FELIPE MASSA'S highly-anticipated return to racing resulted in a miserable Formula E debut in Saudi Arabia.

The Brazilian showed his class as he made plenty of overtakes but ultimately finished in 17th after a handful of penalties.

4 Felipe Massa spoke with Wayne Rooney ahead of his Formula E debut

Speaking after the Ad Diriyah E-Prix, Massa said: "There are many challenges, everything is happening in these 45 minutes, you're working a lot.

"It looks like a go-kart race, everything is happening, you are fighting, you need to save your battery - everything is happening and the race is very quick, it's very fun.

"I think it's quite tough, but today was even tougher, because I lost sessions, I had a problem with the breaks so I ran less than others in the rain."

Saudi Arabia suffered from strong downpours, leading to both practice sessions being cancelled, with qualifying also heavily affected, but Massa apologised for being caught out as BMW's Antonio Felix da Costa won the race.

Massa added: "I was doing a good race, passing so many cars.

“In the end I did everything for good except this penalty, which I do not know why I was given.

"I'm so sorry because I could make a good result in this first E-Prix."

4 Felipe Massa racing around the streets in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

4 Antonio Felix da Costa celebrating after winning in Saudi Arabia

4 Race winner Antonio Felix da Costa leapt out of his BMW after the race

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The former Ferrari and Williams driver showed promise as he was battling for a place in the top ten after starting 12th on the grid.

But the Venturi star's hard work was undone after his car was penalised for a technical infringement regarding season five's new battery regulations.



His use of the boost led to two more post-race penalties - one for using it too early and a second for using too much energy.

A breakdown of Felipe Massa's penalties Venturi's star man was punished for a technical infrigement after the team failed to adhere to "the Formula E season five battery software implementation guide version 5.1."

Massa used 150KJ of energy instead of the permitted 100KJ while using Fanboost

He also activated Fanboost before the 22nd minute of the race, which is the earliest time it can be used during the new 45-minute plus one lap race format