An angry Felipe Massa completed his final race for Ferrari on Sunday, disappointed that he was unable to depart in glory after being handed a mid-race drive-through penalty at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
On an emotional day in the Interlagos paddock, the local hero was just one of many drivers saying goodbye to his team or the sport while others ended the season not knowing where they may be next year.
For Massa it was a last outing after eight years with Ferrari and for Australian Mark Webber his last race in Formula One.
"It was a real shame about what happened," said Massa of his punishment for crossing white lines at the pit-lane entry.
"I was doing well and overtaking cars and then I got a drive through and I didn't do anything wrong and it was a shame.
"Sometimes these guys think they have all the power and they can do what they want so I feel more sorrow for them than for me.
"I didn't do anything that other cars didn't do, but I was the only one punished.
"I feel very emotional for what I have achieved and what we have achieved together, I have made a lot of friends and I want to thank them all.
"It will be really tough to say goodbye but I am ready to do it and I am ready to celebrate."
Massa joins Williams next year, but Nico Hulkenberg and Adrian Sutil, Paul Di Resta and Max Chilton, Heikki Kovalainen, Mexicans Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez, Pastor Maldonado, Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde have yet to finalise their futures.
Hulkenberg, of Sauber, has been linked with a return to his former team Force India.
Massa, touchingly, was given a guard of honour by his mechanics as he pulled out of the garage for the grid and his final race.
Source: AFP
