All drivers of the 2008 F1 season
ISTANBUL, May 8, 2008 (AFP) - Story of Formula One season so far ahead of Sunday´s Turkish Grand Prix here:
Australian Grand Prix - March 16
Lewis Hamilton showed that he had lost none of his sharpness over the close season by cruising to victory in his McLaren while world champions Ferrari melted in the Melbourne heat. The 23-year-old British star, who came within a point of landing the world driver´s title in his rookie season in 2007, controlled the race from the outset and had more than five seconds to spare at the chequered flag. Hamilton - recording his fifth win in 18 Grand Prix´ - came in ahead of BMW-Sauber´s German Nick Heidfeld and his compatriot Nico Rosberg in a Williams to strike first blood in the 18-race F1 campaign.
Standings: Hamilton 10pts, Heidfeld 8, Rosberg 6.
Malaysian Grand Prix - March 23
Ferrari bounced back as world champion Kimi Raikkonen took the cheqeured flag, though, team-mate Felipe Massa once again failed to finish. The Latin American´s error gave Pole Robert Kubica in his BMW a perfect opportunity to grab his career-best finish in second coming in ahead of steadily-improving Finn Heikki Kovalainen for McLaren Mercedes-Benz. Hamilton finished fifth after being demoted several places on the grid.
Standings: Hamilton 14pts, Raikkonen 11, Heidfeld 11.
Bahrain Grand Prix - April 6
With embattled FIA president Max Mosley missing from the crowd Ferrari´s revival continued with Brazilian Felipe Massa storming to victory in what was a perfect riposte to his mounting critics. Ferrari celebrated a comfortable 1-2 with Kimi Raikkonen following him across the line. Third place went to BMW´s Polish driver Robert Kubica, who had set out from pole for the first time in his career. His teammate Nick Heidfeld took fourth. Lewis Hamilton endured a nightmare race. Slipping back from third on the grid to 10th and then colliding with Fernando Alonso. He trailed in 18th.
Standings: Raikkonen 19pts, Heidfeld 16, Hamilton, Kovalainen and Kubica all on 14
Spanish Grand Prix
Kimi Raikkonen enjoyed a stroll in the Spanish spring sunshine, the Finn cruising to his 17th career win with a flawless display. Ferrari celebrated their second successive 1-2 with Felipe Massa leading the chasing pack. Lewis Hamilton took third with BMW´s Robert Kubica in fourth. Hamilton´s McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen was fortunate to emerge unscathed after his car smashed into the barriers after a puncture at high speed.
Standings: Raikkonen 29pts, Hamilton 20, Kubica 19, Massa 18
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