Olé Olé Felipe: Ferrari’s Felipe Massa put on a masterful performance to win Sunday’s inaugural European Grand Prix in the streets of Valencia. Starting from pole position he scored his fourth win of the season to get back in the title hunt and now trails championship leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, who finished second, by only six points. Rober Kubica made his first appearance on the podium in third place since his maiden win for BMW in Montreal.
An engine failure provided a smoke screen for yet another dismal performance from reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen. Local hero Fernando Alonso was out on the opening lap, losing his rear wing courtesy of Kazuki Nakajima. Spa-Francorchamps is the next stop on the Formula 1 circuit.
Felipe Massa takes a great win in
Robert Kubica third and Heikki fourth.
Vettel and Bourdais finish as they started.
Kimi with a pit stop disaster and an engine failure.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Massa Ferrari (B) 1h35:32.339
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 5.611
3. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 37.353
4. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 39.703
5. Trulli Toyota (B) + 50.684
6. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 52.625
7. Glock Toyota (B) + 1:07.990
8. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 1:11.457
9. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 1:22.177
10. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 1:29.794
11. Piquet Renault (B) + 1:32.717
12. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1 lap
13. Button Honda (B) + 1 lap
14. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) + 1 lap
15. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) + 1 lap
16. Barrichello Honda (B) + 1 lap
17. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1 lap
Fastest lap: Massa, 1:38.708
Not classified/retirements:
Driver Team On lap
Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 46
Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 42
Alonso Renault (B) 1
World Championship standings, round 12:
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Hamilton 70 1. Ferrari 121
2. Massa 64 2. McLaren-Mercedes 113
3. Raikkonen 57 3. BMW Sauber 96
4. Kubica 55 4. Toyota 41
5. Kovalainen 43 5. Renault 31
6. Heidfeld 41 6. Red Bull-Renault 24
7. Trulli 26 7. Williams-Toyota 17
8. Alonso 18 8. Honda 14
9. Webber 18 9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 11
10. Glock 15
11. Piquet 13
12. Barrichello 11
13. Vettel 9
14. Rosberg 9
15. Nakajima 8
16. Coulthard 6
17. Button 3
18. Bourdais 2