Motor Sport: FELIPE MASSA is hoping to continue his love affair with Turkey and rub further salt into McLaren's wounds.
Massa has enjoyed a deep affinity with the Istanbul Park circuit, where he was yesterday again out in front ahead of Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.
The first of the Brazilian's six career wins to date was two years ago on this track, the 27-year-old repeating his feat last August.
Though the weather is cooler on this occasion by some 20 degrees, even with light showers at times, Massa is ready to stoke the fires of this year's title race.
He is determined to clinch a hat-trick of victories, and so close the gap on his Ferrari team-mate and current championship leader, Kimi Raikkonen.
Reigning world champion Raikkonen has a nine-point cushion over McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, with Massa a further two points adrift. But after setting the fastest time in practice, Massa said, "I've had a fantastic race here for the last two years.
"Two years ago on this track I enjoyed my first victory in Formula One, so it is a very special place for me. Last year I repeated the victory, so hopefully now I can have a third one. It would be fantastic, and I will push hard for it.
"So there is no need to hide my plans for the weekend. I want to achieve a trio of victories here in Turkey. I can't explain why I have done well here, but I love this track and why wouldn't I as I have won here for the past two years."
After Hamilton's season-opening triumph in Australia, Ferrari have romped away with the last three races, notably scoring one-two finishes in Bahrain and Spain. As Massa notes, there has been a pendulum effect between Raikkonen and him he hopes will swing in his favour on Sunday.
"Well, Kimi won in Malaysia, then I won in Bahrain and he won in Spain, so let's hope it continues like this right to the end of the championship. That would be fantastic," remarked Massa.
If Ferrari continue to dominate and neither McLaren nor BMW Sauber make their mark, the championship may well turn into a duel between Raikkonen and Massa.
"With regard to the title, if Ferrari keep on winning, it could be very close between me and Kimi," assessed Massa. "It's still a long championship, so who knows? We have to push as hard as we can every day until the very end."
Mistakes in Australia and, more notably, Malaysia, when Massa was running a comfortable second to Raikkonen only to slide off the track after losing concentration, ensure he is not closer to his team-mate and rival in the standings.
They have also ensured the speculation relating to his future, and that Fernando Alonso will replace him next season, refuses to go away. Massa, though, is unconcerned by all the gossip.
"Every week we have different rumours in Formula One," he says. "It is normal. I think Formula One rivals football in terms of rumours, but I'm happy within the team, and my place is safe as I have a three-year contract . . .
"For me, rumours are not important - what is important is what we do inside the team."
Massa posted the fastest lap of the day, 87.323 seconds, followed by McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, Raikkonen and Hamilton.
Drivers' Standings
1 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 29
2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 20
3 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 19
4 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 18
5 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 16
6 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 14
7 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 9
8 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 8
9 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 7
10 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 6
11 Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams 5
12 Jenson Button (Gbr) Honda 3
13 Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso 2
