Consistency key this year, says Massa

Felipe Massa believes consistency will be the key to winning this year's championship, with four drivers currently separated by six points

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton leads the standings with 38 points after the first six races of the season.

The Briton is followed by Kimi Raikkonen with 35, Massa with 34 and BMW's Robert Kubica with 32, the Pole being the only driver in the quartet who has not won a race yet.

And in a season that promises to be very close all year, Massa reckons consistency, and not just wins, is likely to decide the championship.

"The championship is very tight," Massa told reporters in Montreal. "We see four drivers very close in the championship with three reasonable good cars. You can see that even if you don't win a race you can be first in the championship.

"So, that is why points are sometimes more important than the victory - because if you win one race and don't win the next then it is better to do two thirds. So, that is why the consistency is the key for the championship."

The Brazilian and Ferrari teammate Raikkonen have won two races each so far, while Hamilton has been the only McLaren winner.

Teammate Heikki Kovalainen has endured a troubled start to the season and has scored just 15 points.

Massa believes that having two drivers in the same team fighting for the title will actually help the Italian squad.

"I think for the team it is good to have two drivers fighting for the championship," he said. "We push each other, and we are very competitive. Every race we need to take away the best from the car, and I think that can be very good."