A different day for Felipe Massa

What is a Formula 1 driver doing aboard a ship anchored 120 kilometers off the coast of Brazil? The pilot in question is Felipe Massa and the ship is the FPSO Fluminense, where the acronym stands for Floating Production Storage and Offloading: in other words, a sort of platform where the hydrocarbons extracted in two fields located in an area with maximum radius of 3,3 kilometers and from there periodically shunted onto oil tankers which take them ashore. An unusual place for Felipe but not completely foreign, given that it is from here that the crude oil comes out which is then transformed by Shell into petrol and lubricants used both in road cars and in Ferrari Formula 1 single-seaters.

“It was a very interesting experience” – said Felipe – “It is incredible to see how complex the crude oil extraction and management system is that is in operation on this ship. When I was in front of the control panel it almost felt like I was in front of the telemetry of our car when it is on the track: every parameter is monitored in real time, 24 hours a day.”

During the visit, which took place last Friday, Felipe met all the "inhabitants" of this artificial floating island, who welcomed him with great warmth: obviously many Brazilians but on board there were also Americans, Filipinos and an Italian. With them he visited the ship and was able to verify in the field how much attention is given in this plant to fundamental aspects such as safety and the environment. It is no coincidence that no accident capable of interrupting activities has occurred on the FPSO Fluminense in the last seven years and that more than 140 transshipments of hydrocarbons have been carried out without any losses occurring. Furthermore, the pilot flame is not continuous and CO2 emissions are kept to a minimum.

“Safety in Formula 1 is the priority but I see that it's the same here too” – added Felipe – “But it's not the only thing in common with my world. Here too we work as a team and there is a need for great harmony to be able to do the best work that is entrusted to each one: we are practically always together for at least two weeks at a time and it is essential that each member of the group feels responsible for what he does and is ready to help those around him. Just like it happens in a Formula 1 team.”

Before leaving the ship, Felipe did not fail to talk about Formula 1. “We are on the eve of an important race like the one in Montreal, where Ferrari will have to try to be more competitive compared to what we saw in Turkey” – he said the Brazilian driver – “On paper the circuit should be more congenial to the characteristics of the F10 but we will have to wait until Friday to begin to understand how things really are.”

The Brazilian's stay in his homeland ends today, when Felipe will leave for Quito (Ecuador) where he has another event planned with one of the Scuderia's partners. Tomorrow he will travel to Montreal where he will find the team waiting for him, ready for redemption in the return of Formula 1 to Canada.