Massa’s run to end at Spa – Hamilton

Sep.3 (GMM) Ferrari’s Felipe Massa is on a run of strong form, but championship leader Lewis Hamilton believes the Brazilian will have a fight on his hands for victory in Belgium this weekend.

Massa, 6 points behind McLaren’s Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, dominated the recent Valencia race, and would also have won the previous Hungarian grand prix if not for an engine failure.

But Briton Hamilton, 23, disagrees that his chief rival should be considered favourite to win again as F1 moves on to the famous Spa-Francorchamps venue.

“I think Ferrari have been strong when we have had the softest two (Bridgestone) tyre compounds,” he is quoted by Motorsport Aktuell as having said at the recent DTM race at Brands-Hatch.

Hamilton points out that, at Spa, the formula one field must use Bridgestone’s medium and hard tyres.

He said: “The last two races for Massa were impressive but I actually consider our car the most competitive overall.”

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Massa finished first and second in Belgium last year, with Hamilton fourth, behind his then McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso.

The Briton also qualified fourth, behind the same aforementioned drivers.