Prost-like Massa deserved to retire an F1 world champion
A tedious grand prix was won by Sebastian Vettel but the real victory was six places further back, a man revelling in his final race at a venue that holds as many painful memories as joyous one
At Interlagos the result, as so often - too often - these days, was settled in the opening seconds, when the pole position man got too much wheelspin, and Sebastian Vettel asserted himself into the first turn, going on to a superbly measured victory.
Throughout the afternoon, he was never very far in front of Valtteri Bottas, but so evenly matched were the Ferrari and Mercedes that it would have taken a mistake by Vettel for the order to change.
Archive: The flamboyant F1 ace who lost his best years at Ferrari
Archive: The flamboyant F1 ace who lost his best years at Ferrari Archive: The flamboyant F1 ace who lost his best years at Ferrari
Archive: When F1's Italian GP no-overtaking proposal was rejected
Archive: When F1's Italian GP no-overtaking proposal was rejected Archive: When F1's Italian GP no-overtaking proposal was rejected
From the archive: How Williams's last F1 title challenge unravelled
From the archive: How Williams's last F1 title challenge unravelled From the archive: How Williams's last F1 title challenge unravelled
Autosport 70: How Mansell bested Senna in the greatest F1 Hungarian GP ever
Autosport 70: How Mansell bested Senna in the greatest F1 Hungarian GP ever Autosport 70: How Mansell bested Senna in the greatest F1 Hungarian GP ever
Autosport70: Senna, tragedy and the battle for Coulthard
Autosport70: Senna, tragedy and the battle for Coulthard Autosport70: Senna, tragedy and the battle for Coulthard
Autosport 70: The rise and fall of Ferrari's first great champion
Autosport 70: The rise and fall of Ferrari's first great champion Autosport 70: The rise and fall of Ferrari's first great champion
Grand Prix Gold: Australian GP 1986
Grand Prix Gold: Australian GP 1986 Grand Prix Gold: Australian GP 1986
The pre-Christmas pressure on Bottas and Vettel
The pre-Christmas pressure on Bottas and Vettel The pre-Christmas pressure on Bottas and Vettel
Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche leads Ferrari as darkness falls after hour 6
Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche leads Ferrari as darkness falls after hour 6 Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche leads Ferrari as darkness falls after hour 6
Jota Porsche suffers spectacular crash while leading Le Mans
Jota Porsche suffers spectacular crash while leading Le Mans Jota Porsche suffers spectacular crash while leading Le Mans
Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari leads as rain brings out safety car after hour 3
Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari leads as rain brings out safety car after hour 3 Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari leads as rain brings out safety car after hour 3
Pain for Cadillac in crash-filled early stages at Le Mans
Pain for Cadillac in crash-filled early stages at Le Mans Pain for Cadillac in crash-filled early stages at Le Mans
Why F1’s quest for more isn't always better
Why F1’s quest for more isn't always better Why F1’s quest for more isn't always better
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023? Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.