The weather forecast spoke about rain over the previous days but there was lots of sun in São Paulo on the occasion of a special event that focused around Felipe Massa on the Interlagos circuit. Ferrari's new sponsor for 2010, Santander, had organised an event to present its sponsorship programme to the local media, a programme the Spanish bank has set up to collaborate with Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1.

Massa went onto the track for a parade on board of a Ferrari California and later the Brazilian national hero got behind the wheel of a F2008, the single-seater used during the 2008 F1 World Championship season which was provided for the occasion by Maranallo’s F1 Clienti department. Massa was joined at the event by two compatriots, former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi and Luciano Burti; all were greeted with lots of enthusiasm by the crowd who had been present from the early hours of the morning at the track which is home to the Brazilian grand prix.

Behind the wheel of a single-seater fitted with "demonstration" tyres for the occasion, Massa went onto the track for some "hot laps", joining the Ferrari F430 Challenge driven by Fittipaldi and a Fiat 500 with Burti at the controls, on the main straight.

During the press conference Felipe underlined being enthusiastic about going onto the track of Interlagos: "It’s always great driving here on my home circuit, in front of my fans. One week before the first GP I’ve got an edge." Asked about his new teammate Fernando Alonso, Massa spoke about the present and the future: "I don’t care if there have been miscommunications in the past, this is our sport. Now it’s important to stay concentrated and work together well. This is what we’re doing. Having seen the great work of the other teams I’m convinced that we’ve got an interesting championship ahead of us."