Felipe Massa is the favourite to prevail in the 2008
Formula 1 World Championship – and he will deserve it. That is the view of BMW-Sauber stars
Robert Kubica and Christian Klien as the season showdown closes in.
Massa currently sits six points adrift of McLaren-Mercedes pace-setter
Lewis Hamilton in the title chase, but it is the
Ferrari ace who is undoubtedly the form driver of the moment, having proven to be the man to beat in each of the last two outings, and who indeed would now be sitting atop the points table had it not been for his agonising late-race retirement from the lead in the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest when he was almost in sight of the chequered flag.
What's more, the Brazilian – who throughout 2006 played a dutiful supporting role to record-breaking seven-time world champion
Michael Schumacher at the
Scuderia – has triumphed on four occasions from the opening twelve races, the same tally as Hamilton.
He leads defending
F1 World Champion team-mate
Kimi Raikkonen eight-four in qualifying, and by seven points in the drivers' standings, as the circus arrives at Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend.
“I said at the beginning of the year that if I had to put money [on someone], I would put it on Massa – and I will stick to that,” Kubica – himself still an outside contender for the laurels at just 15 points adrift of Hamilton – is quoted as having said by British newspaper the
Guardian. “I think most people don't realise that he is really doing a very good job.
“I think in the past – and also starting this season – he made quite a lot of mistakes, but lately he is really consistent and very quick in both qualifying and the races, so I think he has everything to fight for in the championship.
“I think as a driver Felipe has made massive progress and he's showing it. To put Kimi in trouble is not easy, and he has done it. Okay, in some races Kimi is still quicker, but lately Felipe has been more often in front of him and with quite big gaps.”
