ISTANBUL, May 11, 2008 (AFP) - British driver Lewis Hamilton was leading at the halfway stage of the Turkish Grand Prix here on Sunday putting himself into prime position to edge nearer to reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen´s overall lead in the title race.

Pole sitter Felipe Massa led after lap 13 ahead of Hamilton and Raikkonen with the latter´s compatriot Heikki Kovalainen, who suffered a dreadful crash in the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago, in fourth.

Hamilton came into the pits after just 16 laps of the 58 lap race which saw him drop down to sixth.

Massa, who had recorded his third successive pole position at this particular Grand Prix, came in for his first pit stop with 39 laps remaining and exited in third position as Raikkonen and German pilot Nicki Heidfeld took the first two positions.

Massa soon reassumed the lead as Raikkonen and Heidfeld pitstopped.

However, Hamilton performed an outstanding passing manoeuvre to take the lead on the 24th lap, overtaking Massa on one of the corners as the Brazilian went too wide and the valiant Briton slipped inside.