Felipe Massa can't seem to stay away from the racetrack, even after retiring from Formula One in 2016 and then returning for one more season. Now, the beloved and thrilling Brazilian driver has thrown his hat into the ring of the growing and popular Formula E racing series, participating for the Venturi Grand Prix team starting from the 2018-2019 season.
Despite a rocky start for Venturi in the first four seasons of the Formula E series, securing only a sixth-place finish as its best championship result, Massa remains optimistic about their chances this season. With the launch of Gen2, the new generation of Formula E cars, Massa, a known lover of challenges, sees this as a new and exciting venture.
Featuring increased power and energy storage, and reaching speeds up to 280 km/h, Gen2 is set to make waves in the world of electric racing. The enhanced vehicles will also include new LED strips that will allow spectators to follow race-patterns and strategies in real-time. The debuting Gen2 is expected to change the face of electric city racing, having a substantial impact on the future of the sport.
With his passion for racing and impressing background in top-tier motorsports, coupled with connections within the racing community – Venturi signed on Susie Wolff, a successful racing driver and ambassador for Williams – Massa brings invaluable experience to the team. As Massa revealed in a conversation with CNN's Supercharged program, he is excited for this new challenge and the adventure that awaits as he joins the growing ranks of Formula E.
However, Massa and the Venturi team know that success is never guaranteed, even with the introduction of Gen2. But they remain undeterred, ready to put in the work and reach for new heights in the exciting world of Formula E racing.
Sources:
[1] "Ex-Formula 1 racer Felipe Massa joins Venturi for Formula E season 5" - CNN, August 7, 2018
[2] "Formula E team Venturi takes on new challenge for season 6" - CNN, October 23, 2019
[3] "Felipe Massa leaves Williams F1 Team" - CNN, November 10, 2017
