Felipe Massa is back in Formula 1 and he wants to go one place higher than he did in 2008 and become a World Champion just like so many of his fellow countrymen have done before him.

Last year the sport that Felipe loves so much sent him crashing back down to earth, with a car that wasn’t performing the least of his worries. In 2009 Ferrari had a terrible season. In the first half of the year they barely scored any points and decided to scrap their 2009 car half way through in order to work on the 2010 car.

As if the year wasn’t going badly enough, when the Formula 1 season reached Hungary Massa was involved in a horrible freak accident which nearly took his life. Massa was on a qualifying lap when a spring came loose from the back of fellow countryman Rubens Barichello’s Brawn, it bounced down the track and collided with Felipe’s head knocking the Brazilian out. He then crashed straight into a tyre wall. Massa’s accident happened just after a fatal accident involving Henry Surtees, son of former World Champion John Surtees. The two accidents showed how dangerous motor racing could be.

Massa had to have reconstructive surgery on his face after the incident, he was lucky to still be alive. His injuries caused him to miss the rest of the 2009 season. As the 2009 championship reached its climax Ferrari made the decision to change its driver line-up, bringing double World Champion Fernando Alonso from Renault in place of the 2007 Champion Kimi Raikkonen.

The 2010 season couldn’t have started any stronger for Ferrari with Felipe Massa following Fernando Alonso home in a superb one-two. Alonso could be Felipe’s strongest driver he’s been paired with yet and could push him to the next level. The Brazilian certainly has his eye on the title.

BBC commentator Martin Brundle had this to say about Felipe Massa:

“Felipe Massa raises his game whenever he needs to and he may have to find something extra again this season.

“The Brazilian has clearly not been hindered by the whack on his head in Hungary last year in terms of performance behind the wheel.

“But it could be a tough year for Massa with the arrival of Fernando Alonso at Ferrari. The double world champion will try to make the team his own.

“Massa needs to deliver his best performances at tracks like Bahrain and Istanbul where he specialises. But to beat Alonso to the title he would need to be special everywhere.”

I think that Brundle is right, it’s going to be very difficult for Massa to beat Alonso. He is capable of doing it but he will need strong and consistent performances all year.

Join me and Victoria on Formula1FanCast.com’s Fantasy League Formula 1 2010. Our league is called Formula1Fancast.com and the league pin is 722. Try and beat us if you can, but be warned we’re good!

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