Williams might be seen as a step down for Felipe Massa after eight years at Ferrari but he sees it more as a chance to step up and become a leader, as well as following in the footsteps of illustrious compatriots.
The little Brazilian has been a loyal sidekick to a string of Formula One champions since he first arrived as a race driver at Maranello in 2006.
Massa was there alongside seven times champion Michael Schumacher, he helped Kimi Raikkonen take the 2007 title and has made way for double champion Fernando Alonso more times than he likes to remember.
On Monday, the 32-year-old - casually dressed after flying in from Italy with his father - was presented to the assembled Williams factory workforce as the former champions' new signing for 2014 on a multi-year contract.
“I know I have a lot to give to this team and I am really ready to lead,” he said, standing in front of Grand Prix cars bearing the names of Brazilian greats Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet, as well as Rubens Barrichello and Bruno Senna.
“I definitely see myself coming here as a leader for the team.”
“A leader for a very important change inside this team, to put this team in a good position in the championship,” added Massa.
“I am really ready for that, happy. I feel very motivated. I hope we can do a fantastic job.”
Massa has 11 wins with Ferrari to his credit and missed out on the 2008 championship by a single point to Britain's Lewis Hamilton.
Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams said Massa was just the man to drive on a team fallen on tough times and struggling to reclaim its place among the elite.
“I think Felipe is looking for that new challenge, to lead the team into success,” she said. “We firmly believe he can do that for us.
“We don't have a team leader per se but, in the psychological sense, he will be the team leader in that he has the most experience to bring to the team next year.”
HEAD INJURY
While he has not won a race since 2008, the year before he suffered a near-fatal head injury at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and has stood on the podium only once this season with a third place in Spain, the Brazilian believed he had plenty to offer.
“I believe I can win races, I believe I can do a great job together with Williams,” he said. “When I don't think that any more, I will not race any more.
“I think I can achieve a lot with this team because Williams is a big team; they have all the infrastructure to produce a good car,” continued the Sao Paulo driver, whose final race for Ferrari will be in his home city this month.
“Williams wants to have me inside the team and that's really important. It gives me a lot of motivation to start something from zero.”
The regulations will change significantly next season, with a new V6 turbo engine and energy recovery systems, and Williams will be switching to Mercedes power from Renault.
The winners of nine Constructors' titles between 1980 and 1997 have a lot of ground to make up as well.
Massa replaces Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, with Finland's Valtteri Bottas staying, at a team whose ranking has fallen so low that this year is their worst ever season with just one point on the board.
Where others might see a struggle ahead, the Brazilian - whose Ferrari seat has gone to the returning Raikkonen - saw only potential and had no doubt he had made the right choice.
“It's very nice to be in this team, a team that was very important for Brazil and I hope will be again very important for Brazil,” he said.
“This year is not a good year for Williams but looking at how the rules will change for next year, I think it's a good time to come here.
“It's a very important team which wants to grow and go back to what they were before in the past; I’m really excited for that.”
Next year will be the first time Massa has raced a Formula One car without a Ferrari engine and he said he was eager to get started.
“It will be a big change but I am really convinced that the new engine we are going to have next year is good and Mercedes know what to do,” he said. “We need to work on the car now.”
SPONSORSHIP DEAL ENDS
Williams will end its tie-up with Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA at the close of the Formula One season after Pastor Maldonado's departure from the team, deputy principal Claire Williams said on Monday.
"Their branding won't be on the car for next year," she said at the presentation of Brazilian Felipe Massa as Maldonado's replacement on a multi-year deal.
"There is no further connection with PDVSA as obviously Pastor is now leaving the team."
Maldonado has been backed by the oil giant throughout his career and his sponsorship millions have been eagerly sought by other teams. Williams said the driver had taken the decision to look elsewhere.
"We wish him well in that new challenge and we have to see where he ends up next year, but the Williams team won't have a connection to Venezuela next year," she said.
Maldonado has been linked to Lotus, who have been waiting for months to secure promised new investment from a consortium whose money has been slow in coming through, as well as cash-strapped Sauber and Force India.
The PDVSA sponsorship deal was with Williams, rather than a specific driver, and still had another two years to run.
The Venezuelan money made up a significant part of the Williams budget but sources indicated the team will be sheltered from any immediate impact by highly favourable severance terms.
Williams said: "I think when our numbers come out next year, people will see what has actually gone on behind the scenes with this whole arrangement."
She indicated that Brazil, with its fast-growing economy, could provide future backers. Massa is the country's sole driver and no longer in the No.2 role he had at Ferrari.
"I think Brazil is one of the sport's biggest markets, so it's really up to us to go out and commercialise Felipe as our driver," she said.
"We've been operating and looking for sponsorship in the Brazilian market for a long time now, we've had great Brazilian partners in the past.
“So we will be going out to Brazil to see what we can do out there."
Former champion Williams has a long-standing connection with Brazil, dating back to the days when triple champion Nelson Piquet was with it.
Other Brazilians to have raced for Williams include the late great Ayrton Senna, who died in one of their cars in 1994, and Rubens Barrichello. Bruno Senna, Ayrton's nephew, and Antonio Pizzonia also raced for the team.
Massa said: "I hope we can bring some important companies to Williams from Brazil, I think Brazil is in a good moment and Williams has everything to give a good image.
"So it would be nice to have some Brazilian sponsors as well." - Reuters