RUBENS Barrichello is expecting sparks to fly between Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso at Ferrari next year.

Alonso has played down the prospect of a future rift after Massa suggested in a briefing with Brazilian media the Spaniard was fully aware of the Singapore race-fixing scandal.

Massa later backtracked on his remarks in a statement posted on Ferrari’s website, although he still maintained he had ‘‘a hunch’’ Alonso was involved.

Alonso insisted it was not the start of a psychological war between the two, instead expressing his confidence their relationship will be positive.

Barrichello, though, feels there may be conflict, simply because of their characters and personalities, not least because Alonso will be out to prove he is Formula One’s best driver.

‘‘Alonso and Massa will be a Latin partnership and we will see a few more sparks than if they were two Finns,’’ said Barrichello.

‘‘Felipe has shown the talent he has, and in my view he is better than (current teammate) Kimi (Raikkonen).

‘‘But if I had to choose the best driver nowadays, it’s Alonso.

‘‘Massa has already given everything and I think he can battle Alonso, but in my opinion it will be more difficult than with Kimi.’’ Massa was back in a Formula One paddock for the first time yesterday since July 25, the day of his horrific accident in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old was initially greeted by Bernie Ecclestone before making his way on to the Ferrari pitwall to watch first practice ahead of tomorrow’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

After recovering from surgery and since his return to the public eye, Massa has been an outspoken figure.

Besides suggesting Alonso was aware of what transpired in last year’s Singapore Grand Prix, he has also insisted he was robbed of the world title and Jenson Button may not have the bottle to claim this year’s championship.

Asked if he felt his fellow Brazilian had changed following his accident, Barrichello dismissed such a theory, instead suggesting it was because he had been away from the ‘bubble’ that surrounds F1.

‘‘I don’t think he’s changed,’’ assessed Barrichello.

‘‘I think he’s the same person and all my wishes, when I was at the hospital, were that he would be the same guy. After I saw him with my own eyes that he was the same, I wished that he could drive the same way.

‘‘He then went to Fiorano (Ferrari’s test track) and from all the people I’ve spoken to it looked like he got into the car and on the third lap he was on the pace.”