Massa: This is why I drove for another year!

Felipe Massa has paid an emotional tribute to his fans on social media following his last ever Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos this evening, admitting that the reason he drove for another year was to allow him to end on a high.

The Sao Paolo native announced earlier in the week that he would retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season and so the realisation came that today’s race would be his last in front of his hometown supporters.

The 36-year-old welled up before proceedings and took to social media to pay tribute to his fans, before adding that he was overjoyed to have ended his final race in Brazil on his own terms.

He finished in seventh place, holding off Fernando Alonso in a final thrilling lap, to the delight of the home fans, and Massa would eventually provide his reaction, visibly emotional as he explained his day.

"It's so difficult to explain my feelings today. I managed to overtake a few cars, including Alonso, because I knew he would have a better pace than me, " he told reporters.

"I drove a perfect race from begining to end, managed the car, it was like a victory. Today, I finished the race like I wanted, this is why I raced for another year."

MAS: "I'm really emotional today because of all of you guys [fans]. Thank you for all your support and for helping me make the best race that I could" #BrazilGP #ObrigadoMassa ???????? pic.twitter.com/JEaZ3EdbHy — Formula 1 (@F1) 12 November 2017