Date:12/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/12/stories/2008051260212100.htm

Sport

Massa’s love affair with Turkey continues

Hamilton finishes second, Raikkonen third

ISTANBUL: Brazilian Felipe Massa swept to a hat-trick of Turkish Grand Prix victories from pole position on Sunday with another domineering display for Ferrari at Istanbul Park.

The Latin American triumphed by 3.7 seconds ahead of McLaren’s British driver Lewis Hamilton with reigning champion Finn Kimi Raikkonen less than half-a-second behind in third in the other Ferrari.

Hamilton pulled off the overtaking move of the race on Massa and denied Ferrari a likely one-two despite adopting a three-stop fuel strategy compared to his rival’s two stopper. But there was no stopping Massa who controlled the 58-lap race on the 5.338km track which he clearly loves.

Raikkonen’s lead in the championship was cut to seven points with Massa now second, on countback, from last year’s runner-up Hamilton.

Ferrari extended its lead in the Constructors’ championship to 19 points over BMW with McLaren two points further back after Finland’s Heikki Kovalainen paid for an early pit-stop to finish 12th having started second. The Finn — who suffered a dreadful crash at the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago — suffered an opening lap puncture after a suspected collision with Raikkonen on the opening lap.

Kubica fourth

Poland’s Robert Kubica was fourth for BMW just ahead of team-mate German Nick Heidfeld with Spain’s two-time champion Fernando Alonso sixth for Renault. Red Bull’s Australian Mark Webber was seventh and German-born Nico Rosberg eighth for Williams.

There was no points finish for Brazil’s Rubens Barrichello in his record-breaking 257th appearance as he finished 14th for Honda.

Massa blasted into lead from the start with all the drama happening behind him as Hamilton powered past his team-mate Kovalainen into second spot.

Kubica also overtook Kovalainen in the race for the first corner where the Finn squeezed countryman Raikkonen who dropped from fourth to sixth behind former two-time champion Alonso.

Further down the field, Force India’s Italian veteran Giancarlo Fisichella drove right over the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima, missing the Japanese driver by inches but sending them both spinning into retirement in the gravel after a collision at the start.

The safety car was immediately deployed, staying out for one circuit as the debris was cleared. Kovalainen was forced to pit at the end of the second lap while on the third lap Raikkonen easily outpaced Alonso to move back to fourth.

Raikkonen took third spot in the first round of pit-stops leapfrogging Kubica as Massa and Hamilton battled it out at the front.

The results: 1. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1min 26:49.451sec; 2. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren 3.779s; 3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 4.271; 4. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 21.945; 5. Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber, 38.741; 6. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 53.724; 7. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:04.229; 8. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:11.406; 9. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:15.270; 10. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:16.344; 11. Jenson Button, Honda, 1 lap; 12. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1 lap, 13. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1 lap; 14. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1 lap; 15. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1 lap; 16. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1 lap; 17. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1 lap.

Overall standings: Drivers: 1. Kimi Raikkonen 35 pts, 2. Felipe Massa 28, 3. Lewis Hamilton 28, 4. Robert Kubica 24, 5. Nick Heidfeld 20, 6. Heikki Kovalainen 14, 7. Mark Webber 10, 8. Fernando Alonso 9, 8. Jarno Trulli 9, 10. Nico Rosberg 8, 11. Kazuki Nakajima 5, 12. Jenson Button 3, 13. Sibastien Bourdais 2.

Constructors: 1. Ferrari 63pts, 2. BMW Sauber 44, 3. McLaren 42, 4. Williams 13, 5. Red Bull 10, 6. Toyota 9, 7. Renault 9, 8. Honda 3, 9. Toro Rosso 2.