Massa the Master in Bahrain

Motor sport: Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen gave Ferrari a one-two in Bahrain, after Lewis Hamilton tangled with Fernando Alonso
Ferrari's Felipe Massa proved himself a contender for world title glory this season on a day when Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso resumed their bitter rivalry.

Massa cruised to victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, taking the checkered flag for the first time since last August's race in Turkey, and the sixth of his career. World champion Kimi Raikkonen captured second as Ferrari recorded a one-two.

Britain's Hamilton endured a nightmare afternoon, finishing 13th and lapped by the Ferraris after making an agonizingly slow start and then running into the back of former team-mate Alonso's Renault. McLaren were also leapfrogged at the top of the constructors' standings by BMW Sauber.

Kubica finished third, after becoming the first BMW Sauber driver to start a grand prix from pole position, with Heidfeld a close fourth. BMW Sauber have now finished on the podium in all of the first three races of the season, a feat unmatched by Ferrari or McLaren. They have 30 points to Ferrari's 29 and McLaren's 28.

Kovalainen was fifth, ahead of Toyota's Italian Jarno Trulli and Australian Mark Webber in a Red Bull. Germany's Nico Rosberg took the final point for Williams. Massa led from the lights, making a faster getaway than Kubica, and took the chequered flag 3.3 seconds ahead of Raikkonen.

Bahrain results 1. Massa (Ferrari) 2. Raikkonen (Ferrari) 3. Kubica (BMW Sauber) 4. Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 5. Kovalainen (McLaren) 6. Trulli (Toyota)

© Guardian News & Media 2008
Published: 4/6/2008
 
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