Most pressure mounts on Massa

Felipe Massa

(GMM) Felipe Massa will be the one dealing with the most pressure when formula one gathers for the championship finale in Brazil.

That is the insistence of Lewis Hamilton, who with a mere fifth place will guarantee his first title at Interlagos in two weeks.

Ferrari's Massa, meanwhile, will be on home turf in front of the fervent Sao Paulo masses, needing to win the race with a car that was clearly outclassed by Hamilton's McLaren in China.

"There is a lot of pressure on him for sure," the British championship leader said.

"Silverstone was a very busy week for me and I am sure Sao Paulo will be the same for him."

Massa would be the first Brazilian since the revered Ayrton Senna to win a title, and he is tasked with the unenviable challenge of trying to achieve it on home soil.

"I guess it will be who is the strongest," Hamilton continued. "That is what makes the world champion — who is most competitive, who is strongest mentally and the whole package."

Most observers agree that, while Hamilton was the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism in China, it was Massa who was showing the most obvious signs of feeling the pinch.

"I think Sunday was a more tense race for Felipe because he knew there was a possibility Lewis could be champion," Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali admits.

"So I am expecting Felipe to be more — I don't think it's correct to say relaxed — but more tranquil in Brazil rather than in China," the Italian added.