Massa thinks he can win in Monaco

| Thu, 05/22/2008 - 03:08

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is convinced he could win Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, even if it is not his favorite track.

Speaking at a pre-race press conference on Wednesday, the Brazilian said ''I've got the motivation and means. It's going to again be a duel between Ferrari and McLaren, but we also need to keep an eye on Robert Kubica and his BMW''.

''Everyone knows this is not my favorite track but that doesn't mean I'm not going out there to have a good race. My goal is always the same: win or rack up as many points as possible for the final count at the end of the season,'' Massa added.

The Monaco city track, the Ferrari driver observed, ''makes the race a real toss-up. Here you have to be really careful on every curve because the car counts but so does the driver''.

''Plus a lot is going to depend on the weather, not to mention traction. It's not going to be easy for anyone. What's important is not to go beyond one's limits,'' Massa said.

Massa, who won the last Grand Prix in Istanbul, his second race of the season, placed third here last year.

Ferrari has not won at Monaco since Michael Schumacher lifted the trophy in 2001.

This season Ferrari has won the last four races in a row, out of a total of five, with two one-two finishes for Massa and reigning world champion and standings leader Kimi Raikkonen.

The Finn, who joined Ferrari last season, won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2005 when he drove for McLaren and considers that victory one of his most memorable.

''There is nothing like the Monaco Grand Prix. To race in the Principality is really different from everywhere else. It more than just a race, it's a legend among all the races,'' he said recently.

Monaco is also different because of its schedule with the first two practice sessions on Thursday instead of Friday, as is otherwise the case, while qualifying remains on Saturday and the race on Sunday.

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