Ferrari has new number one

(GMM) Despite rising pressure from commentators and the influential Italian press, Ferrari is yet to declare officially that Felipe Massa is the team's number one driver for the remainder of the 2008 title fight.

"The Finn is a problem," La Gazzetta dello Sport said after the European grand prix at Valencia, referring to world champion Kimi Raikkonen's continually waning form.

"Ferrari has to make a decision now," the sports daily added.

Corriere dello sport declared after Massa's Valencia victory: "Ferrari has its new number one."

But in the pages of the Spanish sports newspaper Marca, Brazil's Massa – now leading the Ferrari points charge but 6 points shy of championship leader Lewis Hamilton – said it is not up to him to ask for top billing.

"That is a decision for others," the 27-year-old clarified. "I do my work in the same way because the only thing that interests me is to be the best on the track.

"If the (number one) decision comes to me, I will only be the recipient," Massa explained.

To the German newspaper FAZ, however, he said he is not ruling out the challenge posed by his talented teammate.

"Kimi is very fast, but so am I," Massa said. "I think that we will fight for the title to the very end."