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Formula One
F1: Kovalainen Takes First Win in Hungary
Finn inherits lead after Massa breaks down three laps from the end; Glock and Raikkonen complete podium.
Kevin Krefting  |  Posted August 03, 2008   Budapest, Hungary
Novelty-filled podium: Kovalainen on the top step for the first time, and Glock on his maiden appearance in the top-three. (LAT Photo)

A start on the ultimate limit of boldness netted Felipe Massa the lead on the first lap of the Hungarian Grand Prix, and the Ferrari man led all the way until a blown engine three laps from the end handed McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen his maiden Formula 1 victory.

Toyota’s Timo Glock confirmed his strong qualifying form with a fine second place, ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton, the pole position at the Hungaroring, was slowed by a tire problem early on and could only manage a fifth-place finish, which kept him on top of the championship points standings.

Third on the grid, Massa outdragged outside front-row starte Kovalainen when the lights went out, then outbraked Hamilton on the outside of turn one to jump to P1. During the first stint, the Brazilian kept Hamilton at bay despite making his first stop one lap before the Brit.

Hamilton’s luck took a turn for the worse, however, when his left-front tire suffered a puncture on lap 37, forcing him to an early second stop. After the tire change, the McLaren man returned on the 10th position.
Massa's brilliant start was set to earn him the win until the engine expired three laps from the end. (LAT Photo)

Thus Massa found himself easily ahead of Kovalainen, and was clearly sparing his equipment near the end when, with just three laps left, his Ferrari engine expired on the pit straight. The Brazilian kept his helmet on but still couldn’t hide his tears from the TV cameras.

The Finn then inherited a comfortable win over Glock and Raikkonen, while Renault’s Fernando Alonso made a clean race to fourth, ahead of Hamilton and Nelson Piquet on another solid race in the second Renault. Toyota’s Jarno Trulli and BMW’s Robert Kubica took the remaining Hungarian points.

"It has been a moment I have been targeting for many years now, since I eyed the possibility to be an F1 driver I wanted to improve my fitness to try and achieve this goal and to achieve this goal is pleasing,” Kovalainen said afterwards. “Hopefully it is the first of many.

"We have been in a position to fight for a victory but always something has gone wrong and hasn't functioned correctly. Today Lewis and Massa were fastest in race. I tried to put pressure on Massa hoping he had would have a mechanical failure and it seemed to work.”


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