Kubica tips Massa to win title this year

Ferrari driver Massa is currently second in the standings, six points behind McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, but the Brazilian has won the same amount of races - four - and is one of the hot favourites for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

Massa dominated the last race in Valencia, starting from pole and also setting the fastest lap.

And BMW Sauber's Kubica reckons that kind of form is making Massa the favourite to take the title.

"I said in the beginning of the year that if I had to put money down I would put it on Massa, and I will stick to it," said Kubica on Thursday at Spa. "Everything will depend on the car performance and which track will suit better to Ferrari or McLaren.

"I think a crucial role will be played by the second drivers, Kimi and Heikki. Kimi is still in the champions hp battle but Heikki not really any more so it can have some advantage to help sometimes Lewis if they do this or not."

Kubica also reckons Massa is somewhat underestimated following some erratic seasons and a shaky start to this year, but the Pole says the Ferrari driver is now doing a very good job.

"Most of the people I think they don't realise that he is doing a very good job," he added. "They still think of moments when he was going off and once your opinion is set it is difficult to change, and I think in the past he did a lot of mistakes - also at the start of this season.

"But lately he is doing really a very good job, he is very quick, really consistent in both qualifying and the races. So I think he has everything to fight for the championship and maybe to win it.

"I think that people once they make their own opinion four years ago they don't change it. I think Felipe as a driver he has made massive progress and he is showing it.

"The last six or seven races he has done very well, and to give troubles to Kimi is not easy. And he has done it. Okay, some races he is quicker, but lately Felipe is more often in front of him and with quite big gaps.