Felipe Massa won today’s Bahrain Grand Prix from the pole which should have satisfied his detractors–temporarily at least–after his mistake last week in Malaysia.
The big story of the day though was Lewis Hamilton’s third straight podium finish in only his third Grand Prix. This created a new record as it had never been done before. Hamilton also led during Massa’s pitstop which gave him another record for leading his first three Grand Prix.
With almost a month to go before the Spanish GP there will be plenty of time for his reputation to grow.
Round 3: April 15, 2007 – Sakhir, Bahrain
| Position |
Driver |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Felipe Massa (BRA) |
Ferrari |
10 |
| 2 |
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) |
McLaren Mercedes |
8 |
| 3 |
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) |
Ferrari |
6 |
| 4 |
Nick Heidfeld (GER) |
BMW |
5 |
| 5 |
Fernando Alonso (ESP) |
McLaren Mercedes |
4 |
| 6 |
Robert Kubica (POL) |
BMW |
3 |
| 7 |
Jarno Trulli (ITA) |
Toyota |
2 |
| 8 |
Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) |
Renault |
1 |
| Fastest Qualifier: Felipe Massa (BRA) |
Complete GP of Bahrain results.
Posted: Sunday, April 15th, 2007
Fernando Alonso made his victory in today’s Malaysian Grand Prix–his first for McLaren–look easy. Once he passed pole-sitter Felipe Massa’s Ferrari for the lead into the first corner he pulled away and never looked back.
Had he looked in his mirrors he would have seen his teammate Lewis Hamilton drive a brilliant race in only his second Grand Prix. Hamilton passed Kimi Raikkonen and then Massa in the first corner and then duelled with Massa, being passed and then re-passing the Brazilian until Massa went too deep into a corner and ran wide, losing several places which he was never able to make up.
After driving a steady race Hamilton had to pick up the pace in the closing laps as Raikkonen caught him and tried hard to get past. Driving with far more maturity than either his age or experience would explain Hamilton took second place and moved one step higher on the podium than his first outing in Australia.
Nick Heidfeld showed the pace of the improving, if fragile, BMW and finished in fourth ahead of Massa.
Giancarlo Fisichella finished sixth in the race that he won last year, not as poor a result as it sounds considering that neither of the Renaults qualified in the top 10.
All in all this was one of the most exciting races in a while and, with two different winners in as many races and Lewis Hamilton’s improving performaces, this is shaping up to be a very intersting season.
Round 2: April 8, 2007 – Sepang, Malaysia
| Position |
Driver |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Fernando Alonso (ESP) |
McLaren Mercedes |
10 |
| 2 |
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) |
McLaren Mercedes |
8 |
| 3 |
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) |
Ferrari |
6 |
| 4 |
Nick Heidfeld (GER) |
BMW |
5 |
| 5 |
Felipe Massa (BRA) |
Ferrari |
4 |
| 6 |
Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) |
Renault |
3 |
| 7 |
Jarno Trulli (ITA) |
Toyota |
2 |
| 8 |
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) |
Renault |
1 |
| Fastest Qualifier: Felipe Massa (BRA) |
Complete GP of Malaysia results.
Posted: Sunday, April 8th, 2007
