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Massa: 'No fear' of rising star Bottas

HOCKENHEIM, Germany - Felipe Massa insists his F1 career is not falling into the shadow of a news star.

The warring Mercedes duo aside, the undoubted ace of the most recent three races has been Valtteri Bottas, a shy Finn who on Sunday completed a hat trick of podiums.

Former F1 driver Patrick Tambay told RMC Sport he thought Bottas, 24, was establishing himself as "a star for the next 10 years".

"He's a tough competitor," Bottas' Williams team mate Felipe Massa told Brazil's Totalrace, "but I have no reason to fear him - no way."

BUT 61 FEWER POINTS?

The Brazilian, a long-time Ferrari driver until his switch to Williams in 2014, a year in which he has had a much lower results profile season - including his spectacular rollover at Hockenheim.

"I know of what I'm capable, what I can do for the team, my speed," Massa insisted. "I lack nothing to him.  I've done as much as he did in the last few races, or even better," said the 33-year-old, who has scored 61 fewer points than Bottas so far in 2014.

"I have no concern with it. I'm glad for what has happened to him because he has earned it through his work but we could be ahead of Red Bull if everything that happened to me did not."

BUT 61 FEWER POINTS?

Massa said the situation was not as difficult as some of his seasons with Ferrari. "It is more difficult when it is an issue about you, or you needing to improve," he explained.  "For sure this period will eventually end. I have no concerns with my pace.

"If I was slow and I did not have the results because of my fault, it would be different."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
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