Massa was widely pilloried following his abject performance in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – spinning an unprecedented five times in the rain en route to a lowly 13th spot at the chequered flag – but he answered those same critics with aplomb on home turf at Interlagos, proving to be uncatchable in the very conditions in which he was supposed not to be able to drive.

The eleven-time grand prix-winner was also peerless in both Hungary and Valencia, in the former being desperately unlucky to be deprived of victory almost within sight of the chequered flag having not put a foot wrong all race. The ten points that he lost that day, his supporters point out, would have comfortably made him world champion. So, undoubtedly, would the ten that went begging in Singapore when the Scuderia's faulty refuelling system struck again – with calamitous consequences.

Question marks remain, however, with off-colour performances at Spa-Francorchamps and in Shanghai arguably earning Massa six points more than he deserved, and his driving in the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway – clattering clumsily into both Lewis Hamilton and Sébastien Bourdais during the course of the 67-lap encounter – was reckless to say the least.

And then, in the most dramatic of final showdowns, there was Brazil, where quite simply nobody could live with him. To miss out on the laurels by just a single point having driven his heart out and done all that he possibly could was cruel indeed, but he will bounce back. Have no doubt – Felipe Massa, the man many believed would never challenge for the world championship, will be an F1 title contender for many, many years to come.


Tomorrow: Who did you vote first in the Driver of the Year poll?