Even though it was Fernando Alonso’s first participation in the Finali Mondiali Ferrari on the weekend, it was far from being Felipe Massa’s debut, but it definitely was a special day for the Brazilian driver as he was finally back behind the wheel of “his” single-seater, the F60 he had to leave after his accident in Budapest on 25 July.

It wasn’t the first time Felipe had sat behind the wheel of a Formula One car since his accident as he drove several laps in Fiorano on 12 October. This was just an appetiser for the Ferrari racer as on Sunday he was back driving in front of the Ferrari fans, which had a special flair to it.

“I am very happy to be here, that I can work with the team,” Felipe said. "It’s true that I’ve been with them in Sao Paulo and in Abu Dhabi, but driving is really extraordinary! Today I also want to thank all the fans, who were really close to me over the last months. The messages I received were wonderful. Lets hope that we can give our fans some satisfaction in 2010: Fernando and I really want to be the best couple in Formula One."

Felipe drove around 20 laps, first with his teammates Gené, Fisichella and Badoer and later on, after a couple of pit stops, alone, before finishing with a parade together with the other Formula One single-seaters and the F430 GTs from the AF Corse and Risi Competizione team, the winners of the Constructor’s and Teams’ titles in the FIA GT and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans respectively

"It was fantastic and I am so happy. Although I could drive just a little, I really enjoyed being here," the Brazilian driver said at the end of the show. "I am very motivated: this today for me is like victory. It was just like before the accident at the Hungaroring."

"Felipe has an incredible taste for victory," Rob Smedley, his track engineer, who today was in charge at the symbolic Scuderia pitwall, added. “This is another small step ahead in the preparations for his return to racing. The lap times? I didn’t pay attention to them.”

Felipe immediately ran off to the airport, where he boarded a plane back to Sao Paulo, where his wife Raffaela is waiting for him engaged in her very own Grand Prix, which will end very soon, either this or next week, with the birth of a son, who will bear his father’s name.