ROME, Jan 10, 2008 (AFP) - Ferrari racer Felipe Massa said Thursday that he is hoping to have a bit more luck this season than he did a year ago in his quest to succeed team-mate Kimi Raikkonen as world champion.

The Brazilian finished fourth in the last championship season after some inconsistent displays and mechanical problems cost him vital points.

He won three races and finished on the podium 10 times but still ended the season 16 points behind winner Raikkonen and 15 points behind McLaren pair Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

"I hope in 2008 to have a bit more luck and consistency than I did in 2007," said Massa from a Ducati-Ferrari press event at San Paolo a Madonna di Campiglio in Italy.

"The team worked really well as a group. I recognise that 100 per cent. If I had a chance to win the team did everything to help me.

"Last season I gave no less than Kimi. Until Monza (the Italian GP, the 13th of 17) I was ahead of him in the standings.

"That was the dreadful moment when I had a mechanical problem and the title slipped away from me.

"I had the potential to try to win the title."

Looking forward to the coming campaign, Massa believes the sport´s governing body has made some important changes that will make for more exciting racing, such as removing electronic aids on the start line.

"The starts will be more human. Now the driver will be in control, before it was the mechanics," said Massa.

"It will be different, we will have to learn to be softer on the accelerator."

And Massa is looking forward to another title scrap with Ferrari´s main rival.

"They are all good drivers and many have improved but it will still be a fight between Ferrari and McLaren."