Disappointed Massa hopes to bounce back

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa was dignified despite the disappointment of losing out in the Formula One world championship.

The Brazilian won his home Grand Prix at Interlagos and thought he had won the drivers title too because Lewis Hamilton was in sixth place as Massa took the chequered flag.

But Hamilton moved up a place on the final lap to earn the extra point he needed to win the title.

Massa said: "He scored more points than us, so he deserves to be champion. I know how to lose and I know how to win.

"This was just another day of my life where I will learn a lot, and I know I can leave here with my head held high."

Massa's victory led to a bittersweet moment as he blinked back tears while spraying champagne from the top of the winners' podium.

Television pictures showed his father in the Ferrari garage jumping for joy at the end of the race because he believed Massa had won the title and the disappointment was clear as the mechanics pointed out that a mistake by Timo Glock on the final lap had allowed Hamilton to earn an extra point.

Massa added: "Everything was perfect, but unfortunately it was not enough.

"We had a great championship, but with some ups and downs and we paid for that.

"Sometimes you have a perfect year with many victories and a very reliable car, and then sometimes you have the ups and downs.

"Everybody did a great job, everybody worked really hard to achieve our goals with heart.

"But sometimes things don't happen the way you want, but then that is racing, that is sport. It is part of your experience, part of life.

"Everyone in the team should be very proud, proud about the job we did, proud of our race and our championship, and very happy like me.

"Hopefully now we can come back next year and claim the title."

There was some consolation for Ferrari as they won the constructors championship, beating McLaren by 21 points.

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