Massa downplays Ferrari engine fears

The Italian squad is the only team to have used the eight engines allocated for the season, meaning it won't be able to run a new power unit in the remaining events of the year.

McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have used seven engines each, while Red Bull's Mark Webber has used six compared to his team-mate Sebastian Vettel's seven.

Drivers using more than eight engines will have to serve grid penalties in the race where the additional unit is used.

Massa, however, believes the situation is under control at Ferrari.

"To be honest it would be very difficult to see us using different [new] engines. We just put a new engine at Monza because we wanted it for that kind of track," Massa told reporters in Singapore.

"But that doesn't mean we needed to use it. We are really like the other teams, completely the same."

The Brazilian, whose team looked like the one to beat at Monza, admitted it is hard to tell what the pecking order is at the moment, but he insists consistency will be key.

"I think we cannot say that. I think at some tracks maybe you are better, some tracks maybe they are better. Some tracks McLaren is a bit slower, some tracks they are there.

"Looking at qualifying Red Bull has been the best, but in the race they struggle in some occasions. So it's very difficult to say. I think It's important to be consistent, so let's try to do that."

Massa, who looked set for victory in the 2008 race at Marina Bay before his race was ruined by the safety car, is hopeful of another strong outing this weekend.

"I like the circuit. It's a plan where I did a great qualifying (in 2008). I think I was six tenths quicker than the second, so it's a place I enjoy and I hope we can be very strong here again."