very nice place to be. I like that a lot. 9) Monaco in a word? I would say « Special » ! 10) A place to have a drink among friends? Still the Sass café. It’s a very nice place. Give it a try !