Massa is likely to emerge world champion

[Wizzo]

Felipe Massa is likely to emerge later this season with his first world championship.

That is the prediction of quadruple drivers' title winner Alain Prost, who said the current points pecking order is misleading as to the true state of play in 2007.

The Frenchman observed that Ferrari have clearly the fastest package so far this year, "and Massa can be world champion," Prost told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

"Why? Because he knows the team better than Raikkonen."

Prost, also a former team owner, also said Ferrari is the favourite to edge rivals McLaren in the constructors' contest.

"They have more recent experience of winning and are always a team that is hard to beat," said the 52-year-old, who drove for the Italian stable in the 90s.

"The only question mark for them is the rivalry between their own drivers, because most recently they have always concentrated on just one driver," he said.

Prost also reserved some praise for Lewis Hamilton, but stopped short of joining in the hype that predicts a definite title assault for McLaren's impressive rookie.

"I think we will know more about that after Barcelona and Monte Carlo," Prost said, "but it is not impossible. I see him in a psychologically favourable situation.

"He has driven well and without errors, but so many young drivers come in with a bang and then disappear.

"Lewis however has done it now at three different circuits so far."