Massa: I am ready for F1.

Twenty-year old Felipe Massa is Peter Sauber's latest Formula One recruit but, despite following in the footsteps of impressive young predecessors Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen, the Brazilian is far from daunted by his elevation to grand prix racing.

In autumn 2001, the new European F3000 titleist tested the Sauber-Petronas C20 twice at Mugello, performing impressively enough to convince the Swiss team to snap him up before one of its rivals got wind of the potential. With Raikkonen already on his way to McLaren, Sauber felt it was apt to introduce another unheralded newcomer to the top flight - and Massa is not about to disappoint.

"My first test, in September, was pretty good, so that I did not expect to do quite as well the second time, in October," the Brazilian remembers, "After the tests, I was quite optimistic of a call from Peter Sauber."

Sauber called and Massa got the opportunity to prove that he is worth the team boss' trust. He says he feels ready for Formula One.

"Driving a Formula One car was easier than I thought," he admits, "At the beginning [of the test], my neck muscles were troubling me, but I have completed specific training to overcome that.

"I know that it will be difficult for me to win races as early as in 2002. One day, though, I want to be a world champion like my idols Schumacher and Villeneuve. Remember, there was a time when they used to be rookies."

Although his compatriot is surprisingly not among his personal heroes, Massa has naturally been compared with Ayrton Senna, but he does not think much of it.

"I am not a new Senna," he says dismissively, "I am new to Formula One and I have to find my way. I would be happy to achieve only a small proportion of what Senna has."

Although he has not come up through the traditional junior formulae route - he also drove in the ETCC last year - Massa has already garnered a high-profile team behind him. Riccardo Tedeschi, the man who introduced Rubens Barrichello to Formula One is Massa's manager.

"Riccardo is a friend of my father's," Massa says, "He used to head a Formula Chevrolet team in Brazil. Four years ago, he made it possible for me to drive in tests and to participate in races."

Since then, Massa has won four titles in various championships. Since he came to Europe, he has achieved 14 wins with the Draco Formula Renault and Formula 3000 teams of Adriano Morini.

As well as Tedeschi, Massa worked out in the gym owned by Riccardo Cecarelli, who has coached several Formula One drivers. More recently, Massa has been training in Austria with Sauber physio-therapist Josef Leberer.