And so, the long awaited Drivers' championship showdown has arrived, here in Brazil, the venue for the 17th and final race of the season. Three drivers have a chance of winning, the McLaren-Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso and Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's Kimi Raikkonen. Therefore these three and last year's Brazilian GP winner and local boy Felipe Massa were all on stage this afternoon for the official FIA Press conference.

"I intend tackling this weekend, with the same mentality as last year, trying to have a good weekend," began Massa. "I think if we can repeat what happened one year ago it will be fantastic." On the subject of his contract being extended with the Scuderia, the Brazilian had this to say: "I think it's good for stability. I've been with Ferrari for two years and then I was already stable actually, because my contract was actually already until the end of next year.

But then we've extended that so I think it shows the work we've been doing together with the team, I think (it shows) the confidence the team has in me as well, so I'm very pleased about that and I think it's very nice to carry on doing the job with the team and especially as it's a team that has trusted me since the beginning of my career, so it's very nice to carry on with Ferrari."

There are many permutations regarding a possible outcome to the championship and although he cannot win it for himself, Massa could play a decisive role. "For sure I would be happy to see my team winning the championship but it's not a very easy race and I think it also depends on what happens in the race," affirmed the Brazilian. "It also depends on Kimi's chances of winning the championship, it also depends how these two guys in front are going to do in the race as well, so it depends on many things but for sure, I'm going to start the weekend with my aim to try to win the race."