Massa expects ‘strong support’ by Ferrari

Felipe Massa

(GMM) The figures imply a different tack, but Felipe Massa heads into the last six grands prix of 2008 insisting he is not yet Ferrari's number one driver for title honors.

The Brazilian, who dominated at Valencia, would also have won in Hungary and has won twice as many grands prix this year as teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Massa now lies just 6 points behind McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

Reigning world champion Raikkonen, meanwhile, is struggling for form with the sister F2008 and is 13 points adrift Hamilton's lead.

But on Wednesday, 27-year-old Massa said he is not now the officially prominent Ferrari driver.

"I am not the number one," he told Italy's Sky Sport 24, "although I can certainly count on the very strong support of my team.

"I have been encouraged and assisted all these years, and that work is going to continue as always," Massa added.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali confirms: "For the moment there is no hierarchy for our drivers."

Indeed, Massa says he is expecting a strong challenge this weekend by Raikkonen, who has won the last three Belgian grands prix.

"I will be hoping to be ahead of my teammate, but Kimi has always been quick at Spa, not just in formula one but he was also a winner here in the junior categories," Massa said.