For more than 30 seconds, he believed that he had just summited the Formula 1 world – only to have that notion cruelly ripped away.
Felipe Massa went from dreamland to the depths of despair in such a short space of time. But then came the moment which secured his place in the hearts of F1 fans forever, as he accepted the most difficult of defeats with humility and dignity in front of the people who adored him most in the world.
It was in 2008 that Massa had the best shot he would ever have to become the champion. In his sixth full season in the sport and third with Ferrari, he was finally ready to make a real bid for the prize he had been dreaming about ever since he first sat in a go-kart.
