• Off Season

Barrichello and Massa pick up awards

ESPNF1 Staff
December 3, 2009 « Paffett fastest on day two at Jerez | »
Felipe Massa and Rubens Barrichello were honoured in Brazil © Getty Images
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Rubens Barrichello received the prestigious Brazilian 'Golden Helmet' award in recognition of his third place finish in this year's drivers championship.

He shared the honours with Felipe Massa who was awarded with a golden replica of the helmet damaged in his huge accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix this year. The crash happened during qualifying when a spring fell off Barrichello's car and hit Massa's helmet at speed, fracturing his skull. He was forced to take the rest of the season off to recover.

"I have the real helmet back in my house, and this [prize] is a gift that will be in my heart for the rest of my life," Massa told Brazilian broadcaster Globo.

He was also celebrating the birth of his first child, a boy named Felipe Bassi Massa. The Ferrari driver said it was a "unique feeling" and the most "incredible time" of his life.

Jenson Button has been nominated for a similar award to Barrichello in the UK, the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year. He is up against tough competition for the award, with tennis player Andy Murray and footballer Ryan Giggs both in contention.

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