Barrichello is mobbed by his Honda team after giving the squad its first podium since 2006, and his own since '05. (LAT Photo)

The rain returned, and Raikkonen dropped down the field like a stone in a river, lapping five seconds slower than Hamilton. Any chance of recovery for Massa was also ruined by this same strategy gamble, and the Scuderia had to keep both men out so that they could be fueled to the end at their next stops. When Raikkonen came in on lap 31, Hamilton was leading Heidfeld, Kovalainen and Kimi, with Kubica, Piquet, Barrichello and Toyota’s Timo Glock coming next.

Two laps later, Kubica moved past Kovalainen to earn a spot that would give him the championship lead back. Heavy rain came shortly afterwards, and Piquet was the first to be victimized by it, ending up in the gravel.

In the second round of stops, Honda made the call to put Barrichello on full wets and the Brazilian began to shine, moving past Heidfeld on lap 43 to take the second spot. Three laps before, Kubica ruined his opportunity to come out of Silverstone atop the points table by also spinning into the gravel.

Up front, Hamilton carried on driving perfectly regardless of the intensity of the rain. After the final round of stops, his lead was already of more than 45 seconds, and with Barrichello needing a third stop to switch back to inters when the sun came back out around lap 50. The Brit eventually crossed the finish line after 60 laps a full 1:08.5sec ahead of Heidfeld, with Barrichello another 13.6sec further back.

Raikkonen showed that Ferrari had the pace to challenge for the win hadn’t it been for the strategy blunders by taking P4, one lap down. Kovalainen, Alonso, Trulli and Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima took the remaining points.

"It is definitely and by far the best victory I've ever had," Hamilton admitted afterwards. "It was one of the toughest races I have ever done. I was thinking out there if I win it it will be the best race I have ever done, not just because of the home crowd.

"On the last laps I could see the crowd starting standing up, and I was praying, praying 'just finish'. You can imagine the emotions going on inside and I wanted to get it around. I want to dedicate this one to my family, as you know I have had some trouble in the last few weeks and it has been tough, but the family is there for you, and before the race my brother said 'don't worry about it'. So thanks to them."

An elated Barrichello took the opportunity to discard any talks of retirement: "I never lost the belief I have in me with the speed and everything," said the 36-year-old. "It was obviously a lucky day and it seemed to happen to me. I love the wet weather conditions but it was a perfect race. I was passing people from inside to outside, it was just magic.

"I have this great feeling, it is like I am young. I am smiling to the problems and I am working more. I love the sport, I love the speed and I cannot live without it."

Formally, Hamilton is now the championship leader, thanks to having one 10th-place finish more than Massa – the pair ties in number of wins (three apiece), runner-up finishes and so on all the way to Hamilton’s P10 in France. Raikkonen has the same 48 points but only two victories, while Kubica continues to lurk closely at 46.

The 2008 Formula 1 season resumes in two weeks’ time with the German GP at Hockenheim.

BRITISH GRAND PRIX RESULTS


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