A three-way tie for the lead of the 2007 world championship unfolded at Sakhir on Sunday as Felipe Massa won the Bahrain grand prix from pole.
Fernando Alonso is now joined by Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton at the top of the drivers’ title standings, and Brazilian Massa just behind, after McLaren driver Hamilton on Sunday became the first ever rookie to finish the first three races of his career on the podium.
World champion Alonso, who led the championship alone prior to today’s race in the Persian Gulf and finished a lowly fifth in Bahrain, genuinely lacked teammate Hamilton’s pace, and was spectacularly overtaken on the outside of turn 4 by BMW’s Nick Heidfeld.
It was a nightmare race for Honda, with Jenson Button going out in a first corner shunt and both Honda-powered Super Aguris retiring with apparent engine failures.
Red Bull were also in the wars, as David Coulthard suffered yet another technical problem and Mark Webber spun into retirement after his airbox wing broke.
Hamilton said: “We have definitely closed the gap to Ferrari.”
Bahrain GP, race
GP Bahrein, race
1 F. Massa Ferrari 1:32:27.515
2 L. Hamilton McLaren + 2.360
3 K. Räikkönen Ferrari + 10.839
4 N. Heidfeld BMW + 13.831
5 F. Alonso McLaren + 14.426
6 R. Kubica BMW + 45.529
7 J. Trulli Toyota + 1:21.371
8 G. Fisichella Renault + 1:21.701
9 H. Kovalainen Renault + 1:29.411
10 N. Rosberg Williams + 1:29.916
11 A. Wurz Williams + 1 lap
12 R. Schumacher Toyota + 1 lap
13 R. Barrichello Honda + 1 lap
14 C. Albers Spyker F1 + 2 laps
15 A. Sutil Spyker F1 + 4 laps
