Ecclestone rooting for Massa, wants drivers to go for wins

Madonna di Campiglio (Italy): Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Sebastian Vettel is the most promising young driver but is rooting for Felipe Massa in the 2009 title race.

Speaking at a Ferrari journalist get-together in Madonna di Campiglio Ecclestone said that Vettel was doing a good job. "He is very talented."

Vettel last season became the youngest-ever winner of a Grand Prix when he took the chequered flag at the Italian GP in Monza.

But Ecclestone said he would like to see Massa win the title at the end of the season. "I am hoping that Felipe wins. He deserves it after having so much bad luck last year."

Ferrari driver Massa lost the world championship by just a single point last season when McLaren-Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton managed to overtake Timo Glock on the final curve to take the extra point he needed to win the title.

The 78-year-old reiterated his earlier calls that the driver with the most victories in a season should win the world championship, but he withdrew an earlier suggestion that the top three Grand Prix finishers receive medals, similar to the Olympics.

"Forget the medals," he said

According to Ecclestone, the main thing was trying to get drivers to go for victories, rather than looking for second and third places finishes with a view towards the overall standings.

Currently a first place is worth 10 points, while second spot gets eight and six is awarded for third. A few years ago the winner used to get 10 points and the second place six points and Massa, who won six races last season compared to Hamilton's five, would have been champion using the old method of counting.

Ecclestone said he had no problems that the cars no longer looked as racy due to radical rule changes. "It is like fashion, you get used to everything," he aid.

The Briton said his visit to Madonna di Campiglio was a private one as his daughter Tamara is working for Ferrari sponsor Marlboro at the event.

Although Ecclestone said he had no plans to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo during the meeting, it seems likely that they could hold a meeting as di Montezemolo was expected in Madonna di Campiglio later Friday.