Brazilian Grand Prix – Interlagos, 22nd October 2006
Felipe Massa: 1st 1.31.53.751 71 laps chassis 256
Michael Schumacher : 4th + 24.094 71 laps chassis 255
Temperatures: air 25/23 °C, track 43/40 °C
Ninth win of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, the
second courtesy of Felipe Massa. This is win number 192 from
741 races entered by Ferrari, the eighth in the Brazilian
Grand Prix. This is Felipe’s second Formula 1 career
win, having competed in 71 Grands Prix.
Jean Todt: “Despite an extraordinary
victory from Felipe and a race which for so many reasons was
an historic one for Michael, in the heat of the moment I feel
very disappointed. We would have liked Michael’s career
to end differently, but destiny had other plans. We must look
at the positive aspects of this season: our team has taken
the most race wins – nine in total, seven with Michael
and two with Felipe – and despite getting off to a poor
start, we were in the hunt for both titles right up to the
final race. However, the championship is made up of eighteen
Grands Prix and so we accept this result and our compliments
go to our rivals. Now we have to look to the future and start
a new chapter, taking into account the lessons we have learnt
this year. We go into 2007 with new rules, a new driver, just
one tyre supplier, but these are things we can discuss later.
Today, I want to thank everyone in the Gestione Sportiva,
Michael and Felipe for the great job they have done, with
the support of our technical partners, especially Bridgestone
and Shell and the commercial ones, first and foremost Philip
Morris. Whatever the outcome, the Ferrari family has lived
through a memorable season.”
Felipe Massa: “Today is another dream,
the dream of my life has become a reality. The car was perfect,
the Bridgestone tyres were perfect, I drove an impeccable
race and all of this at my home grand prix! I always had the
situation under control, slowing just a bit when Michael was
in front of me, after his puncture, as I did not want to pass
him. I want to dedicate this race to my family , to my friends,
to all those who helped me in my career and to the Brazilian
people who, today, made me feel their warmth through all the
fans in the grandstand. Michael now stops driving for the
team, but already I know I will miss him. I have always felt
his support and his friendship and I know that it will be
a big responsibility to replace him. Over the last few laps,
I was trying to maintain concentration, but I could not stop
myself from watching all the fans celebrating in the grandstands!”
Michael Schumacher: “I am very happy
for Felipe who drove an amazing race. It is great for him
to be the first Brazilian to win at Interlagos since Ayrton
Senna. It would have been nice if I could at least have made
it to the podium alongside him. I would also like to congratulate
Fernando. Today, my race was compromised after the puncture
I picked up on lap nine, when I had just passed Fisichella.
I was unaware of it until the team told me about it on the
radio. I had a good climb back up the order, thanks partly
to an amazing car and exceptional Bridgestone tyres. Today
my racing career comes to an end. Obviously, it is a special
moment for me and I am proud to have lived my career with
some fantastic people, namely everyone who is part of the
Ferrari family. There is so much I could say about them, but
it is difficult to find the right words…”
Ross Brawn: “Everything was extraordinary
today: the car, the drivers, the Bridgestone tyres and the
team work. It was really frustrating that we were unable to
see Michael bring his career to a close with a win. His race
was compromised by a puncture caused by the collision with
Fisichella, whom he had just overtaken. It’s been a
very tough season. The car was competitive right from the
beginning but we did not get off to a great start. Then, we
staged a great comeback thanks to the work of the team and
our technical partners, especially Bridgestone and Shell,
to the extent that we had the best package as well as the
best drivers. Today, I am very happy for Felipe, who represents
the future of Ferrari. He drove an exceptional race and it
was a great way to finish the season.”
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