Felipe Massa comes home to Maranello, meets the new 458 Italia, laps Fiorano, smiles for fans [w/VIDEO]
Felipe Massa's homecoming – Click above to watch the video after the jump
It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but for Felipe Massa, it must feel like it's been an eternity since he's been up to speed. The Brazilian Formula One driver hasn't been at work since July when he suffered a major blow to the head from some flying debris at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
A lot has happened since then: his mentor and former team-mate Michael Schumacher prepared for a comeback and then had to cancel it due to health concerns of his own, the Scuderia promoted test driver Luca Badoer for a couple of races before sending him home, and then Maranello hired Giancarlo Fisichella to fill in and stay on as a reserve driver for the future. Then they picked up Fernando Alonso to be Massa's wingman next year, and somewhere in the middle of it all, Ferrari launched its first all-new mid-engine production car in a decade. (Not to mention the new engine chief they hired, the senior executive they lost or the new designer who is said to be taking over).
Now, after his prolonged absence, Massa has returned home to Maranello for the first time since the crash. He got some practice time in the simulator before hitting the track in a privately-owned, retired F2007 with GP2 tires to reacquaint himself with his craft. And while he was at it, he stopped by the production line to check out the new 458 Italia. Check out his experience in the (tragically silent) video after the jump and in the first gallery below, and view shots from Felipe's session around Fiorano in the F2007 in the secondary gallery.
Gallery: Felipe Massa back on track in F2007
[Source: Ferrari]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jinsei888 8:15PM (10/12/2009)
I saw no lap in that video.
+ the thumbs-up was getting annoying.
:)
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nighttime 1:35AM (10/13/2009)
So many awkward handshakes too and people going for a handshake and then being denied/unseen.
It's like watching someone high five someone who doesn't normally receive high fives and totally misses or grabs the other persons thumb and is like YEAH! ALRIGHT!
bagbozo 8:27PM (10/12/2009)
Gives fans the thumb, GIves other drivers the finger.
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Chris O 8:32PM (10/12/2009)
I'm just glad he's doing okay. That accident (the spring anyway), was pretty scary.
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larry a 8:36PM (10/12/2009)
lol looks like he was getting pretty tired of the camera
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vespid82 8:36PM (10/12/2009)
God that car REALLY needs some surface changes along the lower edge of the front bumper cover. That neverending horizontal line for a "chin" looks like ass...
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elpepe 4:29AM (10/13/2009)
agreed... it does look awfully plane... or as you say, like ass...
MachinaDC5 8:57PM (10/12/2009)
I wonder how hard it is for him to get insurance...
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Darrell 8:59PM (10/12/2009)
for some reason, I can't love this car like I love the F430...
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click_playaz 9:09PM (10/12/2009)
Yes, F430 is beautiful. I don't know why designers come up with wounded headlights idea.
walking sex 11:29PM (10/12/2009)
that's actually too funny... the guy at 1:26 goes into shake philippe's hand, and gets rejected... im just watching it over and over again right now...
he gets rejected, then pretends to be doing some work... jokes...
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Flyboy 11:53PM (10/12/2009)
I kno I replayed that 5 times.\
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwkwwaaaaaaaaaaard
ALEXDB9 2:16AM (10/13/2009)
Haha! Saw that too. Love the way the guy play's it off and goes back to looking like he was looking for something..
"Hmm, wft! Didn't you see my hand!....okay just grab the towel....no one noticed, God I hope this doesn't make it to youtube...its ok"....
greenchile505 2:53AM (10/13/2009)
You're all wrong.. The guy just got done shaking Massa's hand. Immediately after the edit, he is seen backing away, and let's someone else shake Massa's ha.......
WHO CARES!?!
Venom 8:24AM (10/13/2009)
I think Greenchile505 is correct.
At first I thought Massa had rejected the guy but after replaying it a few times I think the guy had just got done shaking Massa's hand, we just missed it in the cutaway.
As you can see he does not have his hand out and is not making any attempt to shake his hand and he is smiling.
Nozferat 11:47PM (10/12/2009)
Is it me or does he seem not too happy?
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Ray 1:34AM (10/13/2009)
I'm glad he's ok. He looks pretty bored of the cameras, you'd think he'd be used to it by now. I imagine his arm is tired from always giving the thumbs up.
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comfyearplugs 2:25AM (10/13/2009)
Buy ear plugs for help with sleeping, protection against swimmers ear when swimming and to block out harmful noises for musicians. We sell swimming earplugs as well as ear plugs for sleeping, tinnitus, young children, motorcyclists, flying, musicians.
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Rob47 6:35AM (10/13/2009)
Anyone else think the car doesn't look to nice in these pics? It looks stunning normally just not here.
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