Massa believes he will be stronger now

Felipe Massa believes he can be more competitive for the rest of the 2012 Formula 1 season after qualifying seventh for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Massa scored only two points in the first five rounds of the season, compared to Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso's 61, and had not previously made it into Q3 in 2012.

He admitted on the run-up to Monaco that he hoped this weekend would be "the beginning of a different championship" for the Brazilian.

Having topped Q2, Massa qualified just a tenth behind Alonso and will line up on row four.

He put his improved form down to the upgrades brought to the F2012 at, and after, the Mugello test earlier this month.

"It's a more comfortable car for me so from the first day and first practice I think it was quite positive," he said.

"Even if for me its the first time I have achieved Q3 this year maybe we could have been nearer the front if we had done in Q3 what we did in Q2.

"I think it is quite positive for the race tomorrow, but also quite positive about what we do with the car and the set-up we use.

"The race is important for me and to start a different championship from now until the end of the year."