Fans’ Samba drums will be thumping out hail-and-farewell rhythms in the carnival atmosphere of Brazil’s Interlagos circuit, scene of the season’s penultimate Grand Prix, if the pre-race expectations live up to their ceremonial promise.

They will certainly be beating out a fond goodbye to retiring local hero, the idolised Felipe Massa, one of the nicest and most popular drivers in Formula One, and, if all goes to his plan, could be welcoming the crowning of a new world champion in the shape of Nico Rosberg.

The two principals will be the inevitable focus of a packed house, 35-year-old Massa heading for the sidelines after 14 seasons courting danger and narrowly escaping disaster, and Rosberg seeking to outwit reigning champion and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to claim his first crown.

Few circuits on the Grand Prix calendar, in my experience, buzz with as much frenzy and atmosphere as the uproarious Sao Paulo setting, right on the edge of the city, a fitting showcase for a memorable meeting for those two reasons … Massa’s emotional exit and Rosberg’s highly-likely odds-on rise to the very pinnacle of F1.

Hamilton has never won at Interlagos, though he clinched a world title here, as did Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button.

Rosberg, understandably, rates it as one of his favourite circuits having won convincingly from pole position for the last two years.

In simple arithmetic terms, with his 19 point advantage over Hamilton and with just two races to go, if he beats the British three-times champion by seven points he will be crowned king.

A third Brazil win in succession will certainly seal his fate and good fortune.

To say nothing of the £10m (Dh45.58 million) or so bonus he will reap. Otherwise, if Hamilton is victorious it will go down to a spectacular finale in Abu Dhabi.

In sheer contrast to the inescapable tensions of the title scrap, Massa’s au revoir will be a fondly hailed climax. As a Ferrari star he came oh-so-close to giving the massed Brazilian thousands just what they most wanted. The world title in 2008.

He won the race in commandingly splendid style from pole position clocking the fastest lap and was convinced as he crossed the line under the chequered flag that he was the champ — but there was devastating heartbreak a moment away.

Hamilton pipped him for the top honour by dramatically snatching fifth place around the final corner to amass just enough of a tally to narrowly earn the championship by a solitary point, 98 to 97. Massa had reigned as world champion for only a few seconds….

“Very sadly, I came oh-so-near to the championship,” he says,”and that is something I have always dreamed of, as does every driver in F1. I passed really close to the title and very narrowly missed out — but I am very proud of everything I have achieved.”

It was in September at Monza and the Italian Grand Prix that Massa opted to reveal his quit decision, as had his firm friend and guiding light at Ferrari, the legendary Michael Schumacher a decade ago.

He raced for the Italian giants for eight years and racked up all of his eight GP wins with the Scuderia. When a heavy metal spring snapped off Rubens Barrichello’s car flew off and smashed into his head at the Hungarian round in 2009. He was so badly injured it almost cost him his life.

A year later, when he was leading in Germany a call from his race engineer Rob Smedley hinted firmly that he should pull over and allow teammate Fernando Alonso, in the running for the championship, to overtake without resistance and settle for second place in the Spaniard’s wake — and he dutifully obeyed team orders.

His dignified reaction, and presence of mind to give precedence to the team’s benefit rather than any of his own, garnered well-deserved respect and admiration the full length of the pit lane.

That genuine and widespread appreciation of his grace and loyalty has followed him throughout his career, a rarity among backbiting competitors whose only thoughts are for their own good and accomplishment.

He recalls his Ferrari term with a genuine appreciation of the honour that selection for that fabulous team bestows. “I had a lot of pressure there,” he says, ”there is more than with any other team in Formula One.

“Driving for Ferrari is like a religion. The pressure is tremendous, The expectations of the tifosi, that amazing faithful fan following, are a real challenge. And it never stops.

“But it lifts you beyond all measure. Whether or not you have a fantastic winning car or a difficult season in a struggler every single day the pressure piles up. But I managed to get through eight years. A difficult and challenging time — but unbelievably satisfying and enjoyable, too.

“I have to say, looking back over my career, which has flown by, I have revelled in all the opportunities I have been so generously given and have done my utmost to repay everybody, fans and team owners alike, for their faith in my ability. “It would be a fitting farewell if I could be standing on the podium at my home Grand Prix alongside Nico as world champion ...”

And rightly so. He will be missed as a fine example of sportsmanship, kindness and grace … to say nothing of a skill that deserved the ultimate reward.