Massa expects 'big competition'

Brazilian confident in spite of forecast rain

Last updated: 19th July 2008

felipe massa ferrari 19/7/2008

Massa: Tough battle

Related links

Teams

Drivers

Also see

Felipe Massa is expecting a tough battle between Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes for victory in Sunday's German Grand Prix.

Saturday's qualifying ended with Massa sandwiched between the two McLarens on the Hockenheim grid after Lewis Hamilton pipped him to pole position by 0.19 seconds, while Heikki Kovalainen was 0.2s slower.

Meanwhile, Massa's team-mate, world champion Kimi Raikkonen, could only manage a disappointing sixth place.

The Finn's performance means Massa will likely stand as the lone Ferrari fending off the two McLarens during the opening stages of the race.

But the Brazilian is confident he can put in a good showing come Sunday afternoon.

"We don't know how much fuel everybody has," Massa said. "But it is competitive between Ferrari and McLaren, so the race will be a big competition.

"That's potentially very exciting, but we have to do everything right in the race."

Rain expected

Massa's confidence comes in spite of the rain expected on Sunday afternoon, conditions which proved his undoing in the British Grand Prix a fortnight ago.

On that occasion, he spun his car no fewer than five times at Silverstone and eventually trailed home 13th and last.

Massa, though, has downplayed that showing, saying he has the ability to race and win in the wet.

"I know I'm quick, even in the wet," he said.

"I don't believe what people say that I'm not good in the wet, and I know I've not forgotten how to drive in the wet in F1. I just had a bad weekend.

"So far this has just been a normal weekend, showing we are competitive."