Felipe Massa tips Bottas as potential champion

Monza: Felipe Massa has tipped his ever-improving Williams team-mate Valtteri Bottas as a potential world champion.

The Brazilian, 33, believes that his 25-year-old Finnish team-mate has all the necessary credentials to claim the title.

Massa`s career has been spent alongside a string of world champions including Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, seven-time champion German Michael Schumacher, Finn Kimi Raikkonen and two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso.

"He`s a great driver," said Massa. "He`s shown since the beginning of the season that he`s a great driver, that he`s quick, competitive, that he`s clever, intelligent, working very hard.

"It`s clear he`s doing everything correct. People need to see him as a great driver in the field. Not just him, (Daniel) Ricciardo too."

Asked if Bottas could fight for a world championship, Massa replied: "He can, definitely. He`s still young."