Felipe Massa has said that he does not support the FIA's forthcoming ban on discarding helmet visor tear-offs on the track.

The ban was originally intended for the start of the 2016 season but Formula 1 will now enforce it as of Monaco later this month.

"I don't think there's a need for it," said Williams driver and F1 veteran Massa. "I have heard arguments that the strips can get into the brake ducts and cause them to overheat, but I've never seen that there were serious accidents because of that reason.

"Instead, the strips play an important role in improving the visibility for the drivers. We should be able to throw them away, if necessary.

"Sometimes the visor gets dirty very quickly, and for safety it is important to be able to clean it straight away."

The season continues with the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.