Ferrari, which won only three races during 2014-2016 and hasn't taken an F1 title since 2008, has hit the ground running this year and currently leads the drivers' championship with Sebastian Vettel.

Having parted ways with star technical director James Allison midway through last year, the manufacturer decided to prioritise the promotion of homegrown talent and introduced a more horizontal structure within its tech department.

For Massa, who raced for Ferrari between 2006 and 2013, the team's upturn in performance has validated its new approach.

The Brazilian said he was happy about Ferrari's resurgence, adding: "I think Ferrari is doing something that nobody expected this year. Nobody expected to see Ferrari doing what they're doing.

"And that's really nice, that shows that it doesn't mean that, because you have Adrian Newey in your team, that everything will be better than everybody [else].

"I think if you just put the people to work together in different areas, even if they don't have, like, a top name, they can do a good job."

Massa admitted that, at the end of last year, he thought it was only Red Bull that could take the fight to the hybrid era's dominant team Mercedes.

"In November, if you ask me, I would say the only team that can fight with Mercedes is Red Bull.

"Because Red Bull was, in some of the races last year, they were doing a good job, engine getting better, maybe still not great but getting better."

He added: "Red Bull didn't do the right car. And Ferrari did it."