SAO PAULO, Brazil — Formula One drivers dismissed the possibility of unfair race tactics during Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix preventing Lewis Hamilton from clinching this year’s F1 title.

Asked if he was worried that another driver may force him to abandon the race to favor Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, Hamilton said at a Thursday news conference: “I believe every driver that’s here is a great sportsman and we’re all very competitive, so I just have to trust and believe in everybody and hope we can have a fair, straight race.”

Massa, Lewis’ only contender for the championship, is second in the standings and needs to win and have Hamilton finish no higher than fifth, or finish second while the Briton finishes eighth or worse.

Asked if he was willing to help Massa win the race, Rubens Barrichello said he was not in a position to help and addressing the possibility of dirty tricks he added: “Imagine me doing something against Lewis. Would Felipe be happy with that? Would he be a worthy champion? I don’t think so.”

But fans anxious to see Massa become the first Brazilian since 1991 to win a Formula One championship, asked BMW’s Robert Kubica to force Hamilton to abandon the race.

On seeing Kubica at a promotional event sponsored by BMW, racing fans shouted in English and Portuguese “smash into Hamilton” and “force him off the track.”

Kubica, third in the drivers standings, simply smiled and gave a thumbs down signal

HELPING LEWIS: McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen says he will do what he can to help teammate and Formula One world championship leader Lewis Hamilton win Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

“I have not received any instructions from the team to help Lewis, but if I can, I will be happy to help,” the 27-year-old Finnish driver said.

“If I am no longer in contention for the title, then it is absolutely normal that I should help,” Kovalainen added without providing further details.

Meanwhile, defending champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari has also promised to do what he can to help teammate Felipe Massa to win the race.

“Felipe will need luck, but maybe we will be able to team up so he can win,” he said.

In 2007, the two Ferrari drivers teamed up to give Raikkonen the world championship.

Massa was leading the Brazilian Grand Prix, but allowed Raikkonen to pass him so the Finn could clinch the title.

In the last race, Raikkonen let Massa by toward the end so the Brazilian could earn extra points.

PELE ROOTING FOR MASSA: Football legend Pele says he will be rooting for Felipe Massa in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, hoping he will become the first Brazilian in 17 years to win a Formula One championship.

“Of course I am hoping to see Felipe win.” Pele told reporters.” I know it won’t be easy for him but we have to root for him.”

He mentioned how Formula One world championship leader Lewis Hamilton let Massa’s teammate Kimi Raikkonen snatch away last year’s title in Sao Paulo’s Interlagos race track, and said “let’s hope a Brazilian will win this year’s trophy.”

BARRICHELLO IN LIMBO: Still without a team for next season, Rubens Barrichello says his career is “on hold” but that he was hopeful he will be racing again next year.

“I don’t want to stop,” Barrichello said Thursday at a news conference at Sao Paulo’s Interlagos race track. “I won’t stop because I think I deserve better. I am driving better than when I finished second in the championship behind Michael (Schumacher).”

“The day I feel that I don’t have it anymore I will stop, but up until now I have been driving better than ever,” he added.

He said he was still talking to Honda, his current team, and to other teams as well, but did not provide details.