Hamilton Danger

Ferrari's Massa fears rookie more than Alonso

LONDON: Ferrari's Felipe Massa suspects British rookie Lewis Hamilton could prove to be a bigger danger to his Formula One title hopes than double world champion Feruando Alonso.

Hamilton, 22, became the youngest championship leader in the sport's history alter finishing second to Brazilian Massa in Spain last weekend.

The McLaren driver has now beaten team mate Alonso in the last two races as well as finishing his first four races on the podium - something no other Formula One driver has ever achieved.

After Sunday's race at the Circuit de Catalunya, Hamilton assured Massa that he would beat him soon to claim his first grand prix victory - possibly in the season's glamour race in Monaco next week.

"He is definitely strong and is not bothered by pressure," Massa said on his Web site (www.felipemassa.com). "At the moment, you cannot say that Fernando or him are the better driver.

"But if the situation continues like this, then maybe Lewis can even be more dangerous than Fernando, given his championship position and how he goes in the car.

"At the moment, he seems more comfortable in the car than Femando. We need to keep an eye on that because he can be a dangerous threat."

Massa has started three of the season's four races on pole position and won the last two. Yet he still lags Hamilton by three points.

McLaren are nine points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' championship. - Reuters