Massa adamant he can win title

Felipe Massa is confident he can become a world champion this year despite the tough competition from his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton

The Brazilian is five points behind the championship-leading trio after the first three races of the season, but he is adamant he has the car to fight back and clinch the title.

"The world title is my objective, and I think I have the car to win it," Massa was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

Massa, winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix over three weeks ago, reckons Raikkonen, as well as Alonso and Hamilton, pose an equal threat to him in the title fight.

"All three of them by an equal amount," he said when asked who he feared the most. "The reason they are a bit ahead now is down to technical problems we had in the first race in Melbourne and to a couple of mistakes in the second GP in Malaysia.

"But I think I've sorted the situation fairly well with victory in Bahrain."

The Brazilian driver, who last year partnered Schumacher at the Italian squad, is hoping to show the German driver how much he has learned over the past year at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, where the seven-time champion is expected to make his return to the paddock following his retirement.

"I'm very happy about it," said Massa. "He will surely be able to give us an extra boost and enthusiasm. Personally I owe Michael a lot: in the year we were together he taught me many things.

"I've improved also thanks to him and in Montmelo I'll do my best to show him that."