Formula One's double world champion Fernando Alonso will be less of a contender with Renault than he was at McLaren last season, according to Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

"If we look at all the drivers, the ones who have more chance would be Kimi (Raikkonen) and (Lewis) Hamilton," the Brazilian said before heading to Australia for the opening race on March 16.

"McLaren is a team which seems to be better. If I had to choose now, it would be Ferrari and McLaren," added Massa.

"I believe Alonso won't have a car as competitive as in 2007. Alonso was more dangerous at McLaren than at Renault, that's what it looks like nowadays.

"Renault has got a little better, but I don't know if that was enough," said Massa.

Raikkonen, Massa's Finnish team mate, won the title last season by a single point from Briton Hamilton and Spaniard Alonso after fighting back from a 17 point deficit with two races to go.

Hamilton, who had an astonishing rookie year as a 22-year-old, won four races and remains at McLaren with new Finnish team mate Heikki Kovalainen.

Massa felt he had a good chance against Raikkonen, with Ferrari refusing to favour one driver over the other.

"In the team, there's 100 percent equal conditions between us until the point when one has no more chances, just like last year," said the Brazilian.

"I'm very comfortable in the car, 100 per cent confident and with a big chance of fighting for the championship."

Massa said he was happy with the way that pre-season testing had gone.

"The basis is good, the car is fast, constant, much more reliable than last year's pre-season," he said. "I believe we're very well, but we have to wait for the first results to know where we are."

Reuters