Massa keeps expectations in check

"The expectations for 2008 depend a lot on the car, so let's hope it can make us fight for the championship until the end," Massa told a news conference in Maranello, where the Italian squad held a low-key launch for the F2008.

"The electronics is a big change compared to what we had last year. The driving style is different as the driver needs to be smoother with the car, especially with the throttle. Braking is not very different.

"The impression is good. When you see a new Ferrari it's always beautiful and impressive.

"But that's not enough: the most important thing in the end isn't beauty but performance and reliability," the Brazilian, fourth in last year's championship, added.

Massa will start the 2008 season with the number two car after teammate Kimi Raikkonen won the title last year.

The Brazilian reckons he is not too worried about having the world champion as teammate.

"The number doesn't mean anything, in the end the most important number is at the end of the year," he added.

"We've had a very competitive 2007, where I fought for many victories and won many, and I also had some small problems that prevented me to fight until the end.

"The important thing is to learn from what went wrong in 2007 and to maintain the things that went well, and to try to fight in 2008 to win the championship. I'm motivated and we have a fantastic group to work with.

"We'll start testing on the 14th in Jerez. We'll have two new cars, so to be able to bring two new cars from the start will be a step forward.

Massa also refused to make predictions on who will be Ferrari's main rivals during the new season.

"It's hard to say now. We know there might be surprises, teams who have become more competitive, like teams who after having a difficult year have understood what direction to work on.

"So it's hard to say who will be the main rival. All we know is that we'll have rivals, whether on a grey, white or blue car. We just need to work to be ahead of whatever rivals."