Before the 2008 season had even got underway, people were already writing off Felipe Massa. Many thought that without the benefit of traction control, the Brazilian would struggle to match the pace of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. Two races and two retirements later, there was speculation that he wouldn't even survive the season.

Massa's fightback began at the third race of the year, in Bahrain. He qualified on the front row, and dominated the race to secure victory. Another win in Istanbul has moved the Brazilian to second place in the drivers' championship, seven points behind Raikkonen.

Istanbul Park is one of the most difficult tracks on the Formula One calendar. It's the kind of circuit where conventional wisdom would suggest that Massa should struggle. Turn 8 is amongst the most challenging corners in the world. The triple-apex left-hander sees drivers reach speeds of 160mph, pulling up to 5G for seven seconds.

A driver who some claim relied on traction control more than most, really shouldn't be able to excell at a circuit like Istanbul Park, but that's exactly what Massa has done. The Brazilian has won three out of the four Formula One races held at the track. And the time he failed to secure top spot? He was driving a Sauber.

It's true that Ferrari have always provided Massa with one of the most competitive cars in the field, but it'd be unfair to labour this point. His first victory at the circuit came in 2006, after he out-qualified and out-raced none other than seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. For all the pre-season ridicule, Massa has proven to be peerless at one of the world's most demanding race tracks.