After eight years, 11 grands prix victories, 36 podiums and 15 pole positions - and a World title for a few seconds - Massa is set to walk away from Ferrari.
The Brazilian and the team have opted to part ways at the end of this season, leaving Massa in the hunt for a new team while Ferrari have signed Kimi Raikkonen as his replacement.
The team took the opportunity in front of a 15,000-strong crowd of Ferrari supporters to wish Massa all the best for his future."Felipe has been a true Ferrari man and he will always be part of our history, for all the grands prix he drove for us, for the wins, the pole positions and for those few seconds when he was World Champion that day in Brazil, before that overtaking move that always seemed a bit strange to me," president Luca di Montezemolo said at Mugello on Sunday."We spent some great times together, while some others were more difficult, such as the accident in Budapest. These have been very busy years and today, I wanted to thank him publicly, having already done so privately, just the two of us.
"I think the decision to go our separate ways is the right one, both for us and for him. It's time for a change and also to find new motivation.
"I wish Felipe every success, starting with the last two races of this Championship. As for the rest of his Formula 1 career, I wish him the very best, but naturally, behind a Ferrari and anyway, I am sure we will get many chances to meet up again, because life is long and he will always be part of our family.
"When one has a mutually agreed separation, in the best interests of both parties, it can be done calmly in a friendly and constructive manner, and that has been the case this time."
The Brazilian and the team have opted to part ways at the end of this season, leaving Massa in the hunt for a new team while Ferrari have signed Kimi Raikkonen as his replacement.
The team took the opportunity in front of a 15,000-strong crowd of Ferrari supporters to wish Massa all the best for his future."Felipe has been a true Ferrari man and he will always be part of our history, for all the grands prix he drove for us, for the wins, the pole positions and for those few seconds when he was World Champion that day in Brazil, before that overtaking move that always seemed a bit strange to me," president Luca di Montezemolo said at Mugello on Sunday."We spent some great times together, while some others were more difficult, such as the accident in Budapest. These have been very busy years and today, I wanted to thank him publicly, having already done so privately, just the two of us.
"I think the decision to go our separate ways is the right one, both for us and for him. It's time for a change and also to find new motivation.
"I wish Felipe every success, starting with the last two races of this Championship. As for the rest of his Formula 1 career, I wish him the very best, but naturally, behind a Ferrari and anyway, I am sure we will get many chances to meet up again, because life is long and he will always be part of our family.
"When one has a mutually agreed separation, in the best interests of both parties, it can be done calmly in a friendly and constructive manner, and that has been the case this time."