Felipe Massa has successfully transitioned from Formula 1 racing to the world of fine dining, now owning two highly-rated restaurants in Sao Paulo.
The retired F1 star, 43, remains well known for his time with Ferrari and his ongoing legal pursuit over the 2008 'crashgate' controversy.
However, away from motorsport, he has quietly built a name for himself as a restaurateur in his home country.
Correspondents from Dutch magazine Formule 1 recently visited Massa's latest acquisition – Song Qi, a high-end Chinese restaurant.
On the menu are gourmet offerings such as steamed scallops and lacquered duck, the restaurant's signature dish. The publication notes that current F1 drivers, including Charles Leclerc and Valtteri Bottas, have already dined there.
"There is a Japanese restaurant on every street corner these days," Massa explained. "But strangely enough, there was no good Chinese restaurant. We jumped into that gap.
The prices are not very high, but we are in the higher segment. Our Brazilian chefs also went to Europe for two months for training. We want to offer our guests a special experience."
Massa admits his competitive nature as a racing driver has carried over into his business ventures.
"You want to be the best," he said. "In a way, it's like top-level sport.
"Running a top restaurant is like working in a Formula 1 team. Everything has to be top quality – the products, but also the people. Everyone has to work well together, from the buyers to the people in the service, behind the bar and in the kitchen. And the timing has to be optimal. Just like in Formula 1, it's all about details.
"If one cog isn't working, everything can go wrong."
Massa's other restaurant, Beefbar, markets itself as the "Best beef restaurant in Brazil," further cementing his presence in the country's fine dining scene.
