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The Williams driver, who will bow out in Abu Dhabi at the end
of the month after his 250th race, had hoped for one last hurrah
at a circuit where he was twice a winner with Ferrari but it was
not to be.
"It was heartbreaking," the 35-year-old, who wrapped the
national flag around his shoulders after getting out of the car,
said of the crash at the final rain-soaked corner in front of
grandstands packed with fans.
When he arrived back at the garages, with the pitlane closed
while the field lapped behind the safety car, mechanics from
other teams came out to applaud in an emotional tribute before
his wife and young son arrived.
If that was a breach of safety regulations, with the pitlane
again opened to cars as Massa reached the line of Ferrari
mechanics, nobody cared.
"I didn't want it to finish like this," said the driver, whose
last win was at the Sao Paulo circuit in 2008 when he missed out
on the title by a single point to Lewis Hamilton -- the winner
for Mercedes on Sunday.
"I wanted to finish with a good result for the fans, for Brazil,
for my team, for me. Unfortunately I couldn't."
"It's impossible to explain my feelings from today, for
everything that has happened. So much love," added the
Brazilian. "I was just walking, in front of my people, with this
amazing reaction.
"I never expected this in my life, I don't think I deserved as
much as this."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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