| The April 27, 2008 Grand Prix was quite an | | | | wasn't backing down in his quest for another |
| adrenaline rush for Formula One fans around | | | | win. In turn, Kubica maintained a |
| the world. Close calls, one | | | | less-than-three-second following behind |
| potentially-serious accident and pressure to | | | | Hamilton and finished the race in fourth |
| perform dominated the Barcelona race. | | | | position. |
| | | | |
| During the race, Raikkonen followed a | | | | Race fans cheered their favourite drivers on, |
| well-built strategy and emerged victorious. | | | | as the race for second and third was quite an |
| Sunday's success was his 17th career win. In | | | | event in itself. 'We did our homework and we |
| a post-race interview Raikkonen said, 'I | | | | brought home two Ferraris first and second, |
| didn't make the perfect start but did enough | | | | which is a great position for the |
| to stay in front.' He went on to say, 'If we | | | | championships', said Massa. |
| wanted, we could have gone a bit faster, but | | | | |
| there was no point in pushing more than we | | | | Heikki Kovalainen was unable to complete the |
| need to.' | | | | race after the 21st lap due to a nasty |
| | | | accident that embedded his car in the tyre |
| This steady speed and exceptional use of | | | | barrier. A breakage in the left front wheel |
| common sense likely had a great positive | | | | area is believed to have caused the accident. |
| impact on the end result. Raikkonen's win on | | | | Kovalainen gave a thumbs up to the crowd |
| Sunday placed him nine points ahead of Lewis | | | | after it took the on-site medical team 10 |
| Hamilton in driver standings. | | | | minutes to remove him from the car. He was |
| | | | taken to the hospital for a medical check-up, |
| Hamilton had a rocky start in this year's | | | | but no injuries have been reported. |
| championship standings. The Australian Grand | | | | |
| Prix, the first Formula One race of the | | | | In response to the accident involving |
| season, was Hamilton's best race to date. He | | | | Kovalainen, fellow drivers have expressed |
| was able to dominate the track and take the | | | | concern for his well-being. Hamilton said, |
| checkered flag with relative ease. The | | | | 'It was a bad day for Heikki, but I'm glad |
| following two races, however, saw very | | | | he's OK. Ron [Dennis] came on the radio and |
| different endings for the McLaren-Mercedes | | | | told me he was OK. I'm sure he'll bounce back |
| driver. | | | | and we will keep pushing forwards.' |
| | | | |
| In Malaysia, he finished 5th and then 13th in | | | | Early pit stops seem to be a growing strategy |
| Bahrain, causing quite a setback in | | | | among Formula One drivers. Alonso made a pit |
| championship standings. Hamilton said in a | | | | stop much earlier than expected, with Felipe |
| post-race interview, 'After two bad races, to | | | | Massa making his first pit stop only three |
| be back on the podium is fantastic. It's a | | | | laps later. Alonso was forced to retire from |
| great relief.' He also said, 'When we | | | | the race on lap 34 after serious engine |
| qualified fifth, we knew it would be very | | | | problems. 'We had an engine problem; we blew |
| difficult to match the Ferraris.' | | | | up. Unfortunately, it was not the right |
| | | | place, as it's my home Grand Prix, but I am |
| The race for second position was hard-won for | | | | very happy', said Alonso. |
| Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa. Lewis Hamilton | | | | |