Felipe Massa: 'Big chance Mercedes will cruise to third title'

Felipe Massa has suggested that he is not expecting Mercedes to be toppled from their back-to-back title-winning perch in 2016.

As the Brazilian got his first taste of Williams's new FW38 on Wednesday, he declared that it felt "better" than its predecessor, which finished third overall behind Mercedes and Ferrari last year.

"It feels better than last year's," Massa told Globo Esporte, "but I don't know if it will be enough to be faster than Ferrari and Mercedes.

"I hope we can fight this year with Ferrari. With Mercedes? I don't know. They are very strong.

"There is a big chance we will see another championship with one team only."

Beginning his 14th race season in Formula 1 this year, Massa said that he is basing his comments on having watched first-hand the behaviour of Mercedes's new car from beside the Barcelona track.

"I was in the circuit yesterday and saw how competitive their car is," he said.

"It's fast, it does not slide at the front or the back, the wheels do not lock under braking - there is nothing wrong. It seems to be very easy to drive."

Ferrari last won the constructors' championship in 2008 with Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.