Felipe Massa  Born: 25.04.81  Birthplace:Sao Paulo, Brazil  Team: Ferrari  2006 Car Number: 7  Last Season: 13th  GP Pedigree (After Brazilian GP)  Starts: 80  Victories: 2  Poles: 3  Fastest Laps: 2  Points: 97  GP Debut: 2002, Australian GP, Sauber   Five-year Stats

Once regarded as the 'enfant terrible' of F1, Felipe is facing up to the terribly difficult challenge of being Michael Schumacher’s team-mate in 2006.

It could prove to be the making - or breaking - of the young Brazilian.

Massa joined the F1 grid in 2002.

Quick out of the blocks in the Ferrari-engined Sauber, there were already rumours that he would be replacing Rubens Barrichello at Ferrari.

Felipe's reputation had been enhanced by Peter Sauber's astute signing of Kimi Raikkonen the previous year, but as the season progressed it became obvious that Raikkonen was by far the bigger talent and Massa was more wild than wonderful.

Although he got very close to Nick Heidfeld's performances he was guilty of overdriving the Sauber C21 and at Monza was fined by the stewards and deducted 10 grid places for a needless accident with Pedro de la Rosa.

As it was, Peter Sauber signed up Frentzen for 2003, offering Massa the role of test driver, which he declined in favour of a test role with Ferrari.

However, after a season of testing for the Scuderia, Massa was once again announced as a Sauber driver for 2004, in what speculation suggested was a calculated move by Ferrari to have the Brazilian back in F1 so that he can gain more experience before moving back to the Scuderia at a later stage.

After struggling to match Giancarlo Fisichella, Felipe remained with Sauber in 2005 where he was joined by 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, and thereby given the chance to really demonstrate his talent.

However, had it not been for his sixth-placed finish in Bahrain, Felipe would have spent the entire season trailing his team-mate in the points table despite largely having the upper hand on GP weekends.

A difficult season for Sauber, though, ended with Felipe 13th in the drivers’ table, two points ahead of JV.

But it wasn't all bad news as the Brazilian’s performances led to him being signed by Ferrari to replace Rubens Barrichello in 2006, which as team-mate to Michael Schumacher, will be the most important of his career.

Formula One Career:

2006:	GP with Ferrari.
2005:	GP with Sauber (11pts - 13th in championship).
2004:	GP with Sauber - (12pts - 12th in championship).
2003:	Did not race
2002:	GP with Sauber - fifth in Spain, sixth in Malaysia and Europe (4pts - 13th in championship)

Background:

2001:	First in Formula 3000 Euro-Series with six wins from eight races, testing with Sauber
2000:	First in European Formula Renault series, 1st in Italian Formula Renault Series.
1999:	First in Brazilian Formula Chevrolet Championship
1998:	Fifth in Brazilian Formula Chevrolet Championship
1997:	Brazilian Karting Championship