HAMILTON HAPPY WITH McLAREN FAMILY

Hamilton and McLaren are a happy team now.

Lewis Hamilton feels McLaren have shaken off the "excess baggage" that blighted his championship bid last season, ensuring he is in better shape to win this year's title.

Exactly a year ago Hamilton headed into the Hungarian Grand Prix with an 18-point cushion to Kimi Raikkonen, a lead he stretched to 20 with a narrow victory at the Hungaroring.

But behind the scenes in Budapest, the wheels started to fall off McLaren's dual title bid, ultimately resulting in Hamilton missing out on the crown by a point to Raikkonen.

The simmering feud with then team-mate Fernando Alonso developed into an all-out war during qualifying, which led to clear-the-air talks prior to the next race in Turkey.

But more pertinently, Alonso was embroiled in a bust-up with team boss Ron Dennis on the morning of the race as he demanded number one status, otherwise he would blow the lid on the spy scandal.

Dennis refused, so re-opening a can of worms as McLaren had been previously cleared of any wrongdoing by world governing body, the FIA.

It culminated in the team being fined a sporting record Ј50million and stripped of all constructors' points for the season.

A year on, and with Alonso out of the picture as he and McLaren parted company at the end of last year and with the spy saga now consigned to the history books, McLaren are a far more harmonious team.

It is for that reason Hamilton, who again leads the way ahead of this weekend's race in Hungary, is fully focused on the title.

"We're having a much smoother year," said Hamilton, who holds a four-point lead over Felipe Massa and seven to Raikkonen.

"It's a lot more relaxed, there's a nicer environment. Things are how they should be.

"We're here to race, we're focusing on that, and that's the most important thing. There are no distractions.

"It's a much better position to be in, and that's where every team aims to be.

"Without those distractions, we all feel as a team it's of benefit going forward if we are to go on and win the title.

"We don't have any excess baggage on our shoulders, no stress like that.

"We just have the excitement of working hard to improve the car and of scoring points. That's where everyone wants to be.

"I've also a solid relationship with my team-mate (Heikki Kovalainen), and that helps."

After dominant back-to-back victories at Silverstone and Hockenheim in the British and German Grands Prix, Hamilton claims his McLaren is "the best it has been this season."

In terms of confidence and his mental health, the 23-year-old could also not be in better shape.

"When you have a bad weekend - not coming second or third because that's a good weekend - but I'm talking about a bad weekend, you go into the next race and you think 'okay, let's start again'," added Hamilton.

"You try to do everything the same, but you make sure you don't make a mistake or whatever was the problem in the previous race. You just hope the weekend goes well.

"But when you come off a win you don't have any thoughts like 'I hope nothing happens at this race'.

"You just plan to do exactly the same thing you did in the previous race, and you feel relaxed.

"You don't have any confusion in the back of your mind, or any thoughts of what could go wrong, you are just thinking of the positives."

That is the way Hamilton is currently thinking and feeling, however he knows he cannot take anything for granted, and that Ferrari are likely to hit back as they did last year.

"They've still a fantastic car and two very good drivers, and they're a great team," remarked Hamilton.

"I've no doubts they will be fighting very hard with us at the front this weekend.

"Every time you come to a race you are obviously looking out for them, as well as BMW, Red Bull and Renault of course.

"You just have to focus on your job, bearing in mind they will all be quick and hunting you down."

HAMILTON HAPPY TO BE HOME

DAD PREDICTS ‘HAMILTON EFFECT’

KIMI HAPPY DESPITE PROBLEMS

MALLYA: FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

Sutil in the Force India.

Force India boss Vijay Mallya is convinced his team has made more progress this season than any other on the Formula One grid.

The team has yet to score a point after 10 races this year, and neither Giancarlo Fisichella nor Adrian Sutil has made it into the second session of qualifying.

However, Mallya feels Force India are a work in progress, and they have managed to outshine a number of their rivals who work with bigger budgets.

"Let's look at the hard facts - we've had a 12th-placed finish and a 10th-placed finish," asserted Mallya.

"We've had double finishes and very competitive races - just look at Monaco.

"We've raced with teams whose budgets are twice as much as ours, with manufacturer support, and we've finished ahead of them - you can't take this away from us.

"What I am really pleased about, however, is the progress we have made in the times relative to others. I can honestly say we are the most improved team on the grid.

"Last year we were four seconds off the front and two seconds from the rear of the field, but in the German Grand Prix we were just one second from the top five.

"No other team has found two seconds from last year, so clearly this is a reason to be satisfied."

Ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the last before F1 heads off on its summer break, Mallya has no regrets about taking up the task of resurrecting his team's fortunes.

It has meant dipping into his vast personal fortune to do so, but he added: "It's been every bit as good, and as frustrating, as I expected it to be.

"I'm very proud of what this small team has achieved, and how we are pulling together to show some good progress and showings that no-one in the field expected us to do.

"On the other hand there have been challenges, as I knew there would be, and disappointments, but the good far outweighs the bad.

"I have no regrets at all about becoming involved in the team, and I am really looking forward to the second part of the year."

SUTIL HEARTACHE SHARED BY MALLYA

FORCE INDIA TURN TO 2009

SUTIL IN POSITIVE MOOD

MOSLEY STILL SET ON STANDING DOWN

Mosley - still plans to stand down in 2009.

Max Mosley has re-asserted he will stand down as FIA president at the end of his current mandate in October 2009.

Mosley claims he has the support of people within his organisation to stand for a further term, but he maintains that is not on his agenda.

"There are a large number of people in the FIA who are saying that I must run again in 2009," said Mosley in Autosport.

"I don't want to, because to be very, very honest, I want to stop going to work every day.

"It is that thing every morning where you cannot believe how much work there is to do.

"A lot of people with ambitions think all you do is put on a blazer and an armband and you are president of the FIA.

"You can do it like that, but then you are not the person in control - it is the secretary general.

"So if you want to have any influence, you have to do an awful lot of work."

There remain a number of people who feel Mosley should stand down in the wake of revelations regarding his private life, believing he is damaging the organisation he represents and motor sport.

However, the 68-year-old has successfully fought to remain in office, and last week was awarded a record Ј60,000 in compensation after winning his privacy action against the News of the World.

ECCLESTONE PLEA TO MOSLEY

MOSLEY PLANS LIBEL ACTION

MOSLEY URGES CRITICS TO 'GROW UP'

Mosley - won his privacy case.

FIA president Max Mosley insists "no grown-up person gives the slightest damn" about what he gets up to in his private life.

The 68-year-old won his privacy case against the News of the World last week and was awarded Ј60,000 in compensation after the newspaper had accused him of taking part in a "Nazi orgy" with five prostitutes in an article in March.

Mosley did not dispute taking part in the sadomasochistic role-play at a rented Chelsea basement flat, but said it was consensual and private and strenuously denied any Nazi overtones.

The presiding judge in the case, Mr Justice Eady, said last week: "I found there was no evidence that the gathering on 28 March 2008 was intended to be an enactment of Nazi behaviour or adoption of any of its attitudes."

But Mosley still faces calls to quit his post following the revelations about his private life, but he insists it should have no bearing on his role at the FIA and urged his critics to "grow up".

"The truth of the matter is this: that no grown-up person gives the slightest damn about what other people do in their sex lives. It's not even a subject for discussion," he told Autosport magazine.

"All these people who failed in Formula 1 - and Jackie Stewart fits into that category, although 40 years ago he was a brilliant driver - they sit on the outside offering advice, but no one seriously considers them.

"Winning the case was good because it stopped all the nonsense about Nazism - that's the thing that really mattered. Now, as far as doing the job is concerned, the Nazi thing will have no effect at all on me."

Mosley, who confirmed yesterday that he plans to stand down as FIA president in October next year, still believes the News of the World story was a set-up instigated by a third party.

"I think there is a strong probability that the News of the World did not just chance on it," he added.

"That is being investigated very carefully and in great detail at the moment, and sooner or later we will know exactly what happened."

MOSLEY PLANS LIBEL ACTION

MOSLEY TO SUE NEWS OF THE WORLD

MOSLEY WINS PRIVACY ACTION

F1 TEAMS SHOW FUTURE VISION

Ecclestone - meeting in Maranello.

Bosses from all 10 Formula One teams have agreed to establish a new association which will work with motorsport's governing body the FIA and commercial rights holders in a bid to take the sport forward.

Team principals met with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Donald McKenzie, representing commercial partners CVC, at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello.

A statement read: "The teams have subsequently agreed unanimously that they will establish the new Formula 1 Teams' Association to work with the FIA and FOM to agree upon regulations and commercial conditions which will provide a framework for a strong and dynamic sport."

Formula One is currently being run without a Concorde Agreement, the contract that dictates the terms by which the teams agree to participate.

The meeting was designed to help smooth the way towards drawing up a new Concorde Agreement for years to come.

As part of the entente cordiale that currently exists in F1, the meeting was attended by McLaren boss Ron Dennis and F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

Last year McLaren were involved in a spying controversy with bitter rivals Ferrari that led to the Woking marque being fined a sporting record Ј50million and stripped of all constructors' points.

ECCLESTONE LAYS DOWN CHALLENGE TO TEAMS

BRIATORE DECRIES MOSLEY MEDIA WOES

HAMILTON STAYING ON THE OFFENSIVE

Hamilton - staying on the offensive.

Lewis Hamilton is refusing to change his aggressive driving style as he focuses on Formula One world title glory this season.

Hamilton has paid the price for occasionally pushing too hard, as witnessed in Bahrain and France when he failed to score a point.

In contrast, the racer in Hamilton has also produced superb drives to claim victories in Monaco, Britain and most recently Germany in his McLaren.

The back-to-back wins at Silverstone and Hockenheim, where he has been the class act, see Hamilton head into Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix with a four-point lead ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen is now seven adrift, while the challenge from BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica appears to be fading as the Pole is 10 points off the pace.

With eight races remaining, Hamilton sees no reason why he should alter his approach to a grand prix simply to consolidate his lead.

"It's easy to say you'll treat each race with a certain amount of respect," said Hamilton.

"But the reality is I haven't changed my style. It seems to work for me and I enjoy pushing hard to achieve a good result.

"That's when I feel I am operating at my maximum. It's potentially dangerous to start thinking about changing your approach at this point in the season.

"I'll be honest: my approach has served me fairly well so far and I'd need to give it some serious thought before attempting to change it.

"Let's just say, it will be business as usual in Hungary this weekend."

It would be fair to assume Hamilton is on a high in the wake of his storming performances in the last two grands prix.

But he appreciates he has to remain grounded, otherwise it would be all too easy to get carried with the focus again on him.

"I'm wary about making any strong predictions," added Hamilton.

"Yes, we were strong in the last two races, but we encountered difficulties in the two before that, so it's impossible to call it this weekend.

"All I can say is our car feels fantastic at the moment and I'm really enjoying driving it.

"It feels like you can keep fine-tuning it to extract more performance from it, which is a fantastic feeling for any racing driver."

Unlike at Silverstone and Hockenheim, the Hungaroring represents one of the worst tracks on the calendar for overtaking, lending itself to an often processional race.

Hamilton won from pole last season, albeit being promoted to the top of the grid following a qualifying bust-up with then team-mate Fernando Alonso.

If Hamilton is to become the first Briton to win three races in a row since Damon Hill at the start of the 1996 season then pole is a must again.

"Hungary is very different from Germany," assessed Hamilton.

"Hockenheim is a track that allows you to slipstream and pass other drivers fairly easily. The Hungaroring is the opposite of that.

"Qualifying will be crucial, and strategy will also be important in determining the optimum fuel weight for the opening stint.

"It will be hot and tiring too, so keeping focus and concentration will be vital.

"But I don't go into this weekend surfing any particular wave of confidence.

"It's such a different type of circuit that it's difficult for anybody to feel certain about their chances."

LEWIS ON TOP AT HOCKENHEIM

RAIKONNEN HOPES FOR DRY WEEKEND

HAMILTON KEEPING COOL

GERMANS TAKE ON SUPER AGURI ASSETS

Super Aguri - purchased by a German company.

Super Aguri's liquidated assets have been purchased by a German tool design and construction company.

The Formula One team, run by former F1 driver Aguri Suzuki, went out of business three months ago due to mounting debts.

Formtech, who manufacture high-precision parts for the automotive and Formula One industry, have now stepped in.

The company will use Super Aguri's base at Leafield to gain a foothold in the UK market.

They are also hoping to attract suitable individuals and companies with aspirations of running their own motorsport team to purchase Super Aguri's F1 race equipment.

MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR - FRY

DAVIDSON BACK BEHIND F1 WHEEL

SATO CLINGS ONTO F1 DREAM

FERRARI CHIEF REJECTS 'CRISIS' TALK

Domenicali - crisis? what crisis?

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali is adamant his team are not caught in a crisis and insists the outlook could be far brighter by the end of the weekend.

The recent British and German Grands Prix have been dominated by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton who now leads the championship outright.

Back-to-back victories means Hamilton has a four-point lead over Felipe Massa and seven to Kimi Raikkonen with eight races of the season remaining.

The race at Hockenheim gave Domenicali particular cause for concern as Raikkonen was so far off the pace throughout the course of the weekend, trailing home sixth, with Massa third.

That led to an inquest being conducted at the team's Maranello headquarters, and at last week's four-day test at Jerez.

It was determined the car was not at fault, but instead the issue was tyre-related as neither Raikkonen nor Massa proved able to get the best out of their rubber during the race.

Domenicali is eager to allay fears Ferrari are now on course for a crushing defeat this season from McLaren and Hamilton.

Ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, Domenicali said: "Despite the fact the last two races have been negative for us, we are definitely not in crisis.

"The team is still leading the constructors' championship, and theoretically one of our drivers could again be back at the top of the drivers' classification on Sunday night.

"We are on a similar points tally to last year, we have won half the races so far, and indeed, taken half the pole positions.

"Just as we felt we were never unbeatable after our French GP victory, so too, we do not feel all is lost after the British and German events."

After 10 grands prix last year, Raikkonen and Massa again trailed Hamilton, albeit by 18 and 11 points respectively.

That is why Domenicali is far from concerned at this stage, adding: "The entire squad is doing its best to overturn this situation. We have come from behind before.

"In fact, we have emerged as the top team at the end of the season having been in much greater difficulty than we are now.

"If we look at where we were last year after 10 races, today we are in a much better position.

"This year there is one more race than last, which gives us even more opportunities to fight back."

RAIKKONEN RATIONAL DESPITE BAD WEEKEND

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

MASSA: WE’LL FIND OUR FORM

McLAREN CHIEF REJECTS STEWART CLAIM

Kovalainen and Hamilton - no team hierarchy.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has taken Sir Jackie Stewart to task for stating Heikki Kovalainen should play his part in helping Lewis Hamilton become Formula One world champion this season.

Kovalainen certainly came to Hamilton's aid in the German Grand Prix nine days ago by pulling to one side at Hockenheim to allow his flying team-mate by and go on to win the race.

With eight races remaining, the Finn is seemingly out of the title picture as he trails championship leader Hamilton by 30 points.

That has led to three-times former Formula One champion Stewart claiming Hamilton "has to be supported by his team-mate".

With the 23-year-old scrapping for the crown with Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, Stewart added: "Kovalainen has to be able take a position away from a Ferrari driver."

But that has earned a sharp rebuke from Dennis who is adamant there will be no number one and two driver status within his team.

"I have enormous respect for Sir Jackie, as does everyone at McLaren. He was one of grand prix racing's truly great world champions," remarked Dennis.

"Equally, we're always willing to accept constructive criticism, and the affection felt in Britain for Lewis means lots of people are anxious to give us well-intentioned advice.

"But the fact is Sir Jackie retired from motor racing in 1973, which is 35 years ago, and the sport has moved on in that time.

"Jackie's suggestion Lewis' World Championship campaign depends on Heikki's assistance presupposes Heikki's task is to drive in support of Lewis - and that simply isn't the case.

"Besides, other than the input that all our drivers get from the personnel whose job descriptions are dedicated to providing it, the truth is Lewis doesn't want any help.

"He and Heikki are good mates, but they're both highly-competitive individuals and they take their own decisions.

"We have a long history of giving our drivers equal treatment and equal opportunity, and that isn't about to change.

"Not every armchair critic will agree with that policy, but it's the way we go motor racing - and, to be frank, it's the way everyone goes motor racing these days."

HAMILTON SHOW IMPRESSES STEWART

STEWART SYMPATHY FOR HAMILTON

STEWART PONDERS CONSPIRACY THEORY

BRIATORE DECRIES MOSLEY MEDIA WOES

Briatore - concern about sport's profile.

Renault boss Flavio Briatore believes Max Mosley's personal problems have had a knock-on effect for Formula One which he has again insisted is in dire need of an overhaul.

Other than an out-of-the-spotlight visit to the Monaco Grand Prix, FIA president Mosley has shied away from races since news of his private life emerged in the News of the World at the end of March.

The 68-year-old has since successfully fought to remain in office, and last week was awarded a record Ј60,000 in compensation after winning his privacy action against the Sunday tabloid.

But with no Mosley to steer the ship, Briatore said: "His absence is felt as there's no project for F1. The teams feel abandoned."

The 10 F1 marques met today at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello to discuss the future of the sport, with the hope of finding common ground on the way ahead.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore is convinced 'the show' has to change, adding: "Formula One needs to be re-designed.

"I feel it should be down to the teams to decide by electing in turn a director of operations. A guy who does things, not a PR person.

"On top of that, we need to decide with a 51% majority, not unanimously like now, otherwise we'll carry on being stuck."

ECCLESTONE PLEA TO MOSLEY

MOSLEY PLANS LIBEL ACTION

ECCLESTONE DENIES MOSLEY PLOT

VETTEL CHOSEN OVER 'BIG NAMES'

Vettel - joins from sister team.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has confirmed the team had discussions with "big names" before signing Sebastian Vettel on a long-term contract.

Fernando Alonso was one of the names linked to Red Bull after David Coulthard announced he would retire from Formula One at the end of the season.

However, Red Bull opted to sign Vettel from sister team Toro Rosso.

Horner says it was a "straightforward decision" to bring the German in.

"Well, after David informed us in Canada that he intended to retire at the end of the season, it naturally triggered a discussion with Sebastian, who is on a long-term contract with Red Bull," he told the official Formula One website.

"It was a very straightforward decision, especially when we took into consideration the potential he has shown in the last eight months.

"There were the means to make it happen very quickly, there was a very short discussion with Sebastian and then, internally, everything was put in place to make his switch happen."

Red Bull, though, held talks with several other candidates, but ultimately opted for Vettel.

"We had a few discussions with 'big names' but we are very comfortable with the pairing of Mark (Webber) and Sebastian," Horner said.

"It is a good blend of youth and experience and Sebastian's potential looks quite exciting. And I hope that we can provide him with the right environment to help his potential flourish."

VETTEL: I’M READY TO MOVE ON UP

VET HAS REMEDY FOR BULLS

FIVE-PLACE GRID PENALTY FOR VETTEL

RAIKKONEN HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS

Raikkonen - has struggled of late.

Kimi Raikkonen is hoping seven turns out to be his lucky number this weekend.

The reigning world champion is currently in the middle of a slump as he has failed to win any of the last six grands prix to trail Lewis Hamilton by seven points in the drivers' standings.

However, the Ferrari star endured the same scenario last year after blazing his way to victory in the curtain-raiser in Australia.

Raikkonen then struggled for the next six races amid suggestions he was finding it difficult to settle in at Ferrari.

But then the Finn turned his season around with back-to-back wins in France and Britain before going on to secure the title.

Naturally, he is looking for similar fortune this weekend when the Formula One circus heads to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"Our season looks different, but nothing has been lost," assessed Raikkonen.

"We just have to be patient because the motivation and desire to win has not changed a single bit.

"Last year we had six successive races without a win, and now it's six winless races again.

"Hopefully, seven will again be my lucky number this time."

Raikkonen will at least be looking to put behind him a disastrous race in Germany when he was significantly off the pace of his main rivals at Hockenheim.

The 28-year-old could only manage sixth in the race from the same position on the grid and in the wake of poor practice sessions.

"It was the most difficult weekend we have had so far," reflected Raikkonen.

"We had a tough Friday, even tougher Saturday and then the toughest Sunday with the race.

"We have had problems at some earlier races to get the car going like I want, but it has not been as difficult as it was at Hockenheim.

"It was good to get at least some valuable points from a difficult weekend.

"But we have to check and analyse everything to find out why we were so slow because obviously something had gone wrong.

"Sometimes it's like that when you try to improve the car. I feel confident we will get it right again."

HAMILTON HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS

KIMI STARVED OF SUCCESS

KUBICA HOPES FOR 'HOME' SUPPORT

Kubica - fan of the Hungaroring.

Robert Kubica is hoping for home support when the F1 circus stops in Budapest this weekend with plently of Polish fans expected to attend.

Kubica is in need of a boost as ever since his Canadian Grand Prix victory the Polish driver has failed to make it onto the F1 podium.

As a result he has slumped to fourth place in the standings, ten points behind Championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

The BMW driver, though, is hoping that the support he'll receive in Hungary will inspire him towards better results.

"For sure we can expect a lot of Polish fans in Budapest. The Hungarian Grand Prix is the closest race to my home country, so in some way it is my home race," he said.

However, there are other reasons that the Hungaroring is a special place for Kubica. "The Hungaroring is the track where I had my first Formula One race in 2006," he said.

"As a driver you always have a special relationship with the track where you had your first grand prix. However, it is not for these reasons alone that I like this track."

As for the track, he said: "For most of the lap you have some steering angle, which means you rarely get a break, and this is made worse by the fact the straights are very short.

"The Hungaroring is a difficult track, but then Formula One is about challenges."

HEIDFELD HOPES FOR BETTER

BUTTON HOPES TO GET BACK ON TRACK

HAMILTON VOWS TO BRING IT HOME

DC CONCERNS OVER KERS

Coulthard - expressed his concerns.

David Coulthard has added his voice to the growing safety concerns over F1's plans to introduce KERS next season.

In recent weeks two serious incidents have occured as a result of F1 teams testing the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems.

While Red Bull were forced to evacute their factor when one of the batteries used to store the energy failed, a BMW mechanic was taken to hospital last week when he was shocked by a car fitted with KERS.

"There has been a lot of discussion in the past week or two about the teething problems associated with the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) that the teams are developing for next year," Coulthard told ITV.

"We evacuated the Red Bull factory last week as a precaution after steam was let off when a battery failed, and there was a nasty incident during this week's Jerez test when a BMW mechanic suffered an electric shock, fortunately escaping with only minor injuries.

"As has been well documented elsewhere, there are concerns about isolating the electrical charge that is stored within the car and the volatility of the chemicals used in the lithium batteries.

"Formula 1 is all about the technical challenge, but usually the risk is limited to the drivers. Quite clearly KERS has opened up another area.

"You can bury your head in the sand, and it's not politically correct to talk about it, but while we are going through the development phase there is a risk that extends to people at the factory and trackside personnel.

"I know there are working groups looking at how to manage and overcome these issues, so hopefully a satisfactory solution will be found, but the timescale is certainly pretty tight to be ready for the start of next season."

The Scot, who is retiring from F1 racing at the end of this season concedes some measures will have to be taken to ensure the safety of the drivers should they climb into a car fitted with KERS.

"Part of my role for next year will be to assist with the development of Red Bull's KERS system," he said.

"I'll be wearing a full rubber body suit to make sure that I'm safe... Formula 1 driving suits will become like fireproof condoms!"

SHOCK FOR SAUBER MECHANIC

SLICK PERFORMANCE FROM VETTEL

HAMILTON WINS IN GERMANY

Hamilton celebrates his Hockenheim win.

Lewis Hamilton can add a German Grand Prix 'miracle' to his CV of achievements.

Hamilton had been coasting to victory at Hockenheim, untroubled for the opening 35 laps of the 67-lap race after making the perfect start from pole position.

But the nature of the day altered when Timo Glock was involved in a spectacular shunt which resulted in the introduction of the safety car and the erosion of Hamilton's comfortable 12-second lead.

When the pit lane re-opened, 11 drivers dived in for fresh rubber, taking on fuel until the end, but remarkably Hamilton was not one of them.

McLaren felt the safety car would come in sooner than it did, and their strategy almost backfired and cost Hamilton the win.

When the safety car finally departed, Hamilton was asked to open up an impossible 23-second cushion, the time needed to pit for a second time and still retain the lead, in just nine laps.

It was never going to happen, and when Hamilton did pit again his lead was just 13 seconds, relegating him to fifth and seemingly with little chance of victory.

But first team-mate Heikki Kovalainen obligingly let him through on lap 52, then BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld made his second stop soon after, promoting Hamilton to third.

The 23-year-old then reeled in Felipe Massa, brilliantly passing the Ferrari under braking into the hairpin prior to bullying his title rival into running wide on lap 57.

Three laps later mission impossible was complete when Hamilton made the same move at the same part of the circuit on an unlikely leader in Nelson Piquet as the Renault driver benefited from a one-stop strategy.

After chalking up back-to-back wins for the first time in 13 months and opening up a four-point gap over Massa in the title race, Hamilton said: "What happened was not planned.

"I would have much preferred an easy, comfortable afternoon out in front. But it didn't work that way.

"The team opted for me to stay out. I guess they thought I could pull out a gap, but it was a 23-second gap I needed and I only had seven laps or something.

"I don't know how that worked, but they said they were comfortable with where we were.

"They said the other guys would be heavy, they would be in traffic so I should be able to pull a gap, and I did everything I could to do that.

"I kind of understood and I just kept pushing, but I was over the limit, pushing and pushing trying to get the gap.

"But it wasn't possible, and when I came in it was looking like I would just be collecting points.

"I eventually came out behind Heikki. I have to say a big thank you to him, he was a great team-mate. He didn't put up a huge fight as he saw I was quicker.

"I was then able to battle, and it's even more exciting for me to have won this race after competing with Felipe and Nelson.

"Although once I got past Felipe I thought I was in the lead and that was it, but I had Nelson ahead of me who did a great job.

"In the end I'm sure the public enjoyed watching such a battle."

But after a near-perfect weekend to follow on his from his one-man show in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Hamilton is aware of how quickly the situation could again turn.

"It's a good feeling to come off a strong win at Silverstone, come here and pretty much dominate all weekend," added the Briton.

"It's great to see the pace we have, but we have to take it a step at a time because we've a long way to go, and we have to make sure we continue with this performance.

"This weekend we have proven the performance of the team and car is very good, so I'm very happy with my job and that of the team.

"I'm not as excited as I was when I won in Monaco, but I am very happy."

For Piquet, it was undoubtedly the result of his career, especially holding off fellow Brazilian Massa in the closing stages to finish runner-up.

Behind the leading trio came Heidfeld, followed by Finns Kovalainen and Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari, who is now seven points behind Hamilton.

Robert Kubica was seventh in his BMW Sauber and is 10 points off the pace, with Sebastian Vettel taking the final point for Toro Rosso.

David Coulthard and Jenson Button could only manage 13th and 17th for Red Bull and Honda respectively.

Glock, meanwhile, is to remain in a local hospital overnight after sustaining a back injury, although has been given the all clear after a number of scans and x-rays.

HAMILTON KEEPING COOL

KUBICA WINS AS HAMILTON CRASHES OUT

MASSA FINDS PASSPORT TO VICTORY

HAKKINEN BACKS LEWIS

Hamilton - positive effect.

Mika Hakkinen believes Lewis Hamilton is on the road to delivering a more harmonious McLaren their first title for nine years.

It was in 1999 Hakkinen won the last of McLaren's Formula One world drivers' championships before Ferrari and Michael Schumacher began to dominate.

Although Hakkinen retired two years later, he has remained close to the team, and occasionally still attends races as their guest.

The Finn was on hand on Sunday to congratulate Hamilton following his latest glorious triumph at the German Grand Prix, giving the 23-year-old a big bear hug as he entered the McLaren brand centre.

The two men have also built up a relationship of late as they are ambassadors for Johnnie Walker's 'Responsible Drinking' campaign, and regularly attend promotional functions together.

Compared to last year when McLaren were riddled with problems on and off track given the spy scandal and discord between Hamilton and team-mate Fernando Alonso, as an outsider looking in, Hakkinen can see the difference following Alonso's departure and Heikki Kovalainen's appointment.

"What Ron Dennis and Norbert Haug have done is brought together two fantastically talented young drivers," Hakkinen said.

"They are fast, they motivate the whole team, and they are getting better, stronger, more solid, more stable - they deliver the whole package.

"I can see right now McLaren Mercedes is a solid team, positive in terms of spirit both behind the scenes and on the track.

"I can sense that just by being around the teams these days."

With Hamilton now four points ahead in the drivers' standings after back-to-back victories in Britain and Germany, Hakkinen senses the team's long wait for a title could soon be over.

Asked about Hamilton's chances, Hakkinen replied: "It is easy to answer because I can relate what is happening now to Lewis to when I was racing.

"When I was a young guy at McLaren I was flat out, always at the maximum.

"Sometimes the excitement took over my thinking and there were times when I went over the top, I made mistakes.

"It took time for me to stabilise myself and calm down a little, and then I got the results.

"That is now the situation with Lewis. He has calmed down and is stable, more mature.

"There is still a way to go this year and a lot of things can still happen, and yes it is a long time since I won McLaren's last title, but I am hopeful this year they can do it.

"They just have to keep working, thinking positively."

Hamilton had team-mate Kovalainen to thank for the victory as the Finn let him through following a second pit stop, which saw him drop from the lead to fifth.

Kovalainen's kind gesture, also acknowledged by Dennis and F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh, gave Hamilton the opportunity to hunt down and pass Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Nelson Piquet in his Renault to claim the win.

And Hakkinen feels Kovalainen has brought more than just generosity to McLaren, claiming he has helped transform them overall.

"Heikki has brought great harmony to the team," insisted Hakkinen.

"He has been working really well with the engineers and with Lewis, and the harmony is now great, and that's a very important point."

DE LA ROSA BACKS LEWIS

HAMILTON UNDER PRESSURE - HAKKINEN

STEWART: MOSLEY SHOULD STILL GO

Stewart - feels Mosley should stand down.

Sir Jackie Stewart believes Max Mosley's 'carry on regardless' attitude has cast a shadow over the FIA.

Stewart on Thursday renewed his call for Mosley to stand down as president of motorsport's world governing body, with Eddie Jordan, Stirling Moss and Paul Stoddart all voicing a similar view.

Their message of condemnation came on the day Mosley was awarded a record Ј60,000 compensation after winning a privacy action against the News of the World.

The Sunday tabloid had accused the 68-year-old son of 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley of taking part in a "sick Nazi orgy" with five prostitutes.

It was a claim Mosley vehemently denied, with the presiding judge in the case, Mr Justice Eady, stating: "I found there was no evidence that the gathering on 28 March 2008 was intended to be an enactment of Nazi behaviour or adoption of any of its attitudes."

Mosley was naturally delighted with the verdict, but there is a feeling that after emerging triumphant following his day in court, and being vindicated, he should now honourably resign.

It was just 53 days ago Mosley won a vote of confidence from the FIA, with the probability he will now see out his mandate through to 2009.

That still appals staunch critic Stewart, who said: "If Max were president of the Olympic movement, he would have been told to go.

"I don't see how he can justify staying on. The vote of confidence was not a large majority, and there were a number of people who did not vote.

"As for the motorsport community, there were very few people who were prepared to speak out, basically in fear of repercussions.

"That does not speak well of the organisation, and I feel Max should now step down and cut out of it totally."

Mosley, though, has belligerently opted to carry on, with Stewart adding: "That's what puts a shadow over the FIA, that it is being allowed to occur when any other federation would not tolerate it.

"The FIA needs to be run by full-time, fully-paid executives, and completely re-structured to provide correct corporate governance that is totally transparent.

"If he were in any organisation, he would undoubtedly have had to leave, with influence from within.

"The FIA should have more knowledge of life than to allow this to continue, and that is what is showing up negatively against them."

Former F1 team boss Jordan felt Mosley had proven himself "a strong man" by taking on the News of the World.

But he added: "There's still a slur against him and people don't forget that easily.

"If I was Max now having won this case I would say, 'I'm out of here'."

Former Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart believes Formula One is "without credibility" while Mosley remains in office.

Stoddart commented: "There are big public companies that probably won't want to be associated with an institution that Mosley, having been exposed like this, has been representing and will continue to represent."

Even Moss does not think Mosley's position is tenable.

"I can understand how people feel, and therefore he cannot hold the stature he did before," Moss told the BBC.

"With a number of countries behind him, that must at least be quite gratifying to him, that he has the right to continue.

"But I think he would probably feel a bit untenable, and I would have thought this has hurt him tremendously."

STEWART - MOSLEY SHOULD STAND DOWN

ECCLESTONE PLEA TO MOSLEY

WHITMARSH LOOKS TO HELP HEIKKI GROW

Kovalainen - 'a brilliant racing driver'.

Heikki Kovalainen has a lot potential that needs to be "extracted", according to McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

Kovalainen has showed big improvements in qualifying in recent races, starting on pole in Britain and on the second row in Germany, but has struggled to match team-mate Lewis Hamilton on race day.

Whitmarsh believes Kovalainen is good enough to challenge the top drivers, and promises McLaren will work closely with the Finn to help him realise his full potential.

"Firstly, let's not forget that Heikki is a brilliant racing driver," he said.

"His pass of Robert Kubica at Hockenheim reminded anybody who needed reminding that he has all the speed and skill to be battling at the front.

"But there's no magic in Formula 1 and we still need to work with Heikki to extract his full potential.

"At Hockenheim, he didn't get the best out of himself or the package and we need to work on how we fine-tune the car's set-up and how Heikki is involved in that process."

McLAREN CHIEF HAILS HEIKKI

McLAREN FAITH IN HEIKKI

WHITMARSH DEFENDS DRIVERS

RAIKKONEN HARD TO WORK OUT

Raikkonen - could quit F1 after next season.

It is hard to differentiate between an uninterested Kimi Raikkonen and a driver simply enduring a torrid time with his car at present.

There is a persuasive argument that could be put forward for both sides bearing in mind what we have witnessed over the last three months.

It has been that long since Raikkonen stood on the top step of the podium, his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix propelling him into a nine-point lead.

Six races and no wins later, Raikkonen now trails an on-fire Lewis Hamilton by seven points after the McLaren star's back-to-back victories at Silverstone and Hockenheim.

Raikkonen appears apathetic, detached, merely offering a shrug of the shoulders whether he wins or loses, a case of 'well, it's all the same to me'.

That is through no fault of his own because that is his character, as nonchalant away from the car as he is audacious inside it.

But then he is doing himself few favours by suggesting he will walk away from Formula One when his contract with Ferrari expires at the end of next season.

That has prompted suggestions he no longer cares now he has a world title in his pocket, that as far he is concerned his job in this sport is done and he has other interests to pursue.

But again that is part of Raikkonen's equanimity because the Finn does not live and breathe F1. It is in his blood, but it is not his life.

However, two recent incidents relating to Raikkonen spring to mind and offer conflicting views as to his mindset these days.

On the grid at Silverstone minutes ahead of the British Grand Prix, Raikkonen shoved to the ground photographer Paul-Henri Cahier.

The 28-year-old was aggravated at Cahier for thrusting a lens in his face at a time when he was attempting to prepare for the race, and for standing on his equipment.

Raikkonen's action was foolish - can you imagine the media field day if it had been Hamilton? - but at least it portrayed a degree of aggression, that there is enthusiasm and passion for his work.

But then at Hockenheim, Raikkonen claimed another 'victim' as he accidentally knocked over the little daughter of a woman trying to get his autograph as he walked down the paddock.

As the girl lay on the floor crying, Raikkonen gave a cursory look over his left shoulder and carried on walking.

The least he could have done in this instance would have been to check to see if the girl was okay, and then given the woman his autograph.

But there was barely a flicker of emotion from Raikkonen behind his dark sunglasses, which does nothing to enhance his cold 'I really don't give a stuff' image.

So what of Raikkonen on the track? He is quick, courageous, a man who on his day is arguably the best of the current crop.

But therein lies the key phrase, 'on his day', because there are times - akin to the two aforementioned incidents - when Raikkonen is forthright, bold, unconcerned as to who should cross his path.

Alternatively, when the car is not to his liking, Raikkonen exudes a half-hearted attitude along the lines of 'this car's rubbish, so why should I bother?'

But then we've been here before with Raikkonen, last year to be precise following his fine win on his Ferrari debut in Australia.

Six races followed during which Raikkonen struggled to get to grips with the car, and he was making uncharacteristic errors amid claims he was not working well with the team.

But there followed back-to-back wins in France and Britain that ignited his title charge, although again he has his critics who suggest he lucked into last season's championship due to the off-track furore that surrounded McLaren.

That would be harsh on Raikkonen because there were occasions when he produced brilliant drives equal to his talent.

So here we are again after a run of six races in which Raikkonen has failed to fire on all cylinders, hindered occasionally by his own impassivity, but also by team errors and a car clearly not on the pace of the McLaren at this moment.

As last season, Raikkonen is hoping it will be a case of 'lucky seven' when the F1 circus hits Budapest next weekend as he insists he has not lost his desire to win.

If Ferrari do manage to get their act together, then we will see if Raikkonen really does still have the bit between his teeth, or if he has one eye on pastures new.

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

RAIKKONEN TO SEE OUT FERRARI DEAL

COULTHARD RUES POOR START

Coulthard - made slow start.

Toyota
Jarno Trulli: "That was a disappointing race for me because we had high hopes of scoring points today. Everything was looking good early in the race but after our second stop, when we switched our strategy because of the safety car, it became really difficult. I was having problems with the balance. I struggled a lot and in the last 10 laps it was really tough. But I was in eighth place and fighting really hard to get a point. I was holding off Vettel but unfortunately I locked up the front and couldn't recover so I lost the position. After that I lost more pace and wasn't able to push as hard as I wanted."

Timo Glock: No quotes available.

Red Bull
David Coulthard: It was a poor start. Heidfeld ran wide in Turn one, which pushed me wide and off the circuit, so a lot of people passed me there. I was stuck behind Jenson (Button) for 13 laps or so, he always seemed to have better traction so it was difficult to have a big dive at the end of braking. I got past him, as well as Rosberg before that. Towards the end of the race, Rubens (Barrichello) got better traction off a Turn and moved over, I came back onto my line to take the corner. I guess he thought I wasn't going to do that, which is why he had his car there, but it didn't work out."

Mark Webber: We knew it would be a tight race with the guys that were around us on the grid. I had a good fight with Vettel on the first lap and, as the race unfolded, there wasn't much between the cars. We know the weaknesses of our car here and we'll work on those before the next race. It was my first mechanical retirement this year; we'll have to check what caused it and make sure it doesn't happen again."

Honda
Jenson Button: A frustrating race today and it is obviously disappointing to finish in 17th position. We pitted early for my first stop to prevent Rosberg overtaking and I lost a lot of time there to both him and Rubens because we had no performance on the prime tyre after my stop. The traction was really poor and I was losing so much time out of the corners. When the safety car came out, we immediately pitted for tyres to enable us to switch back to the option tyre as soon as possible and unfortunately that meant that although I was a lap down, I was not able to overtake the leader. I'm very disappointed, particularly after a stronger qualifying performance than in recent races, but we'll learn from our mistakes today."

Rubens Barrichello: The race began well today as I gained a couple of positions at the start and our strategy was to run as long as possible. Unfortunately we didn't have the pace to be competitive and we were really struggling with the traction. Our strategy was good but if we had been able to run for just another few laps it would have made my day, just as it did for Piquet Jr. Congratulations to him on his podium. The incident with Coulthard which ended my race was just unlucky. I was trying to force him to take a wider line on the outside through turn nine so that on turn 10 I would be able to come up the inside, but unfortunately he didn't see me on the inside and we touched. The team could see at the stop that there was too much damage to the front bargeboards to continue and that ended my race."

REACTION: FORCE INDIA and RENAULT

REACTION: BMW, RED BULL and TOYOTA

MOSLEY PLANS LIBEL ACTION

Mosley - planning another court case.

Max Mosley has once again launched legal proceedings against the News of the World, this time for libel.

Mosley successfully won his breach of privacy action against the tabloid earlier this week. The judged awarded the 68-year-old Ј60,000 in damages.

However, the FIA president is now launching libel proceedings after the News of the World editor claimed that Mosley was a liar for denying the tabloid's accusations that there was a Nazi theme to his orgy with five prostitutes. The court ruled this had not been the case.

A statement issued by Mosley's solicitors said: "Max Mosley has today issued proceedings against the News of the World for libel.

"Following his successful privacy claim, and the attempts by the editor and staff of the News of the World to devalue the outcome of that claim, Mr Mosley will now be pursuing a claim for damages and aggravated damages in relation to the defamatory allegations in the April 6 edition of the News of the World."

MOSLEY TO SUE NEWS OF THE WORLD

MOSLEY WINS PRIVACY ACTION

BERGER BACKS MOSLEY

STEWART - MOSLEY SHOULD STAND DOWN

Mosley - awarded Ј60,000 compensation.

Max Mosley may have emerged victorious from his day in court, but that has not prevented renewed calls for him to resign as president of motorsport's world governing body, the FIA.

Mosley was awarded a record Ј60,000 compensation after winning his privacy action against the News of the World, which had accused the 68-year-old son of 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley of taking part in a "sick Nazi orgy" with five prostitutes.

It was Mosley's second triumph in the space of 52 days as he also won a vote of confidence on June 3 to remain in office, claiming 61% of a secret ballot that took place at the FIA's headquarters in Paris.

Mosley was accused of "playing hardball" on that occasion as 103 members of the 169 who voted at the hearing did so in favour of him continuing as president.

Thursday's success in the High Court will almost certainly serve only to steel his resolve to see through his mandate to October 2009.

But there are appreciably those critics who feel Mosley should now call it a day after finally vindicating himself.

Three-times former Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, a staunch Mosley critic, said: "Max should now step down and cut out of it totally.

"His stewardship of the FIA simply cannot be undertaken in its fullest form because of what has occurred. That's straightforward.

"But the biggest downside is the FIA themselves have come out of this very badly. The fact he does not resign puts a shadow over the FIA.

"They should have more knowledge of life than to allow this to continue, and that is what is showing up negatively against them.

"But it is understandable he survived because of the way he runs the FIA."

Even pleas from Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone fell on deaf ears as Mosley stood his ground.

"That just shows you what is wrong with the FIA," added Stewart.

"No other organisation in the world would put up with that, but he is so powerful within the FIA.

"Very high standing people, like race team owners, team principals, team managers and drivers are frightened to speak out. That's wrong isn't it?

"That's the negativity within the FIA because they should be able to put their own house in order, but nobody is prepared to stand up.

"That's a bad sign - the bully factor."

Stewart claims confidence within the commercial side of the sport is not high due to Mosley's continued presence, and at a time when the economics of the world are far from healthy.

"Formula One is the world's largest capital investment sport," said Stewart.

"In Monaco, chairman and CEOs who traditionally attend did not appear because Max announced he would be there.

"There were others who had people working for them who made sure they would not be confronted or photographed shaking hands with Max Mosley.

"That's no way for the sport to behave.

"The FIA needs to be run by full-time, fully-paid executives, and completely restructured to provide correct corporate governance that is totally transparent."

Former Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart also feels Formula One is now "without credibility" while Mosley remains in office.

Even Stirling Moss, who concedes to liking Mosley and appreciates what he has achieved for motoring around the world, not just F1, does not think his position "is tenable".

"It's a great shame for him because he has done an enormous amount for motoring, and I'm not just talking motor racing because it's a small part of what the FIA does," Moss told the BBC.

"He is going to be extremely difficult to replace because he has a lot of knowledge, has helped a lot of people and got a lot of good things going in motoring.

"That will be a difficult thing to have to face.

"I personally know and like him, and as far as I'm concerned he is an interesting and amusing person, but he can't hold the stature he did before."

ECCLESTONE PLEA TO MOSLEY

MOSLEY VOTE COULD BE TOO CLOSE TO CALL

PATIENT KOVALAINEN PLAYING WAITING GAME

Kovalainen - not stressed.

Heikki Kovalainen is adamant he is not becoming stressed at his failure to win a Formula One grand prix.

Kovalainen has had his fair share of problems since switching to McLaren for this season following his release from Renault.

But the 26-year-old is now suddenly finding himself playing second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton due to his team-mate's blistering pace.

In the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on Sunday, Kovalainen let eventual winner Hamilton pass, even though he was running fourth at the time.

It was Hamilton's fourth victory of the season, whilst Kovalainen is still waiting to stand on the top of the podium for the first time after 27 races.

"I just need to find my own way. It will happen sooner or later," said Kovalainen.

"The fact is I've already been in a position to win a few times, and there will be opportunities again.

"I just need to crack those opportunities when they come, take them better than I have done so far, to make sure I don't waste them."

Fellow Finn and two-time former champion Mika Hakkinen had to wait until his 96th race in his seventh season before savouring victory with McLaren.

Kovalainen feels there is a lesson to be learned, adding: "I've patience, and if I have to wait until my 96th race then I will wait.

"But I'm not stressing about it at the moment. I just need to keep my concentration, stay on the right track and it will eventually happen.

"I can wait, if that's the case."

Kovalainen at least knows he should be in a better position than at present as he currently lies sixth in the drivers' standings with 28 points, 30 behind Hamilton.

But although his own title chances are fading fast, he is refusing to throw in the towel.

"At this point of the season I was planning to have more points, but many things have happened, some technical issues, accidents," remarked Kovalainen.

"So the most important thing is to keep focused, to keep working, to drag ourselves into a position to win.

"I'm still pushing to the maximum to score more points than the others, and you never know. Anything can happen in Formula One.

"So there's no point giving up or feeling sorry for myself. I will keep fighting."

KOVALAINEN REMAINS DEFIANT

KOVALAINEN BACKED TO SHINE

HAMILTON PREACHES EQUAL RIGHTS

GLOCK READY TO RETURN TO ACTION

Glock after his horror smash.

Timo Glock will be back behind the wheel of his Toyota on Thursday just four days after his horror smash in the German Grand Prix.

In front of his home crowd, Glock hurtled backwards into a concrete wall along the main straight at Hockenheim due to a fault the team have now traced to the right-rear toelink/trackrod.

The car was destroyed on impact before finally coming to rest on the opposite side of the circuit in front of the main grandstand.

The 26-year-old spent Sunday night in hospital in Ludwigshafen for precautionary checks before being allowed to return home on Monday for rest and further medical tests.

Those tests have confirmed Glock suffered no injuries or concussion, and he will now drive on the third day of this week's four-day test at Jerez.

Explaining the accident, Glock said: "I was running well and looking set for the points, but I ran a little wide on the last corner of lap 35.

"That wasn't a major problem because most cars were doing that at some stage in the race, but I just felt the back of the car go.

"I tried to catch it, but I was not able to. I had no control at that point and was just a passenger.

"When I saw it later on TV I could see something broke in the right rear suspension. Actually, it looked worse on TV than it really was.

"I am fine now. I spent Sunday night in the hospital, but only so the doctors could complete their checks.

"They ran X-rays and an MRI scan and found no problems at all, so I went home on Monday morning for some rest and more checks with my doctor.

"It was a really hard impact and my back hurt immediately after I got out of the car, but now it is fine."

Although the team are conducting further analysis on the problem that led to the shunt, Glock has no fears for the future.

"I'm not at all concerned because I trust the team completely," added Glock.

"We are all working together to improve the car performance and reliability.

"I am looking forward to getting back in the car tomorrow. It is an important test and I am pleased I can contribute.

"Then of course I will be racing in Hungary where I expect the same strong performance level and hopefully a points finish."

GLOCK WILL RACE ON

COULTHARD NOT READY TO RETIRE

GLOCK HOPES TIME HAS COME

RAIKKONEN TO SEE OUT FERRARI DEAL

Raikkonen - will stay for 2009 season.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen has insisted he will see out his Ferrari contract.

Speculation is rife Raikkonen is poised to quit Formula One at the end of the season amid claims he has become bored with the sport and is eager to seek new challenges.

But the 28-year-old has revealed he is unwilling to walk out on the team in the middle of a deal that runs until the end of next year.

Beyond 2009 however is another matter, despite the fact he earns a princely Ј20million per season.

"I'm not in a hurry to decide what I am going to do in the future," said Raikkonen, speaking to Spanish daily El Mundo.

"I have a year left on my contract that I want to fulfil. Later, in 2010, I do not know if I will be in F1. We will see.

"It is not an easy decision. I have to evaluate many things, and I am not going to give any explanation to anybody.

"I will make my decision when I am ready. Ferrari are not pushing me on this."

Raikkonen does not fear being bored should he quit, adding: "No, I'm calm.

"There are many things to do outside Formula One. I will find ways to amuse myself so I do not see any problem in using my free time."

Raikkonen concedes he is certainly happy at Ferrari, even if the team are currently in the middle of a slump and he has failed to win any of the last six grands prix.

"I enjoy it more here than anywhere before," remarked Raikkonen, who started with Sauber before moving on to McLaren.

"Each team is different - Sauber to McLaren, McLaren to Ferrari.

"They are different teams from different countries. If you went from one English team to another you would not appreciate the difference as much.

"But when you change countries, you do. They have different ways of working.

"I enjoy it at Ferrari. The people are pleasant, the atmosphere is fantastic and they take care of you.

"They give me my freedom, and that is one of the main reasons why I left McLaren. Here, they allow me to live my own life.

"They are also relaxed and optimistic. They always attempt to see the positive side of things."

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

RAIKKONEN IN RETIREMENT HINT

RAIKKONEN RATIONAL DESPITE BAD WEEKEND

Raikkonen - dismissed crisis talk.

Kimi Raikkonen has dismissed suggestions Ferrari are currently in the middle of a crisis.

For the second successive race Ferrari endured a wretched weekend and were comfortably out-performed by bitter rivals McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton swept to his fourth victory of the year, and eighth of his career to open up a four-point cushion over Felipe Massa at the top of the drivers' standings.

Massa could only manage third behind surprise runner-up Nelson Piquet in his Renault, with reigning world champion Raikkonen sixth, leaving the Finn seven points adrift of Hamilton.

In the constructors' championship, McLaren now trail Ferrari by 19 points, slashing the deficit by 14 in the last two races.

Raikkonen, who was off the pace all weekend at Hockenheim, said: "This was definitely not the kind of race we had been hoping for.

"We have struggled all weekend and we have to try and understand why.

"Usually, our race pace is always good, but here that was not the case because I almost always suffered with a lack of grip.

"Only in the final stages did the situation improve a little bit, but it was never enough to be competitive.

"We have a test in Jerez this week, where we will try and improve the car so as to arrive in Budapest in better shape.

"But this is definitely not a crisis. We have to study carefully the handling of the car to understand if we have taken the right road in terms of development."

All within Ferrari were criticised following a woeful British Grand Prix display two weeks ago by president Luca di Montezemolo who is sure to be far from happy with this latest performance.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali knows the pressure is on, and he is eager to get to the root of the problems, but in a calm way.

"This was not a good day, and there's no point denying it," stated Domenicali.

"Our rivals were stronger than us and we have to work out why, without getting caught up in nebulous and superficial analysis.

"For the first time this season in a race we did not have the pace we had expected to run at, both with Kimi and Felipe.

"We suffered constantly from lack of grip, and in the final stages, Felipe's brakes were also overheating, complicating further the management of his car.

"We now have to work well over the coming days to react in the right manner to return to the level we were at just two races ago."

Massa, meanwhile, believes his team has taken "a step backwards," since he and Raikkonen enjoyed a one-two finish in France.

"It was a difficult race," said Massa.

"Right from the beginning Hamilton's pace seemed unbeatable, and I understood it would be very hard to beat him.

"We must try and understand why we have not been a match for our rivals this weekend.

"They have definitely improved, but I think this was more a case of us having taken a step backwards.

"However, we are still confident. We have the ability to get out of this situation, right from the next race."

HAMILTON: I NAILED IT

RAIKONNEN HOPES FOR DRY WEEKEND

SLICK PERFORMANCE FROM VETTEL

Vettel - impressive again.

Sebastian Vettel set the pace in testing at Jerez for the second successive day as the Toro Rosso driver underlined the potential impact of new tyre regulations for next season.

With slick tyres to make a return to Formula One in 2009, Vettel spent the entire day on the rubber, posting the quickest time of his 100 laps in one minute 18.843 seconds.

In temperatures hitting 34 degrees Celsius, McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa ran for 122 laps, with his best also on slicks, 0.218secs slower than Vettel.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was the fastest on grooved tyres, but was 0.603secs adrift of young German Vettel who will be driving for Red Bull next season.

Williams' Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber for Red Bull and Honda tester Alex Wurz, who were the only other drivers who ran on slicks at various stages, were fourth, fifth and sixth quickest.

Jarno Trulli in his Toyota and Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi were seventh and eighth overall, around 1.7secs down, with Renault's Nelson Piquet ninth.

BMW Sauber, who yesterday abandoned testing after one of their mechanics suffered an electric shock from a device due to become standard for next season, at least completed a full day.

The mechanic was forced to spend the night in a local hospital after coming into contact with a hybrid version of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System).

The device recovers energy generated under braking and stores it in a battery to be channelled back into the car.

BMW Sauber test driver Christian Klien eventually finished just over two seconds off Vettel's pace with a time of 1:20.850secs.

VETTEL TOP OF JEREZ TESTING

RED BULL SET JEREZ PACE

RED BULL SET JEREZ PACE

Webber - set the pace.

The Red Bull family continued its domination of this week's Formula One test in Jerez.

After Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheets over the first two days at the southern Spanish circuit, it was Mark Webber's turn to lead the way on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Australian, who will be partnered at Red Bull next season by Vettel, set a best lap time of 1:19.176 on slick tyres as teams prepare for a return to the rubber for 2009.

Webber edged out Renault's Nelson Piquet into second by 0.158secs, with the Brazilian, who finished runner-up in Sunday's German Grand Prix, also on slick tyres.

For the second successive day Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was third fastest on normal grooved tyres, finishing just over a quarter of a second behind Webber.

Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi was fourth as the team continue to successfully trial their seamless shift gearbox this week in readiness to debut at next weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Pedro de la Rosa, who caused one of three red flags by running off at the chicane early on in his McLaren, was down in fifth, followed by Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais and Williams' Kazuki Nakajima.

Timo Glock returned to action following his horrific shunt during Sunday's race at Hockenheim after being given the all clear by doctors.

"It was good to get back in the car and that was a positive day's testing for us," said Glock, who was eighth quickest of the 10 drivers on track.

"We pushed hard in the morning and were able to get through most of our plan for the day before lunch.

"The main thing is I've made a full recovery from my accident and I feel fine."

Honda's Rubens Barrichello, who had an engine problem late on, was down in ninth, with BMW Sauber again bringing up the rear with Nick Heidfeld 1.720secs adrift.

VETTEL TOP OF JEREZ TESTING

SLICK PERFORMANCE FROM VETTEL

REACTION: RED BULL, TORO ROSSO, FORCE INDIA

VETTEL TOP OF JEREZ TESTING

Vettel - good warm-up for Hungary.

Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel topped the first of four days of testing in Jerez in preparation for next month's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The German's time of one minute 19.844 seconds put him ahead of McLaren test driver Gary Paffett by one-third of a second.

Luca Badoer used a slick tyre run in the afternoon to set the third fastest time of 1min 20.697secs for Ferrari, with Williams tester Nico Hulkenberg and his Red Bull opposite number Sebastien Buemi both lapping in the 1:20.9 range.

Jarno Trulli was the only other regular race driver in action, with Alex Wurz in the Honda and Christian Klien in the BMW Sauber in eighth and ninth places respectively.

RED BULL SET JEREZ PACE

SLICK PERFORMANCE FROM VETTEL

SHOCK FOR SAUBER MECHANIC

MOSLEY WINS PRIVACY ACTION

Mosley - won privacy action.

Formula One boss Max Mosley on Thursday won his privacy action against the News of the World.

The newspaper, which had accused the 68-year-old son of the 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley of taking part in a "sick Nazi orgy" with five prostitutes, must now pay him a record Ј60,000 compensation.

Mr Justice Eady did not make an additional award - which would have been unprecedented in invasion of privacy cases - of punitive exemplary damages.

Mr Mosley, president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile), did not dispute taking part in the sadomasochistic roleplay at a rented Chelsea basement flat, but said it was consensual and private, with no Nazi overtones.

He said his life was devastated by the March expose and by the newspaper putting secretly-filmed footage of what it called a "truly grotesque and depraved" event on its website, attracting at least 3.5 million hits at the last count.

James Price QC told London's High Court that the "gross and indefensible intrusion" by the tabloid in its role as a titillating Peeping Tom was made substantially worse by the false suggestion that Mr Mosley was playing a concentration camp commandant and a cowering death camp inmate.

The newspaper's editor, Colin Myler, said he believed the story was one of "legitimate public interest and one that I believe was legitimately published" and that it was "absolutely not true" that the newspaper had fabricated the Nazi aspect.

Mr Mosley was in court but showed no emotion at the ruling.

MOSLEY TO SUE NEWS OF THE WORLD

STAR WITNESS FAILS TO APPEAR

COURT TOLD OF ‘NAZI’ THEME

ROSBERG STAYS UPBEAT

Rosberg - enjoyed weekend.

Williams
Nico Rosberg: Even though it's not great to go home without any points, it was a good race. It was a bit difficult at the beginning as I had a technical problem at the start which cost me a place. From then on I was pretty comfortable, and I was able to push hard when I had free track - the car felt good, but then with the safety car the order was mixed up quite a bit. Regardless, it was great to race here in front of the German fans, and the atmosphere was amazing. We now have a few races ahead of us where I am sure we can do well and our performance will improve."

Kazuki Nakajima: It was a difficult race for us today with something happening in every stint. First of all I lost a bit of time early on and I was stuck in the traffic for a long time. It would have also helped if the safety car had stayed out a bit longer so I could have made my stop. Then finally, in the last stint, I picked up some debris under the car which was causing bad understeer and I lost a place. Eventually, whatever it was under the car came free and the balance returned but by then it was too late."

Force India
Giancarlo Fisichella: In the first part of the race I was not comfortable with the car as I was struggling with the grip and it was understeering and oversteering with some wheelspin, but then at the end of the run it was getting better. On the soft tyre it was a step forward. The team made a good move for me with the strategy under the safety car and I could make up some places after I pitted and the others went in. I could have finished perhaps one place higher up, but unfortunately I locked up through turn eight and lost a position, but all the same it's nice to get a finish and to be racing again."

Adrian Sutil: I'm a bit disappointed as I think we had a good race pace but didn't ultimately get anything out of it. We lost some time on the first pit stop and then with the safety car we couldn't pit at the right moment and then couldn't catch up again so I lost 10 seconds or so. In my last stint something didn't feel right in my car, so we will have to investigate what happened, so it was not the best race, but at least we finished it

HEIDFELD STAYS FOCUSED

GREAT RESULT FOR HEIDFELD

McLAREN CHIEF HAILS HEIKKI

Kovalainen - let Hamilton through.

Heikki Kovalainen's "sportsmanship" has been hailed by McLaren F1 chief executive Martin Whitmarsh following Lewis Hamilton's German Grand Prix victory.

Hamilton was indebted to Kovalainen late in the race at Hockenheim after the 23-year-old emerged behind his Finnish team-mate after his second pit stop.

Kovalainen, running fourth at the time, had every right to hold his station and fight for a potential podium finish.

But with Hamilton lightning quick, Kovalainen pulled to one side at one point, allowing Hamilton to pass and proceed to hunt down Felipe Massa and Nelson Piquet to claim victory.

Kovalainen's manoeuvre was questioned at the time as it appeared he had been told by the team to give way, which Whitmarsh maintains was far from the case.

"The reality in that particular situation was that Lewis was quicker than Heikki on the day," said Whitmarsh.

"When Lewis came up behind him, Heikki was sporting enough to move over - even though it must have been an incredibly difficult decision for him to make in the cockpit.

"We're grateful for Heikki for showing the strength of character and sportsmanship to make that sacrifice - we're all aware how tough it must have been."

McLAREN FAITH IN HEIKKI

WHITMARSH DEFENDS DRIVERS

McLAREN DISMISS ROSBERG LINK

GERMAN GP CLOCKWATCH

Glock crashes on lap 36.

Lap 67: Please join us again on August 3rd for the Hungarian GP

Lap 67: Felipe Massa is third, ahead of Nick Heidfeld, Heikki Kovalainen, Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica. Seb Vettel takes the final points-paying position

Lap 67: The McLaren driver crosses the line to take the chequered flag ahead of Nelson Piquet Jr

Lap 67: Final lap at Hockenheim for Hamilton

Lap 66: Hamilton is driving by himself on his way to victory, five seconds ahead of Piquet Jr

Lap 65: The only other close battle is between Trulli, Rosberg, Alonso and Bourdais for ninth place

Lap 64: Heidfeld is still less than a second behind Massa but is unable to overtake

Lap 63: Trulli runs wide and Vettel takes P8 off him

Lap 62: Glock has been taken to a local hospital, however, Toyota are confident he'll be okay

Lap 61: Raikkonen overtakes Kubica for sixth place

Lap 60: Piquet Jr is urged to keep push but can't do anything to keep Hamilton at bay. Hamilton is leading the grand prix! Brilliant drive from the McLaren star!

Lap 59: Alonsp spins. He was P10 but loses a few places

Lap 58: Piquet Jr leads Hamilton by 2.1s

Lap 57: Hamilton is right on Massa's tail and looks up the inside of the Brazilian. The McLaren is much faster car and easily powers up the inside and pushes Massa out of the way. Massa fights back but is again pushed wide and loses too much ground. Hamilton's next target is Piquet Jr

Lap 56: Hamilton has already caught Massa, who is struggling for pace. Hamilton is over a second lap faster

Lap 55: Piquet Jr is leading the German GP!

Lap 54: Hamilton now has the job of chasing down Massa and Piquet Jr as Heidfeld pits from the lead

Lap 53: Heidfeld, who is leading the grand prix, does a new fastest lap time - a 1:15.987

Lap 53: Kovalainen is told to move aside for Hamilton and let his team-mate through, which he does

Lap 52: Nick Heidfeld, Piquet Jr and Felipe Massa are now the top three drivers in the race!!!

Lap 51: Hamilton pits for 6.6s and puts on the softer option tyres. He comes out in fifth place behind Kovalainen

Lap 50: Barrichello and Coulthard collide. Barrichello loses his front wing and will need to pit for repairs. Coulthard was put into a spin and also needs to pit for repairs

Lap 49: Alonso has closed in on Rosberg while Raikkonen has caught Kubica

Lap 48: Massa, though, isn't even close to Piquet. He's 1.2s behind the Renault driver and unless he finds some pace he will give Hamilton enough time to make a stop and still take the lead

Lap 47: Massa needs to get by Piquet as the Brazilian is holding him up. He is 1.5s a lap slower than Hamilton. Raikkonen overtakes Trulli with ease

Lap 46: Raikkonen uses his straight line speed to overhaul Vettel for eighth place

Lap 45: Alonso is trying to come back at Rosberg but the German has the advantage. Raikkonen is now attacking Vettel

Lap 44: Raikkonen takes 9th place off Alonso. Rosberg is the next to overtake Alonso. Great fight

Lap 43: Kovalainen is trying to pass Kubica for fifth place. Heikki manages to squeeze through

Lap 42: Restart and Hamilton easily takes it. Heidfeld behind him, followed by Piquet Jr and Massa. Alonso and Vettel are figthing for eighth place

Lap 41: Safety Car is in end of this lap. Webber retires. Parking his stricken Red Bull on the side of the track

Lap 41: Very strange move from McLaren as when the race restarts Massa will be a few cars behind Hamilton but Hamilton will need to stop

Lap 40: Toyota doctor is on his way to see Glock who is in the medical centre

Lap 39: Alonso complains to Renault that Vettel pushed him

Lap 38: Hamilton doesn't pit! Massa, Kovalainen, Raikkonen and basicly all the top runners pit. Battle in the pits as a Toyota is bumped by a Renault. The Renault is then pushed wide. And Webber's is smoking badly. It looks like his engine is about to go

Lap 38: Pit lane is open and all the teams are ready to pit

Lap 37: Glock is helped out of his car. The Toyota driver looks both stunned, winded and maybe hurt his lower back. Concern from the Toyota garage

Lap 36: Safety Car is out for a huge crash for Timo Glock. The German's rear suspension failed, sending him hurtling across the track and backwards into the wall along the pit straight. Huge damage to the car, which also sustained left side impact, and the Toyota will probably be feeling the effects of the crash

Lap 35: Hamilton comes up to lap a backmarker. It's Barrichello and the Honda driver easily moves asided to let him through

Lap 35: Nakajima is having a scruffy afternoon and is off the track again. Second incident of the day for the Japanese driver

Lap 34: Vettel is told by his team that Trulli will pit three laps earlier than him which means he could leapfrog the Toyota driver in the second stops

Lap 33: Alonso is urged to get ahead of Glock and into the final points-paying position

Lap 32: Barrichello and Button are fighting over 16th place - great battle beteween the two Honda drivers

Lap 31: Barrichello pits which means everyone barring Piquet Jr has pitted this afternoon

Lap 30: Nakajima pits for Williams. Not a great afternoon for the Grove team as Nakajima is P18 and Rosberg isn't much better in 16th place

Lap 29: Glock, the best-placed German driver at present, pits from third place - the last of the top ten to pit. He puts on softs and comes out behind Vettel

Lap 28: Heidfeld pits from fifth place and comes out ahead of Barrichello. Fisichella also pits

Lap 27: Hamilton is once again leading the grand prix and has a 10s lead over Massa

Lap 26: Sutil pits from 18th place

Lap 25: Alonso is fighting with Vettel for position. He had been ahead of the STR driver prior to the first pit stops

Lap 24: Webber pits as does Bourdais

Lap 23: Raikkonen pits for 8.0s. He puts on the softer tyres and comes out ahead of a BMW

Lap 22: Kovalainen pits from the lead. He comes out between Glock and Heidfeld. Vettel pits as well

Lap 21: Massa leads but now pits. He's in for 7.9s and puts on the softer option tyres. He comes out ahead of a Red Bull

Lap 20: Toyota mechanics are out for Trulli. He pits. Alonso also pits

Lap 19: Kubica pits

Lap 19: Hamilton pits from the lead. The McLaren driver puts on the hard tyres, is in for 9.0s and gets back out in front of Jarno Trulli. Trulli, though, gets ahead of the Mclaren man

Lap 18: Nakajima in 18th place spins his Williams around. However, he gets it facing forward and continues in the race although he loses a place to Piquet and Hamilton

Lap 17: Another new fastest lap for Hamilton, a 1:16.039

Lap 16: Alonso is right behind Raikkonen on the track with less than a second between the two World Champions

Lap 15: Kubica is closing in on Kovalainen for third place, slowly eating into the gap while Trulli is looking comfortable in fourth with Raikkonen unable to close the gap

Lap 14: Hamilton continues to storm away at the front. His lead is now up to 9.5s

Lap 13: Coulthard has overtaken Button for 13th place. He is already putting space between himself and the Honda

Lap 12: Toyota asked Trulli to put his foot down as they need a bigger gap to Vettel in P8 before their first pit stops

Lap 11: Unless Ferrari are heavily fueled the team is in trouble. Massa is falling off from Hamilton with every lap while Raikkonen is unable to pass Trulli and is in fact slower than the Toyota driver

Lap 10: Hamilton does a new fastest lap, a 1:16.078

Lap 9: Barrichello is also coming under pressure with Nakajima and Piquet Jr right behind him

Lap 8: Coulthard again closes up on Button, looking for a way through. Great battle between F1's Brits while the other Brit, Hamilton, leads

Lap 7: Coulthard tries to pass Button but instead loses momentum and comes under pressure from Rosberg. DC and Jense almost connected as the Red Bull driver tired to slide up the inside

Lap 6: The two Force Indias are the last drivers in the pack down in 19th and 20th places with Fisichella having overtaken Sutil

Lap 5: A train of four cars are lined up behind Trulli including Raikkonen, Alonso, Vettel and Mark Webber

Lap 4: Hamilton is flying. He already has a 3.7s lead over Massa with Kovalainen a further 2.7s adrift

Lap 3: Alonso tries to overtake Trulli and almost connects with the Toyota driver. The ensuing braking allows for Raikkonen to get through and he's up to fifth

Lap 2: Coulthard manages to get by Rosberg while Barrichello overtakes Nakajima

Lap 1: Bad start from Coulthard, who driopped from 10th to 15th while Kubica and Bourdais both had great starts

Lap 1: Hamilton easily takes the lead and chops across Massa to keep the Brazilian at bay. Kovalainen is all over the back of Massa and is determined to get by. Massa, though, has the pace to hold him at bay. Kubica is fourth with Trulli, Alonso and Raikkonen behind him. Vettel completes the top eight

START: And it's go at Hockenheim

13h03: The drivers line up on th grid ready for the start

13h02: Jarno Trulli and Robert Kubica are the only drivers in the top ten starting on the softer option tyres. Both Ferraris are on the harder tyres

13H00: The formation lap is underway, all 20 drivers get off the grid without problems

12h58: Air temp is 22'C, track is 31'C

12h55: The grid is being cleared of all non-essential personnel

12h50: Five Germans are lining up on today's grid: Seb Vettel in 9th place, Timo Glock is 11th, Nick Heidfeld 12th, Nico Rosberg 13th and Adrian Sutil is 19th

12h45: Former F1 Champs Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen are both present here this weekend. While Schumi is once again on the Ferrari pit wall, Hakkinen is seen chatting to McLaren co-owner Mansour Ojjeh

12h40: The two McLarens are starting on the harder option tyres

12h35: Although the sun is out at the moment, rain is expected later today. But it remains to be seen whether it will come during the grand prix. Some teams are reportedly expecting a wet finish to the race

12h30: Pit lane is now open for the drivers to make their way to the grid. It will remain open for 15 minutes

12h25: His team-mate Heikki Kovalainen is third after a small mistake in qualifying cost him the chance of challenging for pole

12h15: Lewis Hamilton is starting the grand prix from pole position having pipped Felipe Massa to the line by 0.193s

12h05: Today's race takes place over 67 laps, totaling 306.458kms

12h00: Welcome to coverage of the 2008 German GP, which this year takes place at the Hockenheim circuit

KOVALAINEN EDGES OUT MASSA

FRENCH GRAND PRIX - LAP-BY-LAP

LEWIS SETS EARLY PACE

SHOCK FOR SAUBER MECHANIC

There was a shock for a BMW Sauber mechanic.

A BMW Sauber mechanic sustained minor injuries after suffering an electric shock from a car fitted with a device which is set to become commonplace in Formula One from next season.

The incident occurred on the first morning of a four-day test at the Jerez circuit in Spain and raised concerns over the safety of the new Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) device.

The device recovers energy generated under braking and stores it in a battery to be channelled back into the car.

The unnamed mechanic reportedly received his shock after touching a hybrid version of the 2008 BMW Sauber fitted with a KERS system and piloted by test driver Christian Klien.

A BMW Sauber spokesman told www.autosport.com: "During the testing of the KERS car at the Jerez test track today, there was an incident involving a mechanic when the car returned to the pits. He touched it and suffered an electric shock.

"He sustained slight injuries to his left hand and grazing on his left arm. After a brief examination at the track's medical centre, he has returned to the test team. We are currently investigating the incident."

The incident comes just days after parts of the Red Bull Racing factory had to be evacuated after overheating problems arose during a KERS system test.

HAMILTON TARGETS SHOCK FRENCH WIN

BADOER REIGNS IN SPAIN

RAIN PROVES A REAL TEST

HAMILTON: I NAILED IT

Hamilton - thrilled with win.

McLaren
Lewis Hamilton: I nailed it this afternoon: when the team told me I had to build a 23-second gap in just seven laps, I knew I had to drive over the limit - and I did. But I knew we had the best car this weekend and felt comfortable pushing hard to make up the gap. In the final stint, I had to work for today's win - when the Safety Car came out, I questioned whether I should pit but I trusted the team to make the best decision on strategy. It didn't quite work out - but I knew we had the pace in the car to keep pushing and want to say a big thank-you to Heikki, who realised I was quicker. I was able to slipstream past Felipe and then thought my work was done; then I had to do it all again to get past Nelson. But I made a couple of textbook moves to get past them both. Everybody in this team has worked so hard to make this victory happen. We mustn't grow complacent but must feel assured that our efforts are being rewarded. We couldn't have asked for more today."

Heikki Kovalainen: A very difficult race for me. I had a good start and almost managed to pass Felipe but, unfortunately, my speed was not good enough, and I couldn't make the tyres work to their best. The Safety Car period didn't help me either, and I lost positions during my pitstop. Then I lost time behind Kubica. However, I managed to overtake him again two laps later and, from then on, it was a rather uneventful race. Fifth position was not what I had hoped to achieve here, but I am now looking forward to the Hungarian Grand Prix, where I will try my hardest to fight for a podium finish."

Ferrari
Felipe Massa: It was a difficult race. Right from the beginning, Hamilton's pace seemed unbeatable and I understood that it would be very hard to beat him. I never had good grip and, in the final stages, I also had brake problems and was not even able to attack Piquet, whom I congratulate on the first podium of his career. We must try and understand why, this weekend, we have not been a match for our rivals. They have definitely improved, but I think this was more a case of us having taken a step backwards. However, we are still confident: we have the ability to get out of this situation, right from the next race."

Kimi Raikkonen: This was definitely not the kind of race we had been hoping for. We have struggled all weekend and we have to try and understand why. Usually, our race pace is always good, but today that was not the case, because I almost always suffered with a lack of grip: only in the final stages did the situation improve a little bit, but it was never enough to be competitive. We have a test in Jerez, where we will try and improve the car so as to arrive in Budapest in better shape. This is definitely not a crisis, but we have to study carefully the handling of the car to understand if we have taken the right road in terms of development."

Renault
Nelson Piquet Jr: I am obviously very happy! After qualifying yesterday I was thinking that my weekend was over, but we opted for an aggressive strategy in the race and the team made some great decisions when the safety car came out. Then I had to concentrate to keep my pace up and look after my tyres as much as possible towards the end of the race. I knew that Lewis was much faster than me, so I did not want to take any pointless risks. This second place today is a great reward for the whole team."

Fernando Alonso: That was a difficult race for me. I had a bad start and lost several positions. Then I was on the pace but it was difficult to recover. I think that we were simply out of luck today, but we must now look forward and concentrate on the next grand prix."

RAIKKONEN HAPPY TO CUT AND RUN

NIKI LAUDS HAMILTON WIN

REACTION: FERRARI, McLAREN AND BMW

HAMILTON ENJOYS LIFE IN FAST LANE

Hamilton celebrates at Hockenheim.

Lewis Hamilton hailed what he described as McLaren's "best weekend" this season following a superb German Grand Prix victory.

Hamilton went from cruise control to fighting like a tiger to take the chequered flag at Hockenheim following a horror smash involving Toyota's Timo Glock on lap 35 of the 67-lap race.

In front of his home fans, Glock hurtled backwards into a concrete wall along the start-finish straight after a section of the right rear of his car gave way emerging out of the final corner.

It brought the safety car into play, with McLaren's strategists at the team's headquarters in Woking deciding he did not need to stop when the pit lane re-opened, unlike 11 others who dived in.

That almost cost Hamilton as the safety car stayed out longer than anticipated, so when he did finally pit for a second time 17 laps from home, he was relegated from the lead to fifth.

Although Hamilton was aided by team-mate Heikki Kovalainen allowing him by, and a Nick Heidfeld pit stop, he showed frightening pace to catch and stunningly pass Felipe Massa and Nelson Piquet late on.

"I think it has been our best weekend up until now," said Hamilton who was dominant in practice and qualifying.

"We have been very strong throughout, as we were in the recent test here.

"The team have done a great job, and we are really on top of our game right now.

"But we cannot get too far ahead of ourselves. We have got a lot of work to do for the rest of the season.

"But if we can continue with this momentum we're looking very good.

"Now it's on to the next race, with Hungary a very good one for us, so fingers crossed."

The only blemish, if it can be described as such, was the decision to remain on track when taking on new tyres and fuelling to the end would arguably have suited Hamilton better.

But he refused to point too much of an accusing finger, adding: "We probably should have come in.

"But at the end of the day I don't understand exactly what's going on behind me, and I have to have full confidence in the guys telling me what to do.

"So I'm totally happy with the decision they made. We perhaps could have done a better job, but nevertheless we were quickest.

"Clearly, it made my job a little bit harder, but I told Ron (Dennis) 'that's what you hire me to do, that's what I'm here for'."

Renault's Piquet held on for second for the result of his career, keeping at bay Massa who now trails Hamilton by four points in the drivers' standings.

Behind the leading trio came Heidfeld, followed by Finns Kovalainen and Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari, who is seven points behind Hamilton.

Robert Kubica was seventh in his BMW Sauber and is 10 points off the pace, with Sebastian Vettel taking the final point for Toro Rosso.

David Coulthard and Jenson Button could only manage 13th and 17th for Red Bull and Honda respectively.

Glock, initially given the all clear following his accident, should be released from a local hospital today following an overnight stay as a precaution.

LEWIS PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER PIT CRASH

HAMILTON PAYS FURTHER PENALTY

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

NIKI LAUDS HAMILTON WIN

Hamilton - won praise from Lauda.

Niki Lauda feels Lewis Hamilton could become "unbeatable" following a "Senna-type" drive to win Sunday's German Grand Prix.

The three-times Formula One world champion has been blown away by Hamilton's last two performances that have given the 23- year-old McLaren star a four-point lead in the drivers' standings.

Lauda has previously been critical of the Briton, notably after wasting his chance to win the championship last year, and again following a mistake-riddled start to this season's title fight.

But Lauda feels Hamilton has managed to get his act together with wins in the British Grand Prix at a wet Silverstone a fortnight ago, and again at Hockenheim where he conjured two breathtaking moves late on.

"The race was won by Lewis and not by the team, because the team made it unnecessarily complicated," remarked Lauda on McLaren's pit-stop gaffe that almost cost Hamilton his latest success.

"Whatever excuse they will have, the other way was easier.

"But if he continues to drive like this, and not start fading like last year in the last couple of races, then he is going in the right direction, no question.

"It was an absolutely great race from him. Outstanding. Senna-type driving. Honestly, and he has now gone up in my estimation.

"Last year he was my favourite, but then he screwed up in the last couple of races and so didn't understand why he started (this year) as bad as he finished last year, but I think he's got the message now.

"From Silverstone and that difficult race, and in this difficult race, he has produced outstanding performances.

"So he is on the right track, and if he continues like this he is unbeatable."

Lauda feels Hamilton's confidence will now be soaring, and with the car comfortably quicker than Ferrari, the omens could not be better.

"Two wins like that calms you down," added the 59-year-old Austrian.

"The most important thing for him is to calm himself down, and not try to win everything with power and stress.

"But I think it will calm him down, and he will use his ability of driving quick in a way that he will drive races like this and continue.

"So if he and the team work together in this direction, Ferrari will not beat them."

Lauda instead reserved his strongest criticism for Kimi Raikkonen who could only manage sixth at the end of a miserable weekend.

The reigning world champion has failed to win any of his last six races in which he has only been on the podium twice, and now trails Hamilton by seven points.

"Kimi screwed up in practice, couldn't get the car going properly during the race, and lost important points," said Lauda.

"Whatever went wrong, it started in practice, and it never worked out for him during the race."

The speculation is Raikkonen is currently not up to speed as he is preparing to retire at the end of the year, a point mulled over by Lauda.

"I have no idea what he is thinking, what he is doing, but he will get his act together," said Lauda.

"But you have to get it together at every race if you want to be world champion. That is the key thing.

"You have to drive cleverly, take points and points and points and points, because in the end you need them all."

HAMILTON SHOW IMPRESSES STEWART

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

WEBBER BLASTS RULES

Webber - blasted the rules.

Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber has branded Formula One's safety car rules a "joke" and claims their influence on races has left the sport looking "amateurish".

The Australian's comments come in the wake of Nelson Piquet's fortuitous second-placed finish for Renault at Sunday's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

The Brazilian rookie was running down the order on a one-stop strategy after starting in 17th place, but took his pit stop one lap before the safety car was deployed after Toyota's Timo Glock suffered a big shunt coming onto the start-finish straight.

That effectively handed Piquet a free pit stop as he was able to close up on his rivals in the snake behind the safety car, and then got ahead of everyone bar eventual race winner Lewis Hamilton when the pit lane opened and most of the drivers pitted.

"The safety car threw up a bizarre result and I think the rules are a joke," Webber said in his column on the BBC Sport website.

"I was happy for Renault's Nelson Piquet that he finished second, given the start to the season he has had, but F1 is more professional and better than the rules we have for the safety car at the moment.

"It looks very amateurish when the guy who nearly wins the race starts 17th and only overtakes one car, Kazuki Nakajima's Williams, because he spun.

"For me, that is not what Formula One is all about.

"Nelson would be the first to agree that it was not a fully deserved second place."

Formula One's safety car procedures have come under scrutiny after a rule was brought in that sees the pit lane closed for the first few laps of safety car period in order to prevent drivers making for the pits at full speed while there are potential dangers on the track.

However, this has already resulted in the likes of Honda's Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld, of BMW Sauber, being penalised for taking their stops while the pit lane was closed as the only alternative was to run out of fuel on the track.

The sport's governing body, the FIA, and the teams have promised to take another look at the safety car rules, and Webber, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, believes changes cannot come soon enough.

"None of the drivers like the current system - we don't like to get flukey results," he continued.

"The teams and the FIA are trying to find a better way with the safety car but they are making heavy weather of it."

SUPER LICENCE TOO COSTLY - DRIVERS

PIQUET CLAIMS TOP TIME IN TESTING

GREAT RESULT FOR HEIDFELD

Heidfeld - pleased with fourth.

BMW
Nick Heidfeld: Coming fourth from 12th on the grid is a great result. Not making it into the top ten in qualifying meant we were free to choose our fuel load afterwards, and so we went for a rather long first stint. That's why I was able to stay out during the safety car period when almost everybody else was refuelling. That was certainly crucial as I was able to pull away as soon as the traffic was behind me. Before that I couldn't show my true speed as I never had a clear lap. The car was good and the fact that I set the fastest race lap proves it. In the end I was very close to Felipe, but still had no chance to overtake him. It was a good home race for me and I'm happy I could give something back to the fans who may have been disappointed by my qualifying performance yesterday."

Robert Kubica: It is difficult to be happy after a race like this. During the first half of the race I was able to match the pace of McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari. Suddenly my car's pace was miles too slow. My tyres lost lots of grip, and perhaps this was because my tyres cooled down too much. We now have to analyse the data."

Toro Rosso
Sebastian Vettel: It was a tough race with a lot of fights but it was big fun. The first lap was hard and close. I tried to pass Kimi, but it didn't work out. I took some time to find a rhythm but I had a wonderful car and could run a great pace. I was disappointed when I saw the Safety Car as I was comfortably holding a points position, but we did the best we could in the situation. I fought to the end and although I was quicker than Jarno I could not pass and then he made a mistake, which brought me back to eighth place. Congratulations to everyone in the team. Eighth with no retirements, means we deserved to finish where we did and I am proud of that."

Sebastien Bourdais: I am happy with this result in terms of the pace I could run, but I was a bit unlucky with the Safety Car incident, as I knew it would involve me queuing in the pits behind Sebastian. I was able to keep up with Heidfeld in the first stint and the lap times were decent. The car worked better on the Option tyre. Overall, I had a strong race and kept pushing, hanging on to take twelfth. So now, I need to repeat this sort of performance and hopefully have some good luck to see it move me further up the order."

HEIDFELD HOPES FOR BETTER

HEIDFELD: NO TEAM ORDERS AT BMW

GLOCK WILL RACE ON

Glock ios helped from the scene.

Timo Glock is certain to race in the Hungarian Grand Prix in two weeks' time despite a horror smash on home soil in Germany.

An investigation is currently under way inside Toyota after Glock was sent hurtling backwards into a concrete wall on lap 35 of the 67-lap race at Hockenheim.

Emerging out of the final corner, a section of the right rear of the car gave way, turning Glock into a passenger as all control was lost.

The car flew across the track, ploughing into the wall with severe force, obliterating most of it on impact before the vehicle then skidded to a halt on the other side of the circuit in front of the grandstand.

The 26-year-old eventually clambered out, but it was clear he was in considerable pain as he felt his lower back, which led to him being taken to the medical centre and on to hospital.

Although Glock has been cleared by scans and x-rays, he is to remain in hospital overnight as a precaution.

Toyota chairman and team principal Tadashi Yamashina said: "Timo is fine, thankfully, and that is the most important thing.

"Obviously it was a heavy impact and he did not get out of the car immediately, so he was taken to the circuit medical centre, as is the normal procedure in these incidents.

"There was no sign of any injury, but he was taken from there to a hospital for further precautionary checks, including X-rays.

"He has now completed these tests and they have confirmed he is fine, that he has no concussion, but he will be kept in hospital overnight.

"However, we are extremely confident Timo will be fit for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"Naturally he is a bit shaken by the accident, but all the checks have shown he is fine, so we are not worried about that."

However, Yamashina was unable to offer any insight into the cause of the smash.

"At the moment it is too early to determine exactly, but of course we are investigating," added Yamashina.

"The car was heavily damaged in the impact, so we will have to study the telemetry and look at video evidence."

GLOCK HOPES TIME HAS COME

TOYOTA TAKING RIGHT STEPS

MASSA: WE'LL FIND OUR FORM

The Ferraris have been struggling of late.

Felipe Massa is convinced Ferrari will show their true colours in Hungary following another grey performance in Hockenheim.

The Prancing Horse has been more Shetland pony during the last two grand prix weekends in which Lewis Hamilton has stolen the show.

Victories for the McLaren driver in Britain and, on Sunday, Germany have catapulted him into a four-point lead where previously there was a 10-point deficit.

In this year of swings and roundabouts in Formula One, it would not be a surprise to see Ferrari rediscover their form in a fortnight's time at the Hungaroring.

For Massa, there can certainly be no repeat of the last two races, especially at the weekend when the power of the McLaren and Hamilton's brilliance blew away the field.

Ferrari must now be at the races again in Hungary, otherwise the title could well be heading Hamilton's way, ending McLaren's nine-year drought.

"Yesterday was not a great day for us," assessed Massa.

"It was a difficult car to drive, and I don't know why. I'm sure we have a great car, but for some reason something was not working.

"Although it was very difficult in this race, that doesn't mean we will not be competitive in the next race.

"I'm sure we will be because we have been so competitive in many races this year. I'm sure we are going to regain our normal pace and we're going to fight again."

You would expect nothing less than that kind of talk from Massa, but Ferrari now have four days at the next test in Jerez - starting on Wednesday - to cure their ills.

Massa feels "hard work" will help get to the root of a problem team boss Stefano Domenicali is to evaluate in finite detail.

Troubled by the step up in performance found by McLaren, Domenicali said: "I don't want to make any premature assessment.

"We need to go deeply and analyse the reason for this situation because there is no easy solution.

"But what we have seen is something we haven't seen from the start of the season in terms of consistency and pace.

"It's clear McLaren have made another step forward in respect of the consistency during the race.

"During the weekend, in the long runs, they were pretty good. But on the other side, I'd say we were too slow and we have to understand the reason why."

MASSA BIDS TO AVOID MONTREAL WOE

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

MASSA MAKING MOST OF MONACO

HAMILTON KEEPING COOL

Hamilton - going for three in a row.

Lewis Hamilton knows now is the time for a cool, calm, collected head in the wake of back-to-back wins that have reignited his Formula One world title challenge.

It would be easy for euphoria to set in after Hamilton's majestic drives at Silverstone a fortnight ago and at Hockenheim on Sunday in which he has been in a league of his own.

Let us not forget that exactly four weeks ago Hamilton was being put through the proverbial wringer after failing to score in his previous two races.

The 23-year-old's on-track failures, as well as his private life, were being dissected from every angle, and at that stage it appeared he could do little right.

But four weeks on, Hamilton is now the toast of the sport again after taking a four-point lead in the championship in which he is now 4-7 to win the title.

But with eight races remaining, Hamilton knows as easily as the situation has remarkably turned in his favour, it could all go so horribly wrong again.

"It's too early to say that I'm now the man to beat," assessed Hamilton.

"We're looking strong, looking good, and we're in a good position, but as you know in a Formula One season things change, teams always make steps here and there.

"As you saw last year we were swapping and changing, so in the next few races I don't know what to expect.

"All I know is we will have a competitive car, and if we can keep challenging for wins, then great.

"I've said it before, but we've really transformed this year's car over the past six weeks.

"It's now so well-balanced and responsive, it just feels fantastic to drive. You can always trust it and get something more out of it.

"But I'm not going to say the other guys need to pull their finger out or something like that.

"All I know is we just need to keep on pushing, as simple as that, as I'm sure everyone else will.

"So far the team have done a great job, and we are really on top of our game right now.

"But we cannot get too far ahead of ourselves. We have got a lot of work to do for the rest of the season, although if we can continue with this momentum we're looking very good.

"Now it's on to the next race, with Hungary a very good one for us, so fingers crossed."

It was at the Hungaroring a year ago McLaren's season truly began to spectacularly unravel.

Hamilton was involved in a qualifying furore with then team-mate Fernando Alonso before going on to win the race.

It emerged later in the season team boss Ron Dennis had a bust-up with Alonso on the morning of the grand prix relating to the spy scandal that ultimately led to the Spaniard's departure.

But a year on, and with this year's race in Hungary on the horizon, Dennis said: "I think you can see there is harmony now."

It all bodes well for Hamilton to become the first British driver since Damon Hill at the start of the 1996 season to win three successive races.

"We've had a very dominant performance in Germany, and we will try and carry it," added Dennis.

"As I mentioned in France, we knew we would be strong in Britain and Germany, and we are working very hard to be strong in Hungary too.

"I can't see us being any less strong there, although the car will look a bit different, so we will see."

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

HAMILTON LEARNS FROM FINNS

HAMILTON LEARNS FROM FINNS

Hamilton - admires Finnish duo.

Lewis Hamilton believes he can learn a trick or two from the ice-cool nature of Finnish rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Heikki Kovalainen.

Hamilton also works with another Finn within McLaren in Aki Hintsa, who has the grandiose title of Head of Human Performance.

Prior to the start of the last two seasons, Hamilton has headed to Finland to be put through a rigorous training regime in order to be at peak fitness.

The 23-year-old concedes to enjoying the Finnish lifestyle, appreciating why a relatively small country has produced a number of outstanding drivers in various disciplines over the years.

"The mentality of Finnish people, and athletes specifically, there is a difference and you can take something from that," remarked Hamilton.

"When I go to Finland and see the way of life there, it's a great way of living, it's very quiet.

"I generally find myself going there and relaxing. It's so quiet by the lakes, sitting by the fire having sausages! It's a cool way of life.

"But when I play Heikki at tennis, you can see the way he thinks, and therefore how easy it is for them to keep their minds straight.

"You can learn from that, so it's a bonus for me to have the chance to work with a few Finnish people."

Ahead of tomorrow's German Grand Prix, Hamilton appears the man to beat following a dominant performance in yesterday's practice.

Hamilton finished more than 0.6 seconds quicker than Kovalainen at the end of the day, and had a 0.7secs advantage over Felipe Massa in the second session in particular.

Even though it is fair to assume he was on low fuel when he set his hot lap, it still represents a remarkable gap.

Given the improvement in McLaren's form since a test at Silverstone earlier this month, Hamilton is convinced he is far better equipped to mount a title challenge throughout the second half of this year compared to last season.

"I feel much, much better than last year. I feel much more positive and confident as a driver than I did last year," said Hamilton.

"We've made some good steps with the car, and we just need to keep on pushing and not forget that there is a long way to go.

"Yesterday was certainly a very productive day for us as a team. It was a very strong performance and showed we are very competitive with a strong package.

"We didn't have any problems. I feel good, I feel comfortable, I feel pretty relaxed.

"We've made some very good steps forward, but I don't think there will be a gap of seven tenths today (in qualifying). It will be very close, within a couple of tenths."

HAMILTON LEARNS FROM ROAD RAGE

HAMILTON LEARNS HARSH LESSON

HAMILTON CONFIDENT OVER TITLE CHANCES

LEWIS SETS EARLY PACE

Hamilton - good start at Hockenheim.

Lewis Hamilton set the pace in the opening practice session for the German GP as a fast drying track allowed the drivers to put in the mileage.

The McLaren driver clocked a 1:15.537 to edge his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen by 0.129s while Felipe Massa was third quickest, a further 0.130s off the pace.

Report: On a wet track made even more so by rain falling ten minutes into the session Nelson Piquet Jr set the first lap time of the session, a 1:35.054, before losing out to his team-mate Fernando Alonso. The times continued to tumble with Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and again Alonso all turning up the pace.

After thirty minutes the two Ferraris finally made their first appearance while the rain shower abated. Felipe Massa quickly moved to the top of the timesheets with a 1:27.824, however, he lost out seconds later as Kimi Raikkonen bettered his time by just over a quarter of a second.

Raikkonen continued to lap, a dry line forming, allowing the Finn to take over a second off his previous best. Massa, though, bettered his time, taking the P1 slot back as Rubens Barrichello, Timo Glock, Sebastien Bourdais and Alonso completing the top six at the halfway point of the session.

With the track drying out fast German driver Vettel was the first to use the dry tyres, immediately taking to the top with a 1:22.381, two and a half seconds up on Massa's best time on the intermediate tyres. Vettel continued to lap, taking another second off his time. His team-mate Bourdais was the next to put on the dry tyres, going second quickest

The two Toro Rosso drivers were overhauled by Force India's Adrian Sutil, one of five German's lining up on the grid this weekend. He was replaced at the top by another German with BMW's Nick Heidfeld taking his turn at the front before being overtaken by Sutil with Timo Glock, another German, going third quickest.

Glock improved to second place with Nico Rosberg taking third, which put all five German's in the top six with half an hour left to play.

The lap times tumbled in the final twenty minutes with Rosberg, Raikkonen, Mark Webber, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen all taking a turn at the top. The session eventually ended with Hamilton on top.

Times
01 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:15.537 21 laps
02 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:15.666 18 laps
03 F. Massa Ferrari 1:15.796 22 laps
04 F. Alonso Renault 1:16.163 22 laps
05 K. Rдikkцnen Ferrari 1:16.327 22 laps
06 N. Rosberg Williams 1:16.606 27 laps
07 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.618 24 laps
08 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:16.719 20 laps
09 K. Nakajima Williams 1:16.821 26 laps
10 N. Piquet jr. Renault 1:17.063 26 laps
11 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:17.108 18 laps
12 J. Button Honda 1:17.131 28 laps
13 T. Glock Toyota 1:17.185 28 laps
14 M. Webber Red Bull 1:17.268 11 laps
15 G. Fisichella Force India F1 1:17.471 30 laps
16 R. Barrichello Honda 1:17.500 24 laps
17 J. Trulli Toyota 1:17.556 29 laps
18 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:17.784 29 laps
19 R. Kubica BMW 1:18.779 8 laps
20 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:21.506 16 laps

HAMILTON SETS THE PACE

KOVALAINEN EDGES OUT MASSA

KIMI SETS PACE IN FRANCE

RAIKKONEN SHOWS APPROACH OF CHAMPION

Raikkonen - calm.

Kimi Raikkonen is currently enjoying a mental calmness that comes with being Formula One world champion.

Heading into the second half of the year, and embroiled in a three-way struggle for the lead with Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren, in one respect Raikkonen has an edge.

In comparison to his rivals, including BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica who is only two points behind, the Finn has been there, seen it, done it, and effectively wears the crown.

For Raikkonen, there is less stress that comes with having a bad race because he can at least claim to have won one world title.

That far from means he is not hungry for another, but the pressure is arguably not so great on the 28-year-old as it is on Hamilton, Massa and Kubica.

"Whatever happens, if I do not win the title this year then it is probably not going to hurt as much if I had not won it at all," said Raikkonen.

"Last year nobody really expected us to win, yet we still did, so even when we've had bad races this year I've not been too worried.

"That's because you can see how quickly the situation changes this year.

"Right now we are in a pretty good position, so it's up to us. We just have to do our best and hopefully it will be enough."

Although calmer within himself, Raikkonen does not feel he has any psychological advantage over his other rivals because he is unaware of how mentally strong they are or will be.

"I think everybody has a pretty good idea of how they should go about trying to win the title," remarked Raikkonen.

"Some people are stronger in the head in many ways and some not. As for me, I know I am pretty relaxed.

"I don't really think about anything too much. If I have a bad race I'll worry about it for a while, but it's not going to end my life.

"There are far more serious things to worry about than just races."

Which is why Raikkonen is not too concerned either at the fact he has not won any of the last five races.

The British Grand Prix at a wet Silverstone a fortnight ago was a case in point of one of those that got away as his team made a poor tyre choice at the first pit stop and he could only finish fourth.

Yet his philosophy is such that as far as Raikkonen is concerned, it was "not a disaster".

It means that going into the remaining nine races of the campaign, he is in a better position now compared to a year ago.

"I'm pretty happy," assessed Raikkonen, who could only manage the fourth quickest time at the end of the two practice sessions ahead of Sunday's German Grand Prix.

"But in races there are so many things that can happen. Sometimes things don't go exactly like you expect.

"So it's all open, with three guys on the same number of points and the fourth just two behind.

"Anything can happen. Probably it will be very close between all the guys to the end, and then if somebody has a bad race it could cost them a lot.

"For us, we could have had better results this season, but in the end we could be in a far worse position than we are now."

As far as president Luca di Montezemolo is concerned, he at least feels Ferrari should be in a far stronger position at present, and was highly critical of the overall poor performance at Silverstone.

But as Raikkonen noted: "He was not the only one who was upset.

"We wanted a better result, and we had all the options for that, but we made mistakes and it cost us - but that's racing."

Hamilton finished practice with the best time of the day, blitzing Hockenheim with a lap of one minute 15.025 seconds, finishing over 0.6secs quicker than Kovalainen, with Massa third.

RAIKKONEN LEAVES BEHIND MONACO BLOW

KIMI NOT EXHAUSTED BY FRENCH WOE

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

DENNIS SHRUGS OFF TACTICAL SLIP

Dennis - defended tactics.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis defended the actions of his strategists who almost robbed Lewis Hamilton of a German Grand Prix victory.

A team of planners at McLaren's headquarters in Woking told Dennis on the pit wall in Hockenheim to keep Hamilton on track after Timo Glock had wrecked his Toyota in a spectacular accident on lap 35.

Although 11 other drivers pitted once allowed to do so, including team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, Hamilton stayed out behind the safety car that had been deployed.

But to great surprise within McLaren, it remained on track longer than expected, throwing the team's plans into near disarray.

When Hamilton did pit 17 laps from home, he returned to the circuit in fifth place, but he then produced a rousing drive to take the chequered flag.

Dennis, who initially apologised to Hamilton over the team radio at the end of the race for making it "a little more difficult" for him, said: "There are two aspects to it.

"If you do one thing with one car, and something else with another, then one of the decisions is going to be right.

"At the time the safety car came out we had more than enough fuel to do a few safety laps and then pull out a lead.

"But the safety car stayed out three or four laps longer than we anticipated, and when it came in there wasn't enough time.

"But the thing is we have pace, and for most of the race we were lapping three quarters of a second faster than any other car.

"Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, maybe we should have double shuffled [one behind the other] the cars at the pit stop.

"But it's not what our strategists said, and that wasn't a decision taken from the pit wall, it was a decision taken in Woking."

Dennis also praised Kovalainen for allowing Hamilton past on lap 52 as the Briton had emerged behind the Finn after his second stop.

As team orders are banned in Formula One, Kovalainen was simply told Hamilton was much quicker, and so he took the decision upon himself to allow his team-mate by.

"The only thing we advise drivers is the respective pace of the other driver, and they ultimately call it," added Dennis.

"Lewis was nearly a second quicker than Heikki through the race, and when he was told Lewis was quicker, he just let him past.

"He knew that was the only way because the longer he would have held up Lewis, the more difficult it would have been for him to have regained the lead.

"It was a tremendous sporting gesture, and it's what being in a racing team is about.

"True team-mates do these things because that's the way they are."

There was no disguising Dennis' admiration for what then became a stunning performance from Hamilton to eventually claim his fourth win of the season, and eighth of his career.

"He did a fantastic race, no question about that," added Dennis.

"In the first stint he showed blistering pace and was comfortably quicker through the whole race."

HAMILTON WON’T LET STANDARDS SLIP

DENNIS APPLAUDS ‘PHENOMENAL’ LEWIS

KOVALAINEN EDGES OUT MASSA

Kovalainen - set fastest time.

Heikki Kovalainen ensured Lewis Hamilton did not have it all his own way in practice ahead of Sunday's German Grand Prix.

Hamilton dominated Friday's two 90-minute sessions, destroying his rivals around Hockenheim in posting a hot lap of minute 15.025 seconds to leave them trailing by over 0.6secs.

But McLaren team-mate Kovalainen set the benchmark in the closing hour-long session ahead of qualifying later today, although he was still half a second down on Hamilton's best.

The Finn, 24 points behind world championship leaders Hamilton and Ferrari duo Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, set a time of 1:15.621secs for the 4.574km track.

That was Kovalainen's best overall throughout the three sessions, edging Massa into second place by 0.072secs, with Hamilton third just over 0.2secs adrift.

Seemingly running on lower fuel settings, Renault's Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet were fourth and seventh, sandwiching Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel and Jarno Trulli for Toyota, with the quartet all setting their quickest times.

Mark Webber was 0.575secs down for Red Bull in eighth, with Raikkonen again suggesting he has yet to find his true form around this track as the reigning world champion could only manage ninth.

Behind the Williams of Nico Rosberg in 10th came Britons Jenson Button and David Coulthard for Honda and Red Bull respectively, in 11th and 12th, with both just over 0.8secs down.

BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, who spun into a tyre wall yesterday, had further problems with his car as his session ended 30 minutes in.

The Pole, who is two points behind the three championship leaders, managed only 15 laps before parking up in the garage, leaving him to prop up the timesheets with a lap 1.8secs slower than Kovalainen.

Times
01 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:15.621 18 laps
02 F. Massa Ferrari 1:15.693 21 laps
03 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:15.839 21 laps
04 F. Alonso Renault 1:15.943 18 laps
05 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.037 24 laps
06 J. Trulli Toyota 1:16.133 25 laps
07 N. Piquet jr. Renault 1:16.161 21 laps
08 M. Webber Red Bull 1:16.196 19 laps
09 K. Rдikkцnen Ferrari 1:16.380 19 laps
10 N. Rosberg Williams 1:16.405 20 laps
11 J. Button Honda 1:16.447 22 laps
12 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:16.515 19 laps
13 K. Nakajima Williams 1:16.530 18 laps
14 T. Glock Toyota 1:16.636 27 laps
15 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.808 23 laps
16 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:16.906 24 laps
17 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:16.938 20 laps
18 R. Barrichello Honda 1:17.189 20 laps
19 G. Fisichella Force India F1 1:17.312 22 laps
20 R. Kubica BMW 1:17.469 15 laps

RAIKKONEN PUTS FERRARI IN CHARGE

MASSA MASTERS SILVERSTONE

HAMILTON QUICKEST

RUBENS TARGETS GERMANY PODIUM

Barrichello - targeting podium finish.

Rubens Barrichello is not expecting a repeat of his maiden win at Hockenheim this weekend, but has not ruled out another podium to savour.

Back in 2000 Barrichello finally broke his victory duck, taking the chequered flag in the German Grand Prix at a time when he was with Ferrari.

Now with Honda, the odds on a triumph at the track on this occasion are exceptionally long, in particular if it is hot and dry.

But the forecast is for an unsettled weekend, and after his recent wet-weather heroics at the British Grand Prix, he could yet pull another surprise.

"It was fantastic to wake up on Monday after Silverstone and see the trophy," exclaimed Barrichello, who finished in the top three for the first time in three years.

"To step onto the podium again was an unexpected but deserved outcome to our British Grand Prix weekend and I was so pleased to have achieved the result for the team.

"However, we have to keep our focus and continue to improve the performance of the car as we are fully aware that our result at Silverstone was assisted by the wet conditions.

"With changeable weather this weekend, it can make for an exciting race and overtaking is possible, particularly under heavy braking."

Reflecting on his memories of his debut success, he added: "My first victory in Formula One came at Hockenheim back in 2000, so this circuit is very special to me.

"The layout changes mean it is a different venue now from the track that I used to enjoy so much, however, it's still a good circuit."

Honda boss Ross Brawn has conceded Barrichello's performance, and the team's first podium this season was "a big morale boost."

But he maintains realism has not been lost as he said: "Silverstone gave us the opportunity to combine driver experience and team performance to achieve a very well deserved podium finish.

"The team worked extremely well throughout the race to take advantage of the opportunities which opened up, aided by an excellent drive and outstanding tyre feedback from Rubens.

"Our first podium of the season was, of course, a big morale boost, however, it would be unrealistic to expect a repeat of this result in dry track conditions.

"But with changeable weather predicted for the weekend, as Rubens has mentioned, it could be an interesting race.

"Following the test at Hockenheim last week, we will be introducing the next step of aerodynamic, mechanical and engine performance upgrades for the car.

"The test allowed our engineers to gain a better understanding of our recent lack of qualifying pace, so we will be aiming for an improvement on our grid positions as the foundation for a strong race performance."

RUBENS EYES NEW DEAL

TOYOTA EYE FURTHER SUCCESS

BUTTON HOPES TO GET BACK ON TRACK

FORCE INDIA TURN TO 2009

Mallya - focus now on next year.

Force India boss Vijay Mallya is to turn his attention towards 2009 after conceding his team has given all they can for this year.

Aside from the introduction of a seamless shift gearbox, hopefully for the next race in Hungary, there will be no further improvements to this year's cars.

Since taking up the reins of the team at the end of last year and investing millions of pounds, Force India have taken steps forward.

However, they have failed to so far achieve any of Mallya's planned prime objectives for this season - reaching the second phase of qualifying and scoring points.

With the demise of Super Aguri they are now the grid's backmarkers, appreciably disappointing for Mallya and why the focus will now turn towards next year.

"As you know I inherited a team that was not very competitive in previous years," said Mallya.

"F1 has become a lot more competitive in 2008. You are fighting for fractions of a second and in this context we have improved.

"We have at least shown to ourselves, and to our fans in India, we are capable of improvement.

"Obviously, the question is, have we improved enough to score any points?

"All I can say is, we have given it all we reasonably could for 2008 and we have only one more element of development to come which is a seamless-shift gearbox which we hope to introduce for Hungary.

"Beyond that I have decided we will now concentrate on the 2009 car.

"Hungary is the last stop for us in terms of development for 2008 and then all the focus is on 2009 when we sure hope to score some points."

Mallya's financial input cannot be questioned, and he will not stop there as he bids to turn around the team's fortunes after years in the doldrums in various other guises.

"Things were run down in terms of budget and resources, but we then bumped it up somewhat for 2008," reviewed Mallya on the state of the team when he arrived.

"We have an increased budget for 2009, and as far as the human resources are concerned, we have added two senior engineers to our design team. We will add as many as we need to.

"We now have three wind tunnels running - one of our own and two that are leased facilities - so we are giving it all we can.

"When you have to compete with teams with significantly higher budgets and vast resources, you have to at least step up to the plate otherwise you won't get anywhere."

Mallya has also confirmed work is due to start on the building of the circuit outside New Delhi that will host the 2010 Indian Grand Prix.

"The news is quite positive," added Mallya.

"I happened to have lunch with the CEO of one of India's biggest banks and he confirmed they had sanctioned a facility to the developer of the Indian track.

"He has actually bought the land and on October 1 construction of a brand new track will begin.

"So for the first time now I feel very confident to be able to say to you there will be a brand new track and we will have our first grand prix in 2010."

SUTIL HEARTACHE SHARED BY MALLYA

REACTION: TORO ROSSO AND FORCE INDIA

RAIKKONEN SEARCHING FOR RIGHT SET-UP

Raikkonen - will start from sixth on the grid.

Kimi Raikkonen is hoping he does not run into yet another dead end in Sunday's German Grand Prix.

Reigning world champion Raikkonen starts from sixth on the grid for the 67-lap race at Hockenheim, his lowest position since the season-opener in Australia.

But that hardly came as a surprise as Raikkonen has so far failed to hook up his Ferrari on a track where McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has been thoroughly convincing and will start on pole.

Raikkonen has headed down a number of different routes in an attempt to get to the bottom of his problems on this circuit, but so far to no avail.

"All weekend long, we have been struggling a bit to find a good set-up for the car," said Raikkonen, currently level on points at the top of the drivers' standings with Hamilton and Felipe Massa.

"At the end of yesterday it seemed we were on the right road, and then this morning we tried to improve still further down this path, but it was not the right one.

"Then in qualifying, we went reasonably well with low fuel, but in the final session the car was not as good.

"Clearly sixth place is not satisfying and tomorrow we won't be in for an easy time, but it's definitely not the end of the world.

"It will be a long race tomorrow, and that's when the points are allocated. For our part, we will do all we can to finish well."

In contrast, team-mate Massa has been on the pace and starts second behind Hamilton, with Raikkonen also behind Heikki Kovalainen in his McLaren, Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Renault's Fernando Alonso.

"On the one hand we are satisfied with Felipe's position as he produced a good qualifying performance," said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

"But on the other hand we cannot feel the same about Kimi, who never managed to find the right balance on his car.

"To analyse the result objectively, one would need to know how much fuel the others have on board, but clearly, starting from the third row won't make life easy for Kimi.

"We will have to work with scrupulous attention over the next few hours to prepare for a race that looks like being a very tough one.

"I am sure both our drivers will give it their best shot and have a great race."

RAIKKONEN BACKS YOUTH

RAIKKONEN BACKS HAMILTON PENALTY

RAIKKONEN: FERRARI BETTER EQUIPPED

CONSISTENCY KEY TO TITLE, SAYS MASSA

Massa - consistency the key.

Felipe Massa believes consistency will be the key to a Formula One world title triumph this season.

Massa is currently embroiled in a three-way tie for the lead ahead of this weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

The Brazilian is level on points with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica also in the hunt just two points adrift.

Remarkably, all four drivers have endured their fair share of DNFs this season, with mistakes more than mechanical failures playing their part.

Massa feels the driver who eradicates those mistakes and rakes in a solid number of points in the remaining nine grands prix will claim the championship.

"When there are four drivers separated by just two points, one does not have a greater possibility to win the title over another," said Massa.

"Everybody is in the same boat and anything can happen, as we have seen this season, so it's exciting.

"None of us can afford to lose points as we all have. We know we must concentrate to avoid mistakes but be quick at the same time.

"But from now on, consistency will be the most important thing to the end of the season because everybody is so close.

"You need to concentrate to be consistent race by race because, if somebody doesn't score, then that might be your opportunity for the championship."

Massa gets back on track for today's practice sessions following a wretched British Grand Prix weekend.

It culminated in a race in which he spun an astonishing five times at a wet Silverstone mastered by Hamilton, trailing home 13th and last of those that finished.

The 27-year-old insists all thoughts of what unfolded are from his mind, although he is unable to explain why it all went so horribly wrong.

"What happened at Silverstone is definitely not in my mind," added Massa.

"Everybody can have a bad day but I had a bad weekend. It was very dark.

"It started on Friday with my crash, then on Saturday with the problem in the pit stop and then on Sunday it was a disastrous race.

"That is something you can't explain but that is part of sport as anybody can have a bad day just as they have a good day.

"That's what happened to me in the last race - I just hope it does not happen again.

"All I can say is I'm in with a good chance because I have a great car. I'm with a great team so I can fight for good points in every race."

HAMILTON SEEKS CONSISTENCY

MASSA VOWS TO MOVE ON

MASSA DETERMINED TO MOVE ON

HAMILTON SETS THE PACE

Hamilton - fastest in first practice.

Lewis Hamilton blitzed Hockenheim to tee himself up for back-to-back grand prix victories.

The McLaren star is currently on a high since his win on home soil in the British Grand Prix 12 days ago to take over the lead of the Formula One world championship, and it on Friday showed.

Although currently in a three-way tie with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, Hamilton has the edge on countback, and he is now determined to make it an outright advantage come Sunday's race in Germany.

There was little his title rivals could do as Hamilton dominated both practice sessions, ultimately posting a hot lap that was a remarkable 0.7 seconds quicker than Massa.

It is fair to say the 23-year-old was on low fuel, but as markers go, it was one that will have the likes of Massa and Raikkonen on edge.

After being quickest in the initial 90-minute morning session by 0.122secs to team-mate Heikki Kovalainen with a lap of one minute 15.537secs, Hamilton then put that in the shade in the afternoon.

In the dying moments Hamilton stopped the clock at 1:15.025, with Massa 0.697secs adrift, and Raikkonen a shade further back.

Kovalainen was fourth quickest, followed by Mark Webber in his Red Bull who was the only other driver to finish within a second of Hamilton such was his superiority.

Fernando Alonso was sixth fastest for Renault, followed by Nico Rosberg in his Williams, another of the title challengers in BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica and team-mate Nick Heidfeld.

David Coulthard completed the top 10 in his Red Bull, with Jenson Button 13th for Honda, again 1.5secs down on Hamilton as he was in the morning.

At least all 20 drivers enjoyed a change in weather and temperature in the afternoon as the sun finally emerged following leaden skies and early rain in the morning.

The conditions at the start of that session were a throwback to the race at Silverstone when Hamilton reigned in the rain.

Lap times were initially in the low to mid one minute thirties, but as the rain relented and the quick tyres were applied, so those times naturally tumbled.

Yet unlike at Silverstone where cars endured spin after spin, there was only one main casualty, that of Kubica.

On a virtually dry track, the Pole lost control of his car heading into the Agip Kurve before sliding sideways across the gravel and into a tyre barrier.

KIMI SETS PACE IN FRANCE

MASSA FASTEST IN PRACTICE

HAMILTON CONFIDENT OVER TITLE CHANCES

Hamilton - feeling good.

Lewis Hamilton feels he is far better equipped to mount a Formula One world title challenge throughout the second half of this year compared to last season.

After nine races of his debut campaign, Hamilton had not even been off the podium such was the runaway success of the then rookie.

That gave Hamilton a 12-point cushion over his rivals heading into the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring where his season slowly started to unravel.

A high-speed crash in qualifying in which Hamilton bruised ribs was followed by the 23-year-old McLaren driver failing to score a point for the first time as he trailed home ninth.

A year on and Hamilton again leads the championship, but only by virtue of countback as he is level on points with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

But on this occasion, and spurred by his rip-roaring success in the British Grand Prix 12 days ago, Hamilton is currently flying high as he proved by blitzing Hockenheim in practice ahead of Sunday's German Grand Prix.

After finishing more than 0.6 seconds quicker than team-mate Heikki Kovalainen at the end of the day, and 0.7secs to Massa in the second session in particular, Hamilton could not be happier.

"I feel much, much better than last year. I feel much more positive and confident as a driver than I did last year," said Hamilton.

"We've made some good steps with the car, and we just need to keep on pushing and not forget that there is a long way to go.

"Today was certainly a very productive day for us as a team. It was a very strong performance and just showed we are very competitive with a strong package.

"We didn't have any problems. I feel good, I feel comfortable, I feel pretty relaxed.

"We've made some very good steps forward, but I don't think there will be a gap of seven tenths tomorrow. It will be very close, within a couple of tenths."

Despite the victory at Silverstone, Hamilton feels only a strong result in Sunday's race will help him gather momentum to sustain his challenge throughout the second half of the season.

"I don't think one race gives you momentum, it gives you a boost," added Hamilton.

"We had a good race and hopefully we can have a good one this weekend, score some more points and then build the momentum.

"But we really haven't changed much from the last race. We have a very similar performance to Silverstone, especially in the dry.

"The weather looks like it might rain, so who knows, but whatever happens I feel confident we can definitely challenge for the front row (in qualifying)."

HAMILTON WARY OF KUBICA

STRATEGY KEY FOR HAMILTON

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

McLAREN DISMISS ROSBERG LINK

Rosberg - linked with McLaren.

McLaren have categorically refuted suggestions they are lining up Nico Rosberg as a new team-mate for Lewis Hamilton next season.

Willi Weber, who managed Michael Schumacher during his illustrious Formula One career, on Thursday stirred up a hornet's nest by stating Rosberg would leave Williams and replace Heikki Kovalainen.

"He has a clause in his contract Williams can surely not fulfil," said Weber, who currently manages the Grove-based team's test driver Nico Hulkenberg.

He added: "Rosberg will replace Heikki Kovalainen, who will change back to Renault."

The clause in question relates to Rosberg apparently being free to quit if Williams fail to finish fourth or higher in this season's constructors' championship.

That is despite the fact he would have another year to run on his current deal.

At the half-way stage of the season Williams reside in sixth place in the constructors' standings, nine points adrift of fourth spot currently occupied by Red Bull Racing.

But McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh has dismissed Weber's claims out of hand.

"We can confirm we have not had any contact with Nico Rosberg, or with his management, about him driving for us in 2009," insisted Whitmarsh.

REACTION: McLAREN and WILLIAMS

ROSBERG: GRID PENALTY JUSTIFIED

WILLIAMS BACKS RUSSIAN F1 HOPES

VET HAS REMEDY FOR BULLS

Vettel - moving up in the Red Bull family.

Sebastian Vettel has been confirmed as a Red Bull Racing driver for next season, hailing it as "a dream come true".

Following David Coulthard's decision to retire at the end of this year, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has moved swiftly to plug the gap.

The move is an unsurprising one as Vettel, who celebrated his 21st birthday a fortnight ago, has long been touted for a switch from sister team Toro Rosso.

With the announcement made at his home grand prix in Germany, a delighted Vettel said: "It's always good to have an early decision on what you are doing next year.

"As a driver your target is always to be with the most competitive team possible and, over the past couple of years, Red Bull Racing has proved it has great potential, so this is a good move for me."

Vettel, who has been part of the Red Bull 'family' for eight years, added: "Throughout my career, they have offered me great support.

"Now, to drive for their senior F1 team is a dream come true and I am looking forward to having a great season next year, even if I still have a lot to learn about F1."

Horner believes by signing Vettel his team will continue to have one of the best driver line-ups on the grid, with the young German partnering Australian Mark Webber.

"As he was already part of the family, choosing Sebastian as Mark's team-mate was not a difficult decision," remarked Horner.

"However, we have always stated our aim is to have the strongest available driver line-up, and Vettel's selection also matches these criteria.

"Having only turned 21 at the last race and with only 17 grand prix starts to his name, he is still on a learning curve but it is clear he has plenty of ability and speed."

COULTHARD BACKS ALONSO AND VETTEL

VETTEL: I’M READY TO MOVE ON UP

HAMILTON OUT OF SPOTLIGHT - FOR NOW

Hamilton - has been in the spotlight.

For once this weekend, Lewis Hamilton can rest easy appreciating the spotlight that has burned remorselessly on him these past few weeks will instead be focusing on his Formula One title rivals.

Such are the vagaries of any sport, especially one as rarefied and elitist as F1, that a slip, a wheel out of place in this instance, and you are instantly catapulted into the sights of snipers ready to take a critical pot-shot.

So step forward Felipe Massa, a man who executed more spins during the rain-hit British Grand Prix at Silverstone than a celebrated over of Shane Warne's finest deliveries.

Massa had shaken the demons off his tail following an inauspicious start to the season when he failed to score a point in the opening two races in Australia and Malaysia.

At that stage, despite the fact he has the longest contract in F1 that runs through to the end of 2010, there were those willing to write off the Brazilian.

Although at the wheel of one of the best cars on the grid, it was suggested he would be ousted come the end of the season given the

drive for perfection that resides within Ferrari.

But come the start of the British race the majority of the doubters had been swatted away like flies as he stood proudly at the top of the drivers' standings, the first Brazilian to do so since the late Ayrton Senna.

But after 60 laps of spinning in the rain, and trailing home last of the 13 who managed to finish, the critics are crawling all over Massa again, questioning his ability, particularly in the wet.

And then there is his team-mate, Kimi Raikkonen, who infuriatingly blows hot and cold, succeeding only in furthering the debate as to whether he will retire at the end of the season.

The countless rounds of media and sponsorship engagements, despite the fact they take up less of his time at Ferrari than at the truly corporate beasts of former team McLaren, are all so insufferable to the reigning world champion who simply loves to drive.

It means Raikkonen, even though he is steadily growing accustomed to his press duties these days, often exudes a disaffected air.

The fact he has failed to win any of his last five races, although arguably is the most talented driver in the sport at present, has added a degree of substance to the argument he will quit.

But Raikkonen is an enigma, if not enigmatic, and you know in one race he can a turn a form book on its head and dismiss out of hand the conspiracy theorists who have him pegged as walking away.

Finally, back to Robert Kubica, although not the Pole to some extent, more his BMW Sauber team who just over a month ago were riding the crest of a wave.

A one-two finish in the Canadian Grand Prix, undeniably aided by Hamilton's mistake in the pit lane when he ran into the back of a stationary Raikkonen, added credibility to the claim they had shaken off Ferrari and McLaren's dominant stranglehold.

But perhaps it was in Montreal BMW Sauber peaked because although they - Kubica in particular - had shown remarkable points-scoring consistency, they have since reverted again to being the 'third team'.

Kubica's body language and comments pre-Silverstone were of a man who knows his team were being left behind by their rivals in terms of performance, arguably sensing the title to be slipping away.

So after grabbing all the headlines post-Silverstone, Hamilton can enjoy himself at Hockenheim, but appreciating he is only as good as his last race.

The 23-year-old knows all too well from past experience this season a mistake, no matter how small, will again see him subjected to the piranhas of the press.

Instead, it is Massa, Raikkonen and Kubica who are at their mercy.

************

As part of triple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx's race weekend, what are known as 'taxi rides' are organised by his team for a handful of privileged guests.

Fortunately, I happened to be one of those at the latest round in Estoril at the weekend, with Priaulx taking up the reins of a 330 xi - except it was an automatic!

Basically, what he does with his race car, the same applies in a normal road car, except in the latter it is really not meant to do what he does with it.

To give you some idea, Priaulx hit 220kph at the bottom of the pit straight before jamming hard on the brake and sliding through turn one.

Talking to me as if he was out on a Sunday drive, Priaulx proceeded to hurl the car through various corners, tyres screeching, engine screaming.

That was before a warning light came on, to which he said: "I think I've broke it!" - and that was after less than 10 miles.

It was hardly a respectable advert for normally reliable BMWs, but boy, was it a lot of fun.

RAIKKONEN BACKS YOUTH

KUBICA SHOWS TITLE CREDENTIALS

HAMILTON HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS

Hamilton - hungry for success.

Lewis Hamilton believes his hunger to win this year's Formula One world title matches that which saw Rafael Nadal write a remarkable chapter in Wimbledon's rich history.

On the day Hamilton produced one of the greatest drives in F1 to win the British Grand Prix at a rain-soaked Silverstone 11 days ago, Nadal beat SW19 king Roger Federer in an epic men's final.

After winning five successive Wimbledon titles, the 'Fed Express' ran into the Spaniard on a day when he produced his best display on grass.

The five-set thriller that finished in the gathering gloom over London now has a place in the record books at it was the longest Wimbledon men's final at four hours and 48 minutes.

Like many others who left Silverstone at the end of the grand prix, an enthralled Hamilton listened to his radio on the way home as the two men fought out their battle.

The 23-year-old McLaren star feels it was Nadal's greater hunger to win that saw him home, a facet of the tennis ace's character he can easily identify with.

After missing out on the world title by a point last season, that hunger to go one step further this year is driving on Hamilton.

"Listening to that Wimbledon final on the way home, it made it just a great weekend, one I will always remember," said Hamilton, still basking in the success of his race win on home soil.

"I thought Federer was going to win. I'm not biased when I say that just because I know him and he is a great guy, a fantastic athlete who has achieved so much.

"Federer had won five times in a row, and he was going for his sixth.

"That is incredible, a bit like Michael Schumacher in many respects as he was someone who had the same determination, the same hunger to win again and again and again.

"But Nadal had something new - he had even more hunger, and I think it is impossible to match that once you have done something a lot of times.

"Nadal had never tasted it, and for me I can probably identify with his hunger to win that first title.

"But that hunger within me is definitely greater this year after what happened to me last year.

"But then I've had that hunger since I was five or six years old. It's always been there, and always will be.

"Next year I know I'm going to be even more hungry to win at Monaco and Silverstone, and that's a positive thing for me."

At the halfway stage of the year Hamilton heads into this weekend's German Grand Prix in a three-way tie for the lead alongside Ferrari duo Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, but ahead on countback.

Hamilton now has to put the euphoria of his British triumph out of his mind and solely focus on the remaining nine races and winning the title.

"It was an amazing weekend, or an amazing Sunday at least," reflected Hamilton.

"I'm not going to say it came as a surprise, but it's something I have worked hard for and was hoping for.

"It's going to be difficult to cap that. It was a special weekend for me, something I can carry with me for the rest of my life.

"But I'm going to have to put it to the back of my mind because there are still nine races and the championship to keep pushing for.

"We are just going to focus on trying to build up some momentum and consistency."

KIMI STARVED OF SUCCESS

HAMILTON RETURNS TO GOODWOOD

TOYOTA EYE FURTHER SUCCESS

TOYOTA EYE FURTHER SUCCESS

Trulli - podium finish in France.

Toyota have had plenty of success in recent races. Jarno Trulli scored a podium in France and was fourth on the grid while team-mate Timo Glock finished fourth in Canada.

And as the battle to keep ahead of their rivals for fourth place heats up, the Japanese-backed team are hoping to repeat their French success at the German Grand Prix.

Pascal Vasselon, senior general manager chassis, believes they are standing in good stead after testing at Hockenheim last week.

"We will have another new package of aerodynamic modifications which we finalised after last week's test at Hockenheim," he said.

"We had a successful test and with no mechanical problems we were able to do a lot of laps and make a good start to our preparations for this weekend's race.

"We evaluated the two tyre specs and different downforce levels, as well as looking at some aerodynamic and mechanical options."

Vasselon says the team hope to be close to the front-runners this weekend.

"We are expecting a level of performance more in keeping with our display at Magny-Cours than Silverstone qualifying," he said.

"That means we are hoping to be near the front again. Actually, Magny-Cours and Hockenheim are now very similar in terms of car configuration so we are expecting to go well."

KIMI STARVED OF SUCCESS

LEWIS ON TOP AT HOCKENHEIM

WHITMARSH EYES IMPROVEMENT

Hamilton - tied for the lead.

McLaren need "to iron out imperfections" if they are to be crowned Formula One world champions this season, the team's chief executive officer said today.

Following a famous victory in the British Grand Prix 10 days ago, Lewis Hamilton is now in a three-way tie at the top of the drivers' standings along with Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

And while McLaren may only be third in the constructors' table, 24 points adrift of Ferrari and 10 behind BMW Sauber, the team believe they are firmly in the hunt.

At the halfway point of the season, and ahead of Sunday's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh knows another level must be found if they are to avoid disappointment again.

"While we remain encouraged by the pace we've recently shown and the victories we've achieved, there's a feeling we could still be doing more to consistently score strongly," said Whitmarsh.

"Several opportunities for victory, most notably in Istanbul and Montreal, have slipped through our fingers.

"We've suffered a few penalties, which we took squarely on the chin, and through no fault of his own, Heikki (Kovalainen) has finished out of the points on several occasions.

"That was either due to us being unable to provide him with a suitable car, or through circumstances that were largely beyond his control.

"So as we head into the second half of the season, our primary objective must be to work harder to iron out these imperfections.

"We must also provide our drivers with race-winning machinery at every opportunity and to sharpen our focus on the world titles, both of which are still achievable for us.

"I think Heikki's pole position and Lewis' win in the British Grand Prix were good for our momentum.

"The atmosphere at our headquarters in Woking on Monday morning was incredibly upbeat and positive.

"That's because we all know we're strongly back in the hunt for the world championship - and we're not going to easily let go of that."

Yet Whitmarsh concedes he is unable to ascertain how strong McLaren are at the present time compared to Ferrari and BMW Sauber due to a number of variable circumstances of late.

"I know the fans would love to see a straight fight between ourselves and our rivals," added Whitmarsh.

"But fate, and the weather, has conspired against that happening in the four most recent races in Monaco, Montreal, Magny-Cours and Silverstone.

"That means we can still only estimate where we sit in terms of overall performance.

"But the reality is, we're keenly aware of the steps we've taken to improve the car and feel confident we currently have a fantastic race car that can be developed sufficiently for the rest of the season.

"We're confident we'll be competitive in Hockenheim, but one of the beauties of Formula One is you just can't tell until the red lights go out on Sunday afternoon."

WHITMARSH: HAMILTON WILL GET BETTER

McLAREN FAITH IN HEIKKI

RAIKONNEN HOPES FOR DRY WEEKEND

Raikkonen - hoping for dry weather.

Kimi Raikkonen is hoping the weather plays along during this weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

While his main World Championship rival, Lewis Hamilton, weathered the storms at Silverstone and Monaco, the Finn has found it difficult to keep up in tricky conditions.

A hot weekend at Hockenheim will play into Ferrari's hands as the F2008 is easier on tyres than the McLaren.

Raikkonen, who is joint first in the Championship along with team-mate Felipe Massa and Hamilton, believes it will be advantageous to Ferrari when the skies are clear.

"I hope it will be hot, as it usually is at Hockenheim," the Finn said on the Ferrari website.

"Our car goes really well at high temperatures and also the tyre-wear is not too high. So I really hope it will be hot.

"It's hard to overtake, but the qualifying doesn't determine the result as (much as) on other tracks: although starting from the first row will make life much easier."

Raikkonen is confident he will soon return to winning ways. His last win was at the Spanish GP in April.

"I've always said that the Championship will be very uncertain," he added.

"I had the possibility to win the last three races, but for one reason or the other things didn't go the right way: but that's racing and I'm sure I'll win again soon.

"Every point will be important, just like last year. Three drivers tied on the top spot and a fourth, who is two points behind: that's a very interesting situation."

BUTTON HOPES TO GET BACK ON TRACK

LEWIS ON TOP AT HOCKENHEIM

COULTHARD BACKS ALONSO AND VETTEL

Coulthard - backed Alonso claims.

As the debate about who should partner Mark Webber at Red Bull next season heats up, the man who is leaving the seat vacant, David Coulthard, has revealed who he thinks should fill his boots.

Coulthard believes either Fernando Alonso or Sebastian Vettel would be a perfect replacement.

Alonso's future at Renault remains unclear after he refused to commit himself to the French squad earlier this year, while Toro Rosso's Vettel has been tipped for a move to a bigger team.

Coulthard says bringing Vettel to Red Bull would be "logical", but also believes it would be silly to turn down the chance to have a two-time World Champion with the team.

"I've been asked several times who I think should take over my seat next year," he wrote in his ITV column.

"That's a decision for the Red Bull management, but the commonsense answer is that it should go to the quickest guy with a proven track record who is available.

"That might be Fernando Alonso for instance; if the team could get him that would make sense because he has great credentials as a double World Champion.

"But if we assume he's not available, then it's completely logical to take Sebastian Vettel, who is within the Red Bull family, is performing well at Toro Rosso and naturally wants to progress to the larger team. I'm confident he would do a very good job for our team."

The Scot, who will bring the curtain down on his F1 career at the end of the season, says he won't change his approach to the sport in his final nine races.

"I intend to approach my last nine races the same way as my 238 to date," he said.

"I'm sure when I'm on the plane to Brazil it won't be lost on me that I'm about to embark on my final grand prix weekend.

"But I'm not counting down the races; my sole focus is on scoring the best results I can and trying to help Red Bull get back up to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, because that's so important for the team.

"The reflections and the sentiment can wait a few more months."

VETTEL: I’M READY TO MOVE ON UP

FIVE-PLACE GRID PENALTY FOR VETTEL

WET AND WILD FOR KUBICA

Robert Kubica - struggled during a wet race.

World championship contender Robert Kubica was left to reflect on a "crazy race" after failing victim to the elements in Sunday afternoon's dramatic British Grand Prix.

The Polish driver struggled for pace all weekend at the Silverstone circuit, failing to hook up his BMW Sauber on Friday before a problem with the rear end of his car saw him sit out the final part of qualifying yesterday.

Lining up in 10th on the grid for Sunday's wet race, Kubica knuckled down to rise steadily through the pack as those around him hit trouble.

The 23-year-old was up to third place prior to his second pit stop, but shortly afterwards he was out, his car aquaplaning on the approach to the Abbey chicane.

"I was already aquaplaning for many laps and unfortunately in a straight line I just lost the car completely and went off," Kubica said.

"Here in Silverstone, it was a crazy race in difficult conditions.

"Everything was running well as I was having quite a good race and gaining positions. But when it rained and there was a lot of water on the track, I was struggling.

"I couldn't keep the car in a straight line, was losing power, the rear wheels were losing contact with the tarmac and that was it."

Kubica's failure to score sees him remain just two points off the pace in the drivers' championship after Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished outside the points, although the Pole now finds himself behind Kimi Raikkonen and Silverstone race winner Lewis Hamilton, who have drawn level at the summit.

KUBICA COOL ON CHANCES

KUBICA IN DARK OVER FUTURE

FANTASTIC RESULT FOR US - KUBICA

HONDA FOCUS ON CAR

Brawn - no hurry over drivers.

Honda are in no hurry to decide their 2009 driver line-up, opting instead to focus their attention of bettering their car, according to Ross Brawn.

Although Honda have shown signs of promises since Brawn took over as team boss at the start of the season, the team has still failed to live up to expectations.

After nine races the team is eighth in the Constructors' Championship, at the back end of a close battle for fourth place that sees five teams separated by just 11 points.

And it's that battle that Honda are focusing on rather than contemplating their 2009 driver line-up.

"We are in discussions, and it will evolve during the summer," Brawn told Autosport. "Our priority is clearly to get a better car for next year. So things are moving along but there is no desperate rush.

"I think we have got two very good drivers, so the first thing we have got to do is get a decent car. When we get a good car that will give our drivers the opportunity to show what they can do, and we can take stock then.

"I don't think the drivers are the problem."

The Englishman specifically gave Barrichello is vote of confidence in the wake of rumours that Fernando Alonso could sign on as Jenson Button's 2009 team-mate.

"He's possibly better," Brawn said of Barrichello.

"Out of the shadow of Michael (Schumacher) he has recognised the greater scope that Michael brought to the job. Michael was exceptional and any driver racing in the same team as Michael had a massive challenge.

"I think Rubens did a great job of coping with that, but he doesn't have to cope with it any more and it's really opened things up for him a lot more. He is possibly a better driver than when I was at Ferrari."

BRAWN BACKS FALTERING HAMILTON

RUBENS EYES NEW DEAL

MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR - FRY

CLOSURE AGREED OVER SPY SAGA

Stepney - Ferrari action continues.

The spy saga that dominated Formula One last year has finally been brought to a conclusion.

Ten months ago McLaren were fined a sporting record 100million euros (Ј49.2million at the time) by the World Motor Sport Council after being found guilty of fraudulent conduct.

The team, who were also stripped of all constructors' points for the 2007 season, were found to be in possession of a confidential 780-page document belonging to Ferrari.

McLaren later issued a public apology to Ferrari. However, as far as the Italian team were concerned, the matter did not rest there as they looked to pursue their rivals through the courts.

But via statements released by the two teams, closure has been agreed in an attempt to allow both parties and the sport of Formula One to move on.

The McLaren statement today read: "In light of the formal closure in December 2007 of the FIA and FIA World Motor Sport Council proceedings against McLaren, and of McLaren's public apology to Ferrari which we have reiterated, Ferrari and McLaren have agreed to bring the various disputes between them in relation to this matter to a final conclusion.

"McLaren has also agreed to the reimbursement of Ferrari's costs and expenses relating to these matters and a concluding payment."

Ferrari's response read: "Ferrari acknowledges McLaren's reiterated apology for the well-known events which occurred during the 2007 F1 Championship.

"In the best interests of Formula 1 and taking into account the formal closure in December 2007 of the FIA and FIA World Motor Sport Council proceedings against McLaren, it confirms that it has accepted to put an end to all outstanding controversies between the two teams.

"Ferrari will donate to charity the concluding payment received from McLaren."

However, Ferrari have confirmed they are to continue their legal action against Nigel Stepney, a former employee who is alleged to have handed over the information to McLaren's former chief designer Mike Coughlan. Stepney denies any wrongdoing.

The statement added: "Ferrari will pursue its claims against Nigel Stepney in connection with the matter."

SCHUMACHER TO HELP OUT

HAMILTON HANDED CHALLENGE BY BUTTON

HEIDFELD STAYS FOCUSED

Heidfeld - remains confident.

Prior to Sunday's British Grand Prix, Heidfeld had found himself completely overshadowed by team-mate Robert Kubica.

Kubica had out-qualified Heidfeld in the opening eight grands prix, and other than the curtain-raiser in Australia when he retired, had also out-scored the German.

It had led to suggestions Heidfeld would be out at the end of the season, with Fernando Alonso a potential replacement given the double world champion is close friends with Kubica.

But at Silverstone, Heidfeld was finally on the pace in qualifying, and then drove superbly in the wet to finish runner-up behind Lewis Hamilton, albeit a considerable distance adrift.

Despite his problems, Heidfeld is just 10 points behind Kubica in the Drivers' standings, and 12 off the leading trio of Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

Asked if he feared for his place in the team over recent weeks, Heidfeld replied: "No, that would have been the wrong way to approach the situation.

"I was concerned about my qualifying performance, but I also knew I hadn't suddenly forgotten how to drive a car and that my race speed was still good.

"The critical thing for me is to get the tyres up to temperature in qualifying."

That has been Heidfeld's main problem all season and has resulted in lowly grid positions from which he has often struggled to score points.

Heidfeld feels he is finally getting to grips with the matter, adding: "What is certain is that our work has paid off, and the team has given me tremendous support.

"We conducted a complicated analysis of the situation and took measures to enable me to make better use of the tyres for a single hot lap.

"We will not be easing off now. I'm sure there is a lot more we can do to further improve my performance in qualifying."

Starting from fifth on Sunday, Heidfeld's race was notable for two overtaking moves when he passed two cars in one manoeuvre, notably Ferrari's Raikkonen and McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen at one point.

That has now set him up for his home grand prix at Hockenheim on July 20 when he hopes to maintain his current form.

"It gives me an extra push to go into my home GP on the back of a podium finish in the last race," said Heidfeld.

"I want to keep heading in the same direction - get a good position on the grid and do as well as possible in the race itself.

"I'm determined to put on a great performance."

HEIDFELD FOCUSED ON RACING

HEIDFELD HOPES FOR BETTER

HEIDFELD: NO TEAM ORDERS AT BMW

DONINGTON HAVE TO DELIVER

Ecclestone - needs Gillett to deliver.

It is all very well talking the talk, but being able to walk the walk is another matter completely.

However, you have to admire Simon Gillett's bravado for being in the one place you would least have expected him on the day Bernie Ecclestone confirmed Donington Park would stage the British Grand Prix from 2010 - Silverstone!

The Northamptonshire circuit was last weekend celebrating its 60th birthday, and current owners the British Racing Drivers' Club were enjoying an 80th anniversary bash.

Ecclestone's announcement last Friday, in the middle of the first practice session for the race, possessed the subtlety of a police raid just as a party is about to get into full swing.

As for Gillett, one of Donington's joint CEOs, his presence in the paddock was akin to someone stamping all over what is soon to be poor old Silverstone's grave.

Just 10 days previously BRDC president Damon Hill had made all the right noises with regard to Silverstone being awarded a new deal.

Ecclestone, though, had simply had enough of the BRDC's posturing and promises over the years, effectively catching Hill and the BRDC with a blindside haymaker because no-one honestly saw it coming.

In one devastating knockout blow, all of the BRDC's hard work and patience in acquiring planning permission for their new Ј30million pit and paddock complex that was due to be the start of their brave new world had come to nothing.

Crucially, while they may have won Government support from Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe for their impressive plans, in the end it was the lack of funding from those that run the country that proved their undoing.

And so to Donington, or so we hope, in two years' time, a circuit that has played host to MotoGP in recent years, yet if you heard or read the moans and gripes of those fans who attended the latest event, you will know it has its own issues.

Chief among them is access. Go back not so long ago to a time when Silverstone did not have its wonderful by-pass and punters spent hours sitting in their over-heated cars trying to get into and out of the track and you have some idea as to how Donington fairs at present.

Silverstone spent years lobbying the local councils and Government to install the dual-carriageway that exists today and has taken so much stress out of attending.

For last month's MotoGP, some fans spent four hours trying to exit Donington Park down a normal road that files past East Midlands airport. Frustration does not begin to tell the story.

Anyone planning on flying out of that location on one of the many budget airlines during British GP weekend had better set off 24 hours in advance.

To build the kind of arterial road required to service Donington, Government support will have to be sought, and if it takes as long to put in place as it did for Silverstone, expect log jams and frayed tempers for many years to come.

That is if, and only if, the development that is planned - with the blueprint viewed by PA Sport courtesy of Mr Ecclestone - comes to fruition.

Work is not due to start until later this year, however, Gillett confidently predicts within a maximum of 20 months, there will be facilities in place to stage one of Britain's sporting crown jewels.

The venue will not be the finished article as that will be a work in progress over the following few years until it can be deemed a state-of-the-art facility as Ecclestone demands.

Gillett has already questioned the doubters and sceptics who have dared to suggest Donington Park will not be ready in time.

Well, it is with good reason when you learn a few days after the announcement that planning documents have not yet been submitted to the local North West Leicestershire district council.

The other problem is that we have been here before, back in 1999 to be precise when Brands Hatch announced they had won the rights to stage the British Grand Prix.

Circuit owner at the time, Nicola Foulston, sold out to marketing group Octagon, who in turn signed a deal with Silverstone when it became clear Brands Hatch could not be redeveloped to the standard required.

The only difference on this occasion is that Ecclestone has stated quite categorically Silverstone has had its day.

As far as Ecclestone is concerned, there will be no British Grand Prix in 2010 if Gillett and his fellow board members at Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd do not deliver.

The onus is considerable on Gillett and his partners because you would not want to be in their shoes if they became known as the people who cost Britain its grand prix.

DONINGTON WILL BE READY - GILLETT

HILL BLASTS ECCLESTONE

SILVERSTONE OPTIMISTIC OVER GRAND PRIX

SATO CLINGS ONTO F1 DREAM

Sato - not giving up on F1 dream.

Takuma Sato is desperate to return to Formula One following the demise of Super Aguri.

The Japanese driver's last F1 race was at the Spanish Grand Prix three months ago, but he is refusing to give up hope of finding a race seat.

Sato concedes that it will be difficult to find a team in the middle of the season, but he says he is prepared to wait until 2009.

"Although we are talking with a few teams, we are just at the start of our conversations," he told Autosport.

"All the teams have arrived at the midseason and it is too early to think about next year. If any opportunity comes up to race this year then it will be a bonus, but I am just focusing on getting back to F1.

"I have no intention to leave F1 and do not want to give it up until there is absolutely zero chance.

"If it happens then I will think about it then, but until then I will be flat out working hard to get back to F1. Whether it will be soon, or 2009 or onwards, we don't know."

Sato also revealed that it is not impossible for Super Aguri to make a return in the future.

"Daniel (Audetto, former managing director) and I still talk about it.

"Anything possible that means we can be back again we will look at. I am free at the moment, so if there is an opportunity I can help."

MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR - FRY

DAVIDSON BACK BEHIND F1 WHEEL

HAMILTON VOWS TO BRING IT HOME

Hamilton - thrilled the crowds.

In a scene out of an Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Evita", Lewis Hamilton stood on the balcony of Goodwood House and vowed to bring the title "home for all of us."

The McLaren driver was part of the F1 contingent attending this past weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed, where he put on a demonstration run in last year's McLaren MP4-22 for the thousands of fans attending the annual event.

And the show also gave Hamilton the chance to address his fans, who gathered below the balcony to hear him promise to do his best to become the first Brit since Damon Hill in 1996 to win the World title.

"I'm not going to build up your hopes but just to let you know that I'm working as hard as I can to bring the Championship home for all of us - keep your fingers crossed," he said.

Speaking to host Chris Evans, the radio DJ and self-confessed petrol-head, on the balcony of Goodwood House while his fans gather below, Hamilton also confessed that pre-race nerves are still a big challenge for him.

"I've been racing since I was eight years old and every Sunday before the race I always have the same nerves and I can never control it," he said.

"I always try to come up with a formula or a way to deal with all the nerves and the race to make sure I win and it's always difficult.

"There is always something different happening; it could be raining or dry, you are always starting from a different position and there is always a different crowd and a different vibe.

"So it's all about trying to take it all in and do the best job I can."

HAMILTON VOWS TO STAY FOCUSED

HAMILTON RETURNS TO GOODWOOD

HAMILTON VOWS TO STAY FOCUSED

Hamilton - no room for complacency.

Lewis Hamilton is adamant there will be no complacency as he looks to avoid losing his Formula One world championship lead for a third time this season.

Hamilton rocketed back to the top of the drivers' standings after his stunning drive in the wet at Silverstone brought victory in Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Although the 23-year-old is level on points with Ferrari duo Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, the McLaren star has the edge on count back.

However, despite erasing memories of his races in Canada and France where he failed to score, the win in front of his home fans has not eased the pressure going into weekend's German Grand Prix.

"Pressure always exists because you need to win consistently," said Hamilton.

"In Formula One, you're only as good as your last race and Silverstone already felt like an old memory by the time I was testing at Hockenheim on Tuesday.

"Generally, a race win briefly takes the load off everyone's shoulders because it allows you to push forward without looking back at the problems you may have faced in the previous race.

"But you can never get complacent and we'll be pushing hard again in Germany next week."

HAMILTON VOWS TO FIGHT ON

MASSA VOWS TO MOVE ON

HAMILTON WILL SPARKLE

STAR WITNESS FAILS TO APPEAR

Mosley - dramatic twist in the case.

There has been a dramatic twist in motorsport boss Max Mosley's privacy action against the News of the World over what it called a ''sick Nazi orgy'' when its star witness failed to give evidence.

The newspaper's informant, woman E's "emotional and mental state is such that it would not be fair or reasonable to call her to give evidence,'' said its QC, Mark Warby.

The development meant that the case was adjourned until Monday for counsel to prepare their closing speeches.

E, a dominatrix who secretly filmed the sadomasochistic session at a Chelsea flat in March, was due to give evidence together with her husband.

Mr Warby told Mr Justice Eady at London's High Court: "This morning, at about ten to eight, I received information which has later been elaborated on which leads those instructing me and my clients to take the view that her emotional and mental state is such that it would not be fair or reasonable to call her to give evidence.''

Because of that, he added, he was not maintaining the case that instructions were given to E by another woman, A, which originated from Mr Mosley, about a Nazi theme.

He said: "We will not persist in that case. It is a most regrettable situation to have arrived at.''

But Mr Warby emphasised that the newspaper was not abandoning the proposition that there was in fact a Nazi theme - that would continue on the basis of other evidence.

The newspaper's chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck has told the court E told him she had been informed by A that her instructions from Mr Mosley were that the orgy was to have a Nazi theme and that woman A and woman B were expected to wear German uniforms.

He said that there was an "overwhelming, absolutely overwhelming Nazi theme'' to the footage.

The newspaper's editor Colin Myler has said that he believed the story was one of "legitimate public interest and one that I believe was legitimately published''.

It was "absolutely not true'' that the paper fabricated the Nazi aspect of the story, he said.

Mr Mosley, the 68-year-old son of the 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, says that his life was devastated by the expose of what the newspaper called a "sick Nazi orgy with five hookers'', and is asking for an unprecedented award of punitive exemplary damages.

Mr Price has said that the "gross and indefensible intrusion'' was made substantially worse by the entirely false suggestion that Mr Mosley, president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) was playing a concentration camp commandant and a cowering death camp inmate.

MOSLEY WOMEN DENY NAZI THEME

COURT TOLD OF ‘NAZI’ THEME

MOSLEY TO SUE NEWS OF THE WORLD

KIMI WON'T QUIT THIS YEAR

Raikkonen - never broken a contract.

Kimi Raikkonen has dismissed rumours he could quit Ferrari and Formula One at the end of this year.

The Finn is contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2009, often hinting that this current deal could be his last with the Scuderia and in fact his last with any F1 team.

However, recent comments by the World Champion suggesting that he's unhappy in F1 sparked rumours that he could quit soon.

"I like the racing but the other stuff is not always the best thing," he said last month.

"Everyone in F1 is here because they love racing and driving, but when there are too many things that you don't enjoy or too many things you don't want it is time to go away."

Raikkonen, though, has been quick to silence reports of his pending retirement, stating that he will see out his current Ferrari contract.

"I have not broken a contract in all my life, and I have no intention of doing so now. In 2009 I will be driving for Ferrari," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

ALONSO DENIES FERRARI TALK

KIMI WON’T HIT PANIC BUTTON

RAIKKONEN IN RETIREMENT HINT

SIR STIRLING CONCERNED OVER BRITISH GP

Moss - fears.

Sir Stirling Moss fears for the future of the British Grand Prix following the announcement that it will be held at Donington Park from 2010.

Silverstone have hosted the race since 1987 but last weekend Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone revealed it would move to Donington Park after next season.

The announcement was met initially by widespread surprise and was then criticised by the likes of Damon Hill.

Now Moss, winner of 16 grands prix, has expressed his fears that the days of the British Grand Prix may be numbered.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'm afraid it may be run in some foreign country because other countries can run national (grands prix).

"It could go somewhere else but nevertheless I think we'll still have good racing at Silverstone which is what matters.

"I'm afraid he (Ecclestone) might (move the race abroad).

"I would like to hope the car owners would say 'no, we want to race in England, it's the centre of motor racing in the world now and we would like to race there even if it doesn't carry pointsg the people will come and it will be a great occasion."

Moss also believes Donington will not be ready in time although he has no fears for the future of Silverstone.

When asked if he believes Donington will be ready, Moss added: "In one word, no I don't, actually. It's a worry.

"Silverstone we've had taken away from us which is a great shame but then the track is in such a good condition, the drivers love it and so on and there are so many other races and motorbikes, I'm not really worried for its future because it is so good."

BRITISH GRAND PRIX HEROES

SILVERSTONE OPTIMISTIC OVER GRAND PRIX

PLANNERS BOOST SILVERSTONE FUTURE

LEWIS - BY FAR MY BEST WIN

Hamilton - best win.

Lewis Hamilton has hailed his phenomenal victory in Sunday's British Grand Prix as "by far the best" he's ever had.

Starting fourth on the grid in wet conditions, the McLaren Mercedes driver almost took the lead from team-mate and polesitter Heikki Kovalainen at the very first corner.

He passed the Finn on lap five before pulling away from the field, Hamilton eventually taking the chequered flag no less than 68 seconds ahead of the second-placed driver, BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld.

While Championship rivals Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica all spun - the latter out of the race - Hamilton held it together.

His only trip across the grass came midway through the race as his intermediate tyres struggled to cope with driving rain.

With Massa finishing out of the points and Raikkonen coming home fourth, the result also means that Hamilton is now tied with both Ferrari drivers at the top of the Drivers' Championship.

"It is definitely by far the best victory I've ever had," assessed Hamilton, beaming from ear to ear, just six weeks after his Monaco success.

"It was one of the toughest races I've ever done. As I was driving I was thinking, 'if I win this it will definitely be the best race I've ever won'.

"That's not only because of its history, but also because I'm on home ground and I drove one of my best races ever.

"I was coming to the last lap and I could see the crowd beginning to stand up and I was just praying, praying, praying, 'keep it on the track and just finish'.

"You could not believe the emotions inside. I wanted to push, get it round, and we did. The team did a fantastic job."

More pertinently for Hamilton, so did his family - with his 73-year-old grandfather Davidson also looking on - and in particular his brother.

"The last couple of weeks I've been flat out, working very hard, a lot of travelling and many different things, different emotions in my life," reflected Hamilton.

"I've obviously had a couple of bad grands prix, so coming into this one I felt it would have just been nice to have started with a clean slate and get some points, or even a win.

"I have to say my mind's always been right. I've just had a lot on my plate in my personal life - nothing too serious, just life in general.

"To be honest, this morning I wasn't feeling great, but it wasn't until I got to the track and I spoke to my family, and then I was good.

"I saw some kids as I had time to see some fans at the gate, and it gave me energy. All of a sudden I had so much energy.

"I have to say a big 'thank you' to all the fans. They have been so incredible throughout the weekend. Without them I wouldn't have done this. This is the best weekend ever."

Hamilton, who becomes the first Briton to win his home race since David Coulthard in 2000, continued: "But I want to dedicate this to my family because I have had some troubles over the last couple of weeks, and it's been really tough.

"But as always, family are there for you, giving you support, and they're all here.

"Just before the race I spoke to my brother. He came to my room and I said to him: 'I hope I keep it on the track.' He replied: 'Don't even worry about that, you're the master in the wet!'

"He's always there, same with my dad. He'll never miss a race, he has been there since day one.

"We still do the same handshake as we always have from the first race, and that means a lot to me.

"But your family are there through thick and thin. They always stand next to you."

The victory means that at the halfway point of the season there is a three-way tie, with Ferrari's Massa and Raikkonen also on 48 points, although Hamilton has a slight edge on countback.

DAD PREDICTS ‘HAMILTON EFFECT’

MASSA FINDS PASSPORT TO VICTORY

LEWIS PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER PIT CRASH

CRITICS WON'T HAVE MASSA IN A SPIN

Massa - span five times at Silverstone.

Felipe Massa is refusing to let criticism of his British Grand Prix performance get to him, although he does acknowledge that himself and Ferrari need to cut out the mistakes.

Having clinched victory in France, Massa arrived in Britain leading the drivers' standings and one of the favourites to seal the race win.

But he struggled in the rain at Silverstone, spinning not once but five times on his way to finishing last, two laps down on race winner Lewis Hamilton.

The performance did little to enhance the Ferrari driver's profile, but he is refusing to let that bother him.

"I don't care what other people say, to be honest," he said. "I know what I have to do, I've won many races this year, and so I don't really care for that.

"For sure the first spin was a mistake, definitely, but then every time I was on the track we had the wrong tyres for the conditions.

"So I cannot say it was just coming from myself; it was coming from our strategy too. We made so many mistakes anyway at Silverstone - we know that, and we are working in every area to not repeat them.

"It's part of the game. We're not the only team that has made mistakes this year.

"It's part of the game, and we need to concentrate on the next race. The championship is open, we are still in front in the Constructors' Championship, and so it's nothing to worry about at the moment."

MASSA DETERMINED TO MOVE ON

MASSA VOWS TO MOVE ON

MASSA PLAYS DOWN LEAD

MASSA VOWS TO MOVE ON

Massa - spun five times on Sunday.

Felipe Massa insists he will not dwell on a nightmare British Grand Prix weekend that saw the Ferrari driver trail home dead last in the race and lose the outright lead in the World Championship.

The Brazilian led the drivers' standings by two points after his third win of the season in France just over two weeks ago, but struggled at Silverstone despite setting the fastest overall time in Friday's practice sessions.

A heavy crash in the first of those practice sessions restricted his set-up time in the car, while a delay in the pits during third qualifying on Saturday meant Massa lined up ninth on the starting grid, from where things just got worse.

The 27-year-old was unable to cope in the difficult wet conditions at Silverstone, the driver himself admitting to committing "many mistakes".

By the end of the 60-lap race, Massa had spun the Ferrari five times and was running 13th and last, two laps down on race winner Lewis Hamilton.

"It was a very tough race, very difficult to keep the car on the track," said Massa.

"It was definitely a race to forget. It was not just a bad race but a bad weekend.

"For sure I was in trouble to drive the car in the wet, and I made so many mistakes.

"Many of them were just because of the aqua-planing. I couldn't hold the car, even on the straight. The conditions were very difficult and sometimes these things can happen.

"This Silverstone weekend is one to be wiped out. On Friday I had an accident, Saturday there was the problem in qualifying and yesterday a series of mistakes at all levels."

Massa's failure to score allowed McLaren driver Hamilton to pull level at the top of the standings, while Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen completes the trio of leaders on 48 points after coming home in fourth place.

The Brazilian is adamant there is nothing to be learned from his elementary mistakes at Silverstone, and has already turned his attentions to the next race at Hockenheim on July 20.

"We need to think about the next one and not go back and start to see what's happened today," he continued.

"We need to think about the next race. We need to concentrate. We know that we are competitive.

"We have to look ahead, because there is still a very long way to go in the championship and once again, we've seen that it only takes one result to turn the situation around.

"After nine races I am in the lead in the classification and I have every chance to fight for the title all the way to the end."

MASSA DETERMINED TO MOVE ON

CRITICS WON’T HAVE MASSA IN A SPIN

MASSA PLAYS DOWN LEAD

VETTEL: I'M READY TO MOVE ON UP

Vettel - favourite to succeed Coulthard.

Sebastian Vettel reckons he's ready to move up to Red Bull should the team choose him as David Coulthard's replacement.

The Scot announced last week that he would be retiring from F1 at the end of the season, paving the way for Vettel to take his place.

The German is the favourite to succeed Coulthard as not only does he have a long-term deal with Red Bull but also his results while racing for Toro Rosso have proven his ability out on track.

"If I didn't believe in myself that I deserve a chance or that I have the ability to drive a car reasonably fast to be competitive enough I wouldn't be here," he told Autosport.

"Of course, I believe in myself and I believe that I can do whatever they do, the drivers, in Ferrari or McLaren but I've got to be realistic.

"They have more experience and I have to catch up a lot. I know that I'm still very young and that there is a lot that I have to learn.

"If I didn't believe in myself then I would better go home and do something else. For sure, I am here, I am up for the fight no matter what and hopefully, as I say, my target is to be in a competitive car in the future."

Asked if he would take the Red Bull Racing job if offered it, the German said: "Why not? Yes."

COULTHARD NOT READY TO RETIRE

FIVE-PLACE GRID PENALTY FOR VETTEL

DONINGTON WILL BE READY - GILLETT

WHITMARSH: HAMILTON WILL GET BETTER

Hamilton - winner in the wet at Silverstone.

Martin Whitmarsh is confident Lewis Hamilton will "build and go forward" after his maiden British Grand Prix triumph and fulfil his potential by becoming Formula One world champion.

McLaren's F1 chief executive joined many other observers in praising the level of Hamilton's majestic performance in taking victory in Sunday's race at a wet Silverstone.

Whitmarsh described it as a drive that "those of us involved, and many other people, will remember for the rest of their lives. I'm sure Lewis will too".

But after returning to the top of the championship standings in a three-way tie alongside Ferrari duo Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, the objective now is for Hamilton to push on from the stunning win and lift the title.

With Hamilton's recent problems seemingly behind him, Whitmarsh said: "Lewis has had a very difficult and challenging time.

"To come out with such flying colours, he must now believe he has momentum, the team has momentum and he can come through this, but he's still on a learning curve.

"Last year he had a dream start with the nine podiums which were absolutely incredible. It seems easy when you do that, and I'm sure it seemed easy for Lewis.

"There was no pressure because he was the rookie against a two-time world champion (Fernando Alonso). But at some point, however great you are, you have to have the real challenge.

"We are at the highest level of motorsport and he had to expect that, and it's been a learning process.

"Sometimes things haven't gone quite right, perhaps it's not quite been as easy, or the pressure is much higher. But he had to experience that, learn about it and learn about himself.

"Along the way we've also made mistakes, he's made mistakes, but after a result like yesterday he can only build and go forward."

As Hamilton is still only 26 races into his F1 career, Whitmarsh obviously feels there is room for improvement, and that it will ultimately culminate in a title triumph.

"Inevitably when you set the bar as high as Lewis does, if you slip underneath it or knock it off, people are going to understandably question whether this was a passing phenomenon," added Whitmarsh.

"Yet he still hasn't realised his full potential, and he's going to get better.

"It's very clear he has the potential to be a world champion - he hasn't been one yet and until he has, he hasn't achieved that potential.

"So he will be as determined as we are that he does that this year."

WHITMARSH DEFENDS DRIVERS

WHITMARSH BACKS HAMILTON

HAMILTON SHOW IMPRESSES STEWART

Stewart - says Hamilton needs more conistency.

Sir Jackie Stewart feels Lewis Hamilton silenced his critics with a British Grand Prix victory he described as "one of the best."

In recent weeks Hamilton found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, notably the mistakes he made in Canada and France.

After failing to take a point in those two races, the spotlight was further intensified on Hamilton given his hectic private life which appeared to be a whirl of social events and sponsorship commitments.

But Hamilton shrugged aside any personal issues to storm back to the top of the World Championship standings with a masterful drive in the wet at Silverstone.

Three-times former world champion Stewart believes Hamilton duly managed to get his own back on all those who had questioned him.

"I think Lewis answered a lot of his critics," said Stewart.

"Rubens (Barrichello, third in his Honda) had a hell of a drive, but no-one can beat what Lewis did.

"For somebody so young and inexperienced, to have driven in those conditions to that level with hardly an error made, for me stands very high.

"I struggle to find performances that compare to it, and it will go down as one of his best in respect of his entire career when the time comes.

"In the short term he will continue to make mistakes because he's a young, inexperienced racing driver. He's still going to have to be given time.

"But what he already has, which we've all recognised, is what he demonstrated in the race - an incredibly high ability of skill."

After failing to score points in three of the nine races to date, Stewart feels a run of consistency is now required over the second half of the season for Hamilton to potentially become champion.

The 23-year-old McLaren star is tied on points with the Ferrari duo of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, but has the edge on countback.

"He has to concentrate on finishing races," added Stewart.

"He's driving for one of the two best teams in the world, and the chances are they are going to give him the equipment to win races or to finish on the podium on a regular basis.

"If he does that, there's a very good likelihood he's going to win the World Championship.

"You have to keep finishing, keep picking up points."

STEWART SYMPATHY FOR HAMILTON

HAMILTON CAN HANG ON THIS TIME - STEWART

MOSLEY WOMEN DENY NAZI THEME

Mosley - court case continues.

Four of the women involved in a sado-masochistic session with motorsport boss Max Mosley strenuously denied on Tuesday there had been any Nazi element to their activities.

The women, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, each went into the witness box at the High Court in London to give evidence as witnesses in Mr Mosley's groundbreaking breach of privacy action, which is being hotly contested by the News of the World.

First into the witness box was dark-haired Woman D, followed by smartly-dressed Woman A, German-born Woman B, and blonde Woman C.

All of them rejected the allegation that the session with Mr Mosley on March 28 - which was secretly filmed by a fifth woman, referred to as Woman E - had any Nazi connotations and was simply a ''prison fantasy''.

Mr Mosley, the 68-year-old son of the 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, has said: "A Nazi theme would be abhorrent to me - and I suspect that none of the women would wish to take part should anyone suggest such a theme."

Mr Mosley, president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) says that his life was devastated by the expose of what the newspaper called a "sick Nazi orgy with five hookers" and is asking for an unprecedented award of punitive exemplary damages.

Woman D, a student in her twenties, said the newspaper's description of what happened on March 28 was "absurd".

Referring to the newspaper article, Woman D said: "I am particularly appalled at the accusations that our scenarios had any Nazi connotation or overtones. No Nazi images, uniforms or material were used."

Woman A, or "Mistress Switch" as the newspaper described her, told the court she had been involved in BDSM (Bondage Discipline, Dominance and Submission and Sadomasochism) all her adult life.

A said that Mr Mosley - who she knew as Mike - contacted her via a website two years ago and they quite quickly became close.

"Mike is an extremely charming, mild-mannered and interesting man," she said.

She described the first German prison scenario of March 8 as "hugely sexy and fun", and did not view it in any way Nazi.

She denied she had told E that the March 28 session, for which the five women were paid Ј2,500 by Mr Mosley, would have a "very strong Nazi theme", or that "Mike" ordered one.

"I would not contemplate putting on such scenes which I would find distasteful and I would expect most people to be disgusted at the suggestion of a Nazi theme and respond similarly," she said.

A said she was in a "state of shock" when she heard about the article and was "astounded" at the Nazi accusation

"I am disgusted that the defendant published the article and posted the video as what took place was on a strictly private basis. I remain shocked and extremely upset when I think of it."

She said that she and the girls were not always paid and that "before all this palaver" they were going to do a birthday party for Mr Mosley.

She said the German theme arose after they heard Woman B speaking to Mr Mosley in German at a party at the beginning of the year.

"We said 'That's really sexy and horny and wouldn't it be great if we did a scenario like that', and then it went from there."

Tall black-haired Woman B told the court in a strong German accent that the session on March 28 was neither grotesque nor brutal as the newspaper alleged.

She said: "Under no circumstances. It's a party. It was fun. I was so ill on that day and I thought I can't let go of that fun."

She said that she played a guard in the second scenario wearing a German Luftwaffe jacket which she had bought a few years back in Camden Market to wear to a concert.

Asked if it was a Nazi scenario, she said: "Under no circumstances, and I'm very upset and offended because it is an insult and offence if a newspaper equates German with being Nazi - my grandparents were not members of that party.

"It makes me so cross and angry. Nobody on this planet can make me do something like that and our friend did not suggest anything like that."

She said that "Mike", whose real identity she did not know at the time, never suggested such a theme.

Blonde and tanned Woman C, wearing a black suit and low-cut top, also denied the event on March 28 had been a "Nazi scenario" and would have found it "offensive" if anyone suggested it.

The fact that "Mike" and Woman B spoke German meant that "those of us who were submissive did not know what those who were dominant were going to do. This adds to the surprise factor and excitement".

Colin Myler, editor of the News of the World, gave evidence today and told the court he believed the story was one of "legitimate public interest and one that I believe was legitimately published".

On the allegation that the paper fabricated the Nazi aspect to the story, Mr Myler answered: "Absolutely not true."

The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday when Mr Myler will continue giving evidence.

COURT TOLD OF ‘NAZI’ THEME

MOSLEY TO SUE NEWS OF THE WORLD

HAMILTON ANTICIPATES TIGHT FINISH

Hamilton - expects tight finish.

Lewis Hamilton is steeling himself for a repeat of last season's final-day title decider.

After his superb British Grand Prix victory at Silverstone on Sunday, Hamilton is back in business in the championship.

At the halfway point of the Formula One season, the McLaren star is level on points with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica is just two points adrift, whilst team-mate Nick Heidfeld arguably cannot be discounted, with the German 12 points off the pace.

It is all poised to go down to the wire again and the last race in Brazil, as it did in October when Hamilton missed out on the title by a point to Raikkonen.

"I can only guess, but I am sure it will be a lot like last year," said Hamilton, assessing how the remainder of the championship will unfold.

"Last year it was just as close between the top three drivers, and there was one point separating us at the end.

"So I can only assume it will be at the last race again. I hope it's not, but..."

But for a rollercoaster ride of a season, Hamilton appreciates he could easily have been out in front.

Although the 23-year-old has won in Australia, Monaco and Britain, he has failed to score points in Bahrain, Canada and France.

A 10-place grid penalty in Magny-Cours for running into the back of Raikkonen in Montreal compromised a race in which he also received a drive-through penalty.

"Somehow I've been very strong on the most challenging races this year," added Hamilton, fastest in practice at Hockenheim over the last two days ahead of next weekend's German Grand Prix.

"But even if you look at Montreal, we were blindingly quick there and it is just a shame we didn't win.

"We clearly had the quicker car. If I hadn't crashed in Montreal then we would have won the race.

"We would have gone to Magny-Cours without the 10-place penalty and we probably would have finished in the top three.

"The championship positions would have been different, but that is just the way racing is and that's what makes thing exciting.

"To be honest I think we've been very, very consistent all year. I don't have an excuse or a reason for why it has been up and down.

"But you can't just have a perfect year. You don't have perfect years.

"There are lots of different things and problems that crop up, and as you saw Ferrari had their problems at the last race. But then we have had our fair share."

With Hamilton battling Massa and Raikkonen, he is now looking to his own team-mate Heikki Kovalainen to help him fight the Ferraris.

"I think it's an advantage having two drivers (from the same team) fighting for the world championship," said Hamilton.

"At the end of the day it pushes them towards the constructors' championship. It can't be bad for them."

When asked whether he was hoping Massa and Raikkonen would take points off one another, he replied: "Not really.

"I'm more hoping Heikki takes more points off them than anything else.

"But we're all on equal paths at the moment. We are definitely into the back nine and it's very important we continue to score points."

HAMILTON READY FOR ‘SPICY’ RACE

MASSA AIMS TO MAINTAIN FERRARI DOMINANCE

MASSA: HAMILTON STILL THREAT

MASSA LOOKING FOR HOCKENHEIM FILLIP

Massa - torrid time at British GP.

Felipe Massa is confident he and Ferrari will rediscover their competitive edge at next weekend's German Grand Prix.

Massa concluded this week's three-day test session at Hockenheim, venue for the race, with the best time of the day.

The Brazilian, who endured a wretched British Grand Prix on Sunday as he spun five times and trailed home last of the 13 finishers, was happy to have completed 109 trouble-free laps.

"It was a good day's work," said Massa, whose fastest lap was a one minute 14.989secs, just 0.117 seconds slower than the quickest time of the week set by Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday.

"We did a lot of kilometres and I have to say the car felt well balanced.

"This can only mean we should also be competitive at this track, which is also the case for our main rivals."

Jenson Button provided Honda with hope they could have a reasonable weekend with the second fastest time.

Heikki Kovalainen was third in his McLaren, followed by the Red Bull of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel for Toro Rosso.

Fernando Alonso was 0.6secs adrift in his Renault in sixth, with Williams' Kazuki Nakajima seventh and BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica eighth.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli completed the most laps of the day - and of the week - with 129, with his quickest a 1:16.065 to finish ninth.

Despite that, the Italian was satisfied as he said: "I got through a busy schedule and did more laps than anyone today.

"It will give us a lot of data to maximise the car set-up at next week's German Grand Prix.

"There were no mechanical issues, we completed what we needed to do and I'm happy."

Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella suffered another testing crash a fortnight after damaging his thumb at Silverstone.

The Italian also suffered a fuel system failure in the morning to curtail his running to just 74 laps, ultimately finishing at the bottom of the unofficial timesheets with a lap of 1:16.113.

Fisichella said: "It was a bit frustrating we could not do more running.

"In the morning we had the technical problem and had to stop for some time, then in the afternoon I had an accident.

"The rear of the car went away and I just lost control through the stadium complex.

"The car went across the road and there's not much run off area there, so I went into the wall.

"I'm fine, but the car was quite badly damaged. The guys did a good job to get it out again for the last 30 minutes."

LEWIS ON TOP AT HOCKENHEIM

HAMILTON ‘TRIES TOO HARD’

LEWIS ON TOP AT HOCKENHEIM

Hamilton - quickest.

Just 48 hours after his triumph at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton once more led the way after he set the fastest time in testing at Hockenheim, venue for next weekend's German Grand Prix.

As in the British Grand Prix on Sunday, teams had wet weather to contend with and the 23-year-old McLaren Mercedes driver again made light of the conditions to set a time of one minute 15.483 seconds.

World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, who shares the lead of the Drivers' Championship with Hamilton and Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, was second quickest, albeit over three-tenths-of-a-second slower.

McLaren used the test to run a new aerodynamic dorsal fin, similar to those used by Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India this season, on top of the engine cover of the MP4-23 car.

Williams driver Nico Rosberg, without a point in his last four races, was third fastest ahead of Force India's Adrian Sutil.

Hockenheim returns to the Formula One calendar this season after a year's absence following the decision to alternate hosting of the German Grand Prix with the Nurburgring.

MASSA LOOKING FOR HOCKENHEIM FILLIP

HAMILTON ‘TRIES TOO HARD’

HEIDFELD FOCUSED ON RACING

Heidfeld - looking for improvement.

Nick Heidfeld has refused to let fears over his place within BMW Sauber drag him under this season.

Prior to Sunday's British Grand Prix, Heidfeld had found himself completely overshadowed by team-mate Robert Kubica.

Kubica had out-qualified Heidfeld in the opening eight grands prix, and other than the curtain-raiser in Australia when he retired, had also out-scored the German.

It had led to suggestions Heidfeld would be out at the end of the season, with Fernando Alonso a potential replacement given the two-time former world champion is close friends with Kubica.

But at Silverstone, Heidfeld was finally on the pace in qualifying, and then drove superbly in the wet to finish runner-up behind Lewis Hamilton, albeit a considerable distance adrift.

Despite his problems, Heidfeld is just 10 points behind Kubica in the drivers' standings, and 12 off the leading trio of Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

Asked if he feared for his place in the team over recent weeks, Heidfeld replied: "No, that would have been the wrong way to approach the situation.

"I was concerned about my qualifying performance, but I also knew I hadn't suddenly forgotten how to drive a car and that my race speed was still good.

"The critical thing for me is to get the tyres up to temperature in qualifying."

That has been Heidfeld's main problem all season and has resulted in lowly grid positions from which he has often struggled to score points.

Heidfeld feels he is finally getting to grips with the matter, adding: "What is certain is that our work has paid off, and the team has given me tremendous support.

"We conducted a complicated analysis of the situation and took measures to enable me to make better use of the tyres for a single hot lap.

"We will not be easing off now. I'm sure there is a lot more we can do to further improve my performance in qualifying."

Starting from fifth on Sunday, Heidfeld's race was notable for two overtaking moves when he passed two cars in one manoeuvre, notably Ferrari's Raikkonen and McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen at one point.

That has now set him up for his home grand prix at Hockenheim on July 20 when he hopes to maintain his current form.

"It gives me an extra push to go into my home GP on the back of a podium finish in the last race," said Heidfeld.

"I want to keep heading in the same direction - get a good position on the grid and do as well as possible in the race itself.

"I'm determined to put on a great performance."

HEIDFELD HOPES FOR BETTER

HEIDFELD: NO TEAM ORDERS AT BMW

HAMILTON SEEKS CONSISTENCY

HAMILTON FANS SINGING IN THE RAIN

Hamilton celebrates his win.

Lewis Hamilton rocked Silverstone to its roots and sent 90,000 fans into a frenzy with a glorious British Grand Prix victory.

The McLaren star, who had failed to score a point in his last two races, had his legion of supporters singing in the rain at the end of a chaos-strewn event as wet weather sent his rivals into a spin.

Hamilton finished an astonishing 68.5 seconds clear of BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld come the conclusion of the 60-lap encounter, with a remarkable Rubens Barrichello third in his Honda, on the podium for the first time in three years.

The 23-year-old is now level on points with Felipe Massa, who could only manage 13th, and reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who was fourth in his Ferrari.

He joins a list of illustrious British names to win his home race, including Sterling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and David Coulthard, who was the last to triumph in 2000.

Hamilton punched the air in delight as he crossed the start/finish line, and after taking the acclaim of the crowd on his slow down, he then hugged McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh and his brother Nicolas.

This season Hamilton has now won in Australia, Monaco and his home race, the three he targetted at the start of the year, but this was his greatest.

"It is by far the best victory I've ever had," smiled Hamilton.

"The conditions were bad and as I was driving I thought, 'If I win this, it will be the best race I've ever done'.

"On my last lap, I could see the crowd starting to rise to their feet, and I was just praying, praying, praying I could get the car round.

"I want to dedicate this to my family because we all know I've had some troubles of late, so this is for them."

"This morning, I wasn't feeling great," added Hamilton, who becomes the first Englishman to win the British Grand Prix since Johnny Herbert in 1995.

"It wasn't until I got to the track and I saw family, friends and fans, and I started to get energy, so I have to say thanks to all of them."

McLaren boss Ron Dennis hailed Hamilton's "disciplined" drive. "We had to really, really keep the pace down," Dennis said.

"He could have gone much quicker and the last 15 laps he was complaining at having to drive too slowly.

"It's very easy to make mistakes in those conditions."

Dennis believes Hamilton has answered his critics, saying: "It's tough because you're trying to do your best all the time and you're surrounded by armchair experts who just constantly apply pressure.

"You have to put that out of your mind and concentrate on the job. But he's done a good job."

On a wet track courtesy of persistent rain throughout a cold, grey morning, with standing water in places, the start was as dramatic as could have been expected.

The rain may have relented once the five red lights disappeared, but the conditions were the worst experienced since last year's monsoon-hit Japan.

Perhaps with nerves on full alert, Heikki Kovalainen and Red Bull's Mark Webber were slow away from the front row of the grid, allowing Hamilton to seize his opportunity.

With Raikkonen baulked behind Kovalainen, Hamilton flashed past him and Australian Webber, and had his nose in front of his McLaren team-mate heading out of first corner Copse.

But Kovalainen had the line, and after brushing tyres with Hamilton he managed to sneak ahead, leaving Hamilton to file behind in the spray that kicked up off the sodden tarmac.

There was further drama behind as Webber spun, swiftly followed by Felipe Massa who had started ninth, whilst Coulthard's final British race was one to forget.

The Scot, who announced on Thursday he is to retire at the end of the season, attempted to pass the Toro Rosso of Sebastian Vettel, only to clip the German, sending them into the gravel where they remained beached.

"I'm truly disappointed," said Coulthard. "I'm sorry for the team. I went for a gap and didn't make the move, coming together with Sebastian, so taking out two Red Bulls.

"In a race like that you have to take your opportunities when they come, but unfortunately it was a bad decision."

Hamilton then continued to hound Kovalainen, and after Massa spun for a second time on lap three to the back of the field, the Briton made his move on the Finn going into Copse.

To the delight of the fans, Hamilton made it stick and proceeded to pull away from Kovalainen, who then gave up second place on lap 10 by spinning at Abbey, allowing Raikkonen to pass.

Over the following 10 laps, approaching one-third distance, the 28-year-old Raikkonen began to reel in Hamilton until he was within a second when they pitted together on lap 21.

Raikkonen opted not to change his tyres, in contrast to Hamilton as his team went for fresh rubber, and it proved the correct decision.

Within three laps the rain started to fall again, leaving Raikkonen with limited tread and barely able to cope with a wet track.

Hamilton then began to take five and six seconds per lap out of Raikkonen who on occasion was tip-toeing his way around the track.

The Finn was a sitting duck and on lap 27 he was passed by not only Kovalainen, but also a flying Heidfeld who surged past both into and then out of Woodcote, the final turn.

Seemingly going backwards, Raikkonen was soon passed by Kubica and Nelson Piquet in his Renault before finally diving into the pits for a second time for a desperately-needed fresh set of tyres.

Then the rain threw down, sending Piquet spinning out, whilst Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen and Kubica all had their nervy moments before the Pole hurtled into the gravel on lap 40 and out of the race.

That was at a time when sun and blue skies made an appearance on a day of contrasts, with Kubica's exit soon followed by Nico Rosberg in his Williams and Jenson Button, sliding off in his Honda.

But all the while Hamilton marched on imperiously, lapping Kovalainen, Raikkonen and Alonso who were running sixth, fifth and fourth respectively at the time on lap 52.

From that moment it was all Hamilton with only Heidfeld and Barrichello on the same lap.

Behind Raikkonen - who becomes the seventh driver to top 500 career points in F1 - came Kovalainen, Alonso, Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Kazuki Nakajima in his Williams.

After his third podium of the season, a delighted Heidfeld said: "You could see during the race there was different drivers quick at different times.

"We had a one-two in Canada, but then France was not so good, but it was better today and I'm happy with the way I drove."

Barrichello was even happier as he said: "It's fantastic. I've never lost the belief I have in me.

"I've this great feeling. It's like I'm young, I just love the sport.

"It was obviously a lucky day with the weather, but I love the wet weather conditions. It was a perfect race."

HAMILTON: FANS WILL INSPIRE ME

HAMILTON DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM STRIKE

HAMILTON RETURNS TO GOODWOOD

COURT TOLD OF 'NAZI' THEME

Mosley - the case continues.

The reporter who broke the story of motorsport boss Max Mosley's sadomasochistic "orgy" with five women told the High Court on Wednesday that it had an "absolutely overwhelming Nazi" theme.

The News of the World's Neville Thurlbeck said he was "completely surprised" by the level of the Nazism, which appeared in the footage secretly filmed at a Chelsea flat in March by one of the dominatrices - woman E.

"I didn't quite expect the degree of Nazi-style humiliation that we saw.

"I kind of suspected it might be just some sort of watered down comedy version of Allo Allo. But, when we looked at the video it became clear very quickly that there was a very cynical Nazi theme running throughout. It was just clear to us all."

Thurlbeck denied that when he showed E how to operate the clandestine camera, he suggested that she might want to get Mosley to do the Sieg Heil.

He said: "I realised that if there was going to be a Nazi theme and if Mr Mosley was to give the Sieg Heil then that was a very crucial image for us to capture, a very powerful and emotive image.

"I saw it as my job to make sure that if Mr Mosley did give the Fascist salute that our girl had sufficient instruction and we had a camera able enough to capture that image."

Mosley's QC, James Price, suggested that what he wanted from E was clear film of Mosley doing something "unmistakably Nazi".

Thurlbeck replied: "No, is the answer to that question. I wanted her to capture the Sieg Heil if he gave it."

The QC asked: "Why should he do it?"

Thurlbeck countered: "Why should he order German dominatrices to beat him with sticks?"

What happened in the flat, including beatings counted out in German, "wasn't Hansel and Gretel".

He said: "I would say the whole video is unmistakably Nazi."

Price said that E had not done anything "unmistakably Nazi" and that it would have been "terribly easy" for her to have said something like "Ve are ze SS officers and you are ze Jews" during the scenario.

Thurlbeck said: "There was an overwhelming, absolutely overwhelming Nazi theme."

The newspaper's editor, Colin Myler, has told Mr Justice Eady, who is hearing the hotly contested landmark breach of privacy action in London, he believed the story was one of "legitimate public interest and one that I believe was legitimately published".

It was "absolutely not true" that the paper fabricated the Nazi aspect of the story.

Mosley, the 68-year-old son of the 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, says his life was devastated by the expose of what the newspaper called a "sick Nazi orgy with five hookers", and is asking for an unprecedented award of punitive exemplary damages.

Price has said that the "gross and indefensible intrusion" was made substantially worse by the entirely false suggestion that Mosley, president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) was playing a concentration camp commandant and a cowering death camp inmate.

Responding to Price's suggestion that it was an English prison scenario, Thurlbeck replied: "I know of no English prison that beats its inmates with a stick until their buttocks bleed.

"I know of no English prison where the warder will deliver those blows and count them out in German.

"I know of no English prison where the inmates then have sexual intercourse with the warder who has just given those blows."

He said: "I think they find the whole German/Nazi thing a big turn-on. That's why it was all characterised and staged that way."

Thurlbeck added that the standard of proof for getting a story into the paper was "very, very high indeed".

Earlier, Myler agreed that the newspaper was accusing Mosley of instigating a crime - an assault - upon himself.

He said: "You say it was S and M but blood was drawn. I know it was drawn because he had a plaster on his bottom. I think it was after he'd had 15 beatings of the cane."

He added: "The News of the World did not take Mr Mosley kicking and screaming to that apartment, that flat in Chelsea.

"The News of the World did not engage five girls for five hours of what went on - which was brutal."

He said that publication was probably justified on the S and M basis alone.

Price suggested to him: "From the moment the film arrived in the News of the World offices and the moment somebody saw that there were pictures of sex and S and M, those pictures were going to be published willy nilly."

After that allegation was denied, Price then suggested: "And the justification was just a fig leaf."

Myler replied: "In this day and age, Mr Price, no editor could justify behaving in that way."

The hearing was adjourned until Thursday when woman E is expected to give evidence.

MOSLEY TO SUE NEWS OF THE WORLD

MOSLEY SURVIVES CONFIDENCE VOTE

HAMILTON 'TRIES TOO HARD'

Hamilton -

Martin Whitmarsh feels Lewis Hamilton has a tendency to "try too hard sometimes," but can be forgiven as he strives to become Formula One world champion.

Hamilton was warned not to over-drive by his engineer Phil Prew during qualifying for Saturday's British Grand Prix after running wide on one of his hot laps.

Only after the 23-year-old McLaren ace had clinched a stunning win in the wet at Silverstone did he concede to doing a "terrible job" the previous day when he could only qualify fourth on the grid.

At that stage it appeared to be another mistake from Hamilton to compound those he made during the races in Canada and France and which had put him under an intense spotlight.

But he redeemed himself with his glorious triumph to shoot him back to the top of the drivers' standings on 48 points alongside Ferrari duo Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

"Lewis does try too hard sometimes," was McLaren F1 CEO Whitmarsh's assessment of the young Briton.

"He pushed very hard in the last sector in qualifying, probably overdriving it there.

"By his own standards it was a pretty poor qualifying session, but luckily he was still on the second row.

"He then came out in such a strong frame of mind, believing 'okay, it didn't go right in qualifying, but I've the ability in the race to win this thing'.

"He then gauged it pretty right in the race. It will go down as one of those races people will talk about for years.

"But for anyone who is striving to be the best in the world and be a world champion, you've got to push pretty hard.

"When you're pushing that hard, it would be remarkable if you always judged it absolutely right.

"It's like getting a first serve in every time. You don't tend to do that. If you are getting it in 90% of the time, you try and hit the ball harder."

Given McLaren's performance in testing at Silverstone the previous week, and during practice and qualifying when Heikki Kovalainen was dominant prior to Hamilton's win, it would suggest they will be the team to beat at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in 12 days' time.

In contrast, Ferrari's weekend was wretched as Massa wrecked his car in practice before sliding off five times during the race.

The team also made crucial errors throughout that compromised Raikkonen's grand prix, so they will be desperate to make amends.

Whitmarsh is expecting them to hit back hard, adding: "Ferrari are going to fight back, that's for sure, so nobody's writing them off - we're certainly not.

"We're going to Hockenheim to test (starting today), and like us they will be bolting bits on the car to make it better.

"They've also two very quick and committed drivers, so we are in for real tough competition."

HAMILTON WON’T LET STANDARDS SLIP

HAMILTON PENALTY PROMPTS FRENCH PLOT

KIMI WON'T HIT PANIC BUTTON

Raikkonen - no panic.

Kimi Raikkonen refuses to press the panic button despite a string of disappointing results.

The world champion was forced to settle for fourth at the British Grand Prix after Ferrari kept him out on his old tyres during wet conditions at Silverstone while in France he was almost certain of victory when his exhaust broke.

Before that he was taken out of the Canadian Grand Prix by Lewis Hamilton and in Monaco he crashed into Adrian Sutil.

The Finn insists he is more than happy with the points he picked up over the weekend because it keeps him on top of the drivers' standings.

"The five points and the fact that I'm leading the standings with Felipe (Massa) and Lewis (Hamilton) give me satisfaction," he told the Ferrari website.

"If I'm in such a position after four races where everything happened, my confidence can only be strengthened."

Raikkonen is confident the Scuderia will bounce back.

"Now we are looking ahead to the next race and react without panic," he said.

"We know that we have a winning car; we just need a weekend without big problems.

"As of today we are at Hockenheim for two days of testing, [and] Felipe will be on the track on Thursday.

"It's my first race with Ferrari on this track, so it's a new experience for me.

"I'd say that we'll be competitive, because the F2008 has proved itself to be competitive wherever we are.

"So we can fight back."

BUTTON HOPES TO GET BACK ON TRACK

KIMI WON’T GET ANGRY OVER SHUNT

BRITISH GP: LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

Hamilton crosses the winning line.

FINISH: Germany is next. Join us again on July 20th for round ten of the Championship

FINISH: "Well done Lewis, tremendous drive, well disciplined and look after the car" is the mesage from Ron Dennis with Hamilton saying "Thank you" in return to his team

FINISH: Rubens Barrichello is third - great result for the Honda driver

FINISH: And Lewis Hamilton wins the British GP by over a minute ahead of Nick Heidfeld

Lap 60: Final lap for Hamilton who drives by the eager British fans who blow their airhorns in support of the British driver

Lap 59: Nakajima is trying to get by Alonso now and he's bringing trulli with him

Lap 58: Kovalainen finally gets by Alonso and up into fifth place

Lap 57: Hamilton is easily on his way to the British GP victory

Lap 56: Kovalainen tries to get round Alonso but the Spaniard manages to hold him off. Heikki tries again but Alonso is not giving up

Lap 55: Kovalainen lines up Alonso looking for a way through

Lap 54: Raikkonen takes Alonso for fourth place. Great fight back from the Ferrari driver who was undone by Ferrari's poor tyre decision in the first pit stops

Lap 54: Hamilton laps Raikkonen and Alonso - the present and past World Champions

Lap 53: Raikkonen lines up Alonso but backs away at the last minute. Massa pits. He is the last driver in this grand prix

Lap 52: Hamilton puts a lap on his team-mate Kovalainen. That will be demoralising for the pole sitter who had been hoping for his first win

Lap 51: Massa has spin number five!

Lap 51: Raikkonen is closing in on Alonso, less than a second separate the two as Kovalainen spins. This allows Alonso and Raikkonen through

Lap 50: Trulli's stop has put him down in eight place, elevating Raikkonen to P6 which should earn the reigning F1 Champion three points

Lap 49: Trulli pits, Massa spins, Webber spins. And the one of the three that has happened most this afternoon? Massa spins! The Brazilian just can't keep it on the track. That was his fourth spin of the day

Lap 48: Barrichello comes out in third place, still on track for a podium

Lap 47: The Brazilian pits for third time this afternoon. Disappointing outcome for Rubens

Lap 46: Hamilton now has a 40s lead over Barrichello in the Honda

Lap 45: Massa is running last in 13th place. He has Seb Bourdais 35s ahead of him on the track

Lap 44: Glock is the latest to go spinning off. His problems elevates Nakajima into the points

Lap 43: Barrichello takes Heidfeld for second place

Lap 42: Barrichello on the full wets is flying and looks to be on course for third place. However, Honda will have to pit him again as reports coming in suggest that their fuel right didn't give the Brazilian enough fuel

Lap 41: Rosberg pits for a broken nose and Button has stopped out on track. And a hare runs across the race track

Lap 40: And now the sun is out!

Lap 39: Heidfeld pits, also intermediates. Kubica has also pitted

Lap 39: Hamilton pits for new tyres. They put new intermediates on the McLaren driver's car. Is this a mistake from McLaren? Some say the rain is going to stop other predict it will continue for a while

Lap 38: Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen and Kubica all spin of the track. All four are able to continue

Lap 37: The rain is bucketing down and Piquet Jr is the first victim. He reties in the dirt

Lap 37: Button pits as well but Barrichello can't get away from the pitbox which means Button has to wait for his team-mate

Lap 36: Glock loses a place to Trulli after spinning off the race track. Barrichello pits from fifth place

Lap 35: Kovalainen pits for the second time. He comes out ahead of Button

Lap 34: Kubica has taken P3 off Kovalainen. Great race from BMW as Heidfeld is second

Lap 33: Glock is lapping Felipe Massa

Lap 32: After an intense six laps Hamilton is leading by 23.8s over Heidfeld with Kovalainen third, a further 18.4s off the pace

Lap 31: Raikkonen is passed by Piquet Jr and Kubica before Ferrari finally opted to pit the Finn for new tyres. What a disaster for Ferrari who made a really really really bad call by not changing Raikkonen's tyres earlier. He comes out behind Button in 11th place!

Lap 30: What an outrageous time of the race, which had become rather boring. Nothing like a bit of rain to spice things up

Lap 29: Kovalainen takes Raikkonen, pushing him wide and Heidfeld follows through, giving Kimi a nudge as he does so. The BMW driver also takes Kovalainen. Fisichella retires, spinning off

Lap 28: Trulli and Alonso both pit as Kovalainen fights Raikkonen for second place. It's only a matter of time before the McLaren driver, who was 5s a lap quicker, gets by

Lap 27: Piquet Jr takes sixth place off Alonso who, like Raikkonen, is struggling with his tyres

Lap 26: Raikkonen is paying for not putting on new tyres. He's 6s down on Hamilton that lap. He will need to pit for new tyres

Lap 25: The rain is coming down harder and Hamilton is loving it. The McLaren driver is lapping 2s a lap faster than Raikkonen

Lap 24: Kubica pits while Nakajima takes his second spin of the afternoon. Heidfeld takes Trulli and Alonso is one corner

Lap 23: Heidfeld pits from the lead. He comes out behind Trulli. Piquet jr also pits

Lap 22: Massa pits for fuel as the rain begins to fall

Lap 22: Hamilton and Raikkonen both pit at the same times. Just 0.9s were between them. Kimi is 7.5s, Hamilton was 8.0. Lewis gets out just ahead of Kimi but will now face a tough battle keeping teh Ferrari driver at bay

Lap 21: Alonso pits from third place. No new tyres for the Spaniard, just fuel. He comes out ahead of Glock and behind Trulli

Lap 20: Gap is down to 1.6s as Hamilton's team-mate Kovalainen comes in for fuel. The team changes the tyres, gives him fuel and sends him off. He comes ahead of the BMW of Kubica

Lap 19: Webber pits from tenth place as a short light drizzle hits the circuit

Lap 19: Raikkonen does a 1:31.150 to move with 2.5s of Hamilton. Raikkonen seems to have the better tyres at present

Lap 18: Massa moves up another place, taking P15 off Fisichella

Lap 18: Renault urge Alonso to get a move on as they fear Heidfeld could get ahead in the pit stops

Lap 17: Massa passes Rosberg for 16th place at Vale

Lap 16: Hamilton responds to Raikkonen's pace with a fastest lap of his own. The McLaren driver, though, is fighting his car and it looks as if his tyres could be going off. A 1:32.817 for Hamilton

Lap 15: Webber goes up another place after sliding through on Button. The Aussie's Red Bull is loving this track and these conditions

Lap 14: Another new fastest lap from Kimi. It's a 1:33.526 for the Ferrari driver who is now just 3.8s behind Hamilton

Lap 14: Massa is having a torrid race. He is down in 17th place and is all over the place, struggling to keep his car pointed forwarded

Lap 13: Webber has taken Barrichello and is now up into 11th place. Great racing from the man who started P2 but spun on the first lap

Lap 12: Raikkonen, who is now P2, is closing in on Hamilton - albeit only marginally

Lap 11: Sutil is in the wars. He lost it under breaking on the way into Abbey Chicane, almost collecting Bourdais in the process. Sutil was sent hurtling over the grass, pretty much airborne as he hit the kerb before travelling across the gravel and coming to a rest. He's out of the grand prix

Lap 10: Webber, who is P12, clocks a 1:33.810 for a new fastest lap as he closes in on the Hondas. Button has gotten by Barrichello who is Webber's next target

Lap 10: Raikkonen has overtaken Kovalainen for second place! A spin from Kovalainen allowed Raikkonen through and put him in Alonso's sights

Lap 9: Webber pushes Bourdais wide as he takes 13th place off the Toro Rosso driver. His next target is Sutil, who he easily passes

Lap 8: Raikkonen is now losing ground to the McLarens. The Finn is 5.1s behind Hamilton and 1.9 behind Kovalainen

Lap 7: Hamilton sets a 1:34.285 - a new fatsest lap time

Lap 7: Webber has improved to 15th place, overtaking Giancarlo Fisichella

Lap 6: The two Hondas have had an okay start to the race. Barrichello is currently P10, one place ahead of his team-mate Button

Lap 5: Alonso sets a new fastest lap time: a 1:34.904

Lap 5: Hamilton has taken the lead at Silverstone. The Brit easily slid through on his team-mate in a move that looked almost as if Kovalainen lifted for Hamilton

Lap 4: Massa spins again. The Championship leader, who crashes heavily in Friday's first practice, is struggling to stay on the track in these wet conditions. Hamilton is all over the back of Kovalainen with Raikkonen staying on their tails

Lap 3: Fernando Alonso has easily overtaken Heidfeld for fourth place

Lap 2: Hamilton has a run at Kovalainen through Copse, however, he has to back off rather than risk putting both McLarens out of the race. Alonso has taken fifth place off Piquet Jr

Lap 1: Webber has spun while Nakajima is taking to the grass. Massa, the Championship leader, also spins. Accident between Coulthard and Vettel. It's all action on this first lap

Lap 1: Kovalainen gets a flying start while Raikkonen and Webber are fighting for position. Hamilton charges ahead and up into second place. The Brit tries to take his team-mate but Kovalainen fights back, forcing Hamilton to settle for second

START: And it's go at Silverstone

13h03: The drivers line-up on the gird ready for the start

13h02: The drivers have all opted for the Bridgestone intermediate tyre

13h00: The formation lap is underway with 19 drivers leaving the grid. The 20th driver, Nico Rosberg, is starting the grand prix from the pit lane as Williams opted to make changes to his suspension after qualifying

12h58: The track temperature is currently 16'C with an ambient temperature of 15'C. Light rain is falling over parts of the circuit

12h55: It's a sell-out crowd here today as the British fans flock to watch Hamilton, David Coulthard and Jenson Button in action

12h50: The British national anthem rings out around Silverstone

12h45: Mark Webber is joining Kovalainen on the front row with Kimi Raikkonen lining up in third place and alongside Hamilton

12h40: The McLaren driver is starting the race from P4 on the grid while his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen is the pole-sitter

12h35: Lewis Hamilton is heading out with the intermediate Bridgestone tyre on his McLaren

12h30: Pit lane is open which means the drivers can now make their way to the grid

12h30: According to current forecasts, rain is expected in the next half an hour but after that the chance of showers decreases

12h20: The track is very wet at the moment although it is not raining. However, there is a very strong wind blowing at around 30 kilometres per hour

12h10: First the big news of the weekend: Today's race is the penultimate time that Silverstone will host the British GP as the FIA announced earlier this weekend that Donington Park would take over in 2010

12h00: Welcome to coverage of the 2008 British GP, which takes place at the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire.

TURKISH GP - LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

CANADIAN GRAND PRIX - LAP-BY-LAP

MONACO GP - LAP-BY-LAP REPORT

TYRE CHOICE COSTS KIMI

Kimi Raikkonen - tyre gamble didn't pay off.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was left to rue a tyre gamble that ultimately cost him a shot at victory in today's dramatic British Grand Prix, won by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

The reigning world champion was battling with Hamilton for the lead of the race run in tricky wet conditions when the pair dived into the pit lane together on lap 21.

Raikkonen's team elected to keep the Finn on his original set of intermediate tyres, expecting no more rain would fall over the Silverstone circuit.

Down at McLaren, meanwhile, Hamilton was given a fresh set of intermediates, which came into their own when the heavens opened just three laps later.

Raikkonen's worn tyres failed to cope with the treacherous conditions but Hamilton eased away at the front, going on to win by 68.5 seconds, while Raikkonen slipped back to fourth at the chequered flag, a lap down on the victorious Briton.

"I think we made one mistake," Raikkonen admitted.

"We really did not expect it to start raining, so at the pit stop so we kept the old tyres. Until that point we had good speed, so we had the car to win the race. But that mistake cost us."

The Finn revealed it had been the team's call to stay on his original set of tyres, but he refused to point the finger of blame after the race.

"It was a team decision," he said. "We make decisions together and sometimes you get it right. Unfortunately today, it was one of those that could have gone in either direction.

"We win and we lose as a team. Sometimes we make the wrong decisions. But I don't complain to the team and they don't complain to me."

Raikkonen's fourth-placed finish means he now shares the lead of the drivers' championship on 48 points along with Hamilton and team-mate Felipe Massa, who had a torrid race, finishing well outside the points after spinning off five times.

The result continues a frustrating run of results for Raikkonen, who failed to score in Monaco and Canada and had victory snatched away from him at the French Grand Prix when an exhaust problem cost him valuable time.

"The last races have not been easy for me," Raikkonen continued. "We haven't had one good race. At the last race, we had good speed but unfortunately we had a problem with the car.

"If you look at all those things, not scoring in two races and not really having a perfect race in the next two, we are tied in the championship lead so it's not too bad. We know we have good speed."

FERRARI VOW TO LEARN

REACTION: FERRARI, McLAREN AND BMW

DENNIS APPLAUDS ‘PHENOMENAL’ LEWIS

MASSA DETERMINED TO MOVE ON

Felipe Massa - had a tough Grand Prix.

Felipe Massa insists he will not dwell on a nightmare British GP that saw the Ferrari driver trail home dead last in the race and lose the outright lead in the standings.

The Brazilian led the Drivers' standings by two points after his third win of the season in France just over two weeks ago, but struggled at Silverstone despite setting the fastest overall time in Friday's practice sessions.

A heavy crash in the first of those practice sessions restricted his set-up time in the car, while a delay in the pits during third qualifying on Saturday meant Massa lined up ninth on the starting grid, from where things just got worse.

The 27-year-old was unable to cope in the difficult wet conditions at Silverstone, the driver himself admitting to committing "many mistakes."

By the end of the 60-lap race, Massa had spun the Ferrari five times and was running 13th and last, two laps down on race winner Lewis Hamilton.

"It was a very tough race, very difficult to keep the car on the track," said Massa.

"It was definitely a race to forget. It was not just a bad race but a bad weekend.

"For sure I was in trouble to drive the car in the wet, and I made so many mistakes.

"Many of them were just because of the aqua-planing. I couldn't hold the car, even on the straight. The conditions were very difficult and sometimes these things can happen.

"This Silverstone weekend is one to be wiped out. On Friday I had an accident, Saturday there was the problem in qualifying and Sunday a series of mistakes at all levels."

Massa's failure to score allowed McLaren driver Hamilton to pull level at the top of the standings, while Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen completes the trio of leaders on 48 points after coming home in fourth place.

The Brazilian is adamant there is nothing to be learned from his elementary mistakes at Silverstone, and has already turned his attentions to the next race at Hockenheim on July 20.

"We need to think about the next one and not go back and start to see what's happened today," he continued.

"We need to think about the next race. We need to concentrate. We know that we are competitive.

"We have to look ahead, because there is still a very long way to go in the Championship and once again, we've seen that it only takes one result to turn the situation around.

"After nine races I am in the lead in the classification and I have every chance to fight for the title all the way to the end."

MASSA PLAYS DOWN LEAD

MASSA MASTERS SILVERSTONE

FERRARI VOW TO LEARN

REACTION: RED BULL, TORO ROSSO, FORCE INDIA

Webber - difficult day at Silverstone.

Neither Red Bull, Toro Rosso nor Force India scored any points in Britain, but at least the first two teams each got a car home.

Red Bull
Mark Webber: Unfortunately I dropped it on the entrance to Becketts on the first lap. I was quite close to Kimi (Raikkonen) and just got on the white line. I lost the car on the exit and had to let the field go past, so it was clear to spin back round. After that it was about making the right call for the right conditions. It was a difficult day to go car racing and it just didn't go our way today. The guys did a good job all week and it's a shame we couldn't convert our good qualifying performance."

David Coulthard: The visibility was incredibly bad as you can imagine. I was very close to Sebastian after Abbey, as he had a wobble coming out of there. There was a clear gap down the inside, but unfortunately it was closing as I made the move. I'm sorry for him that we made contact and went into the gravel, I'm sorry for Red Bull too, as it was two cars out in one hit. I'm extremely disappointed for this to happen at my last British Grand Prix."

Toro Rosso
Sebastien Bourdais: It was very tough at the start as I couldn't see because the water wasn't clearing off my visor. It's the first time I've encountered this problem. In the early stages I had a lot of understeer which ruined the tyres. Putting the extreme wets on was a good call and the car was pretty quick but it was too late to do very much and eleventh was the best I could do. We must continue to work hard, starting with the up-coming Hockenheim test and try and do better at the next race."

Sebastian Vettel: Massa spun going into Bridge which caused a lot of confusion and meant the cars were all running very close. Then in Turn 14, I got hit on the rear left and it spun me around. I tried to save it, but I got stuck in the gravel. I thought there might have been a chance of being pushed out, but when I got out of the cockpit I saw the gravel was much too deep."

Force India
Adrian Sutil: At the time of my spin, the track was starting to dry and it was tricky to tell where the wet patches were. This is what happened in my case - I just went on one of these puddles and aquaplaned off completely. It was a shame as considering how the race turned out, we could have had a chance of moving up the order some more, but this is racing and you never know how it will turn out. I'm now looking forward to the test next week where we can try out some more new parts and then we go onto my home race in Germany."

Giancarlo Fisichella: I just lost control going through the complex because there was a lot of graining on the tyres as a result of the heavy fuel load we were carrying to be as flexible as possible with the weather. Even two laps earlier, the track was starting to dry out and there was some more graining. The grip level was absolutely zero and I spun."

REACTION: TORO ROSSO AND FORCE INDIA

REACTION: FORCE INDIA and RENAULT

SUTIL IN POSITIVE MOOD

HAMILTON: I'M STRONGER NOW

Hamilton - has stormed back in recent weeks.

Lewis Hamilton firmly believes he has grown in strength of character from the adversity of the last few troubled weeks.

Hamilton produced a stunning performance to claim victory in Sunday's British Grand Prix at a soggy Silverstone.

The winning margin of 68.5 seconds from BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was the largest since Damon Hill triumphed by more than two laps in the 1995 Australian Grand Prix.

Yet Hamilton's performance far outweighs that of Hill as just eight finished in Adelaide, with all of the other leading players that year retiring for one reason or another.

In contrast, Hamilton's display was a masterlass of how to drive in the rain, while the majority of his rivals were unable to keep their cars on the circuit.

Given his recent trials and tribulations on and off track, the 23-year-old seemingly proved he has the mental ability to cope under considerable pressure.

"It's true that you do learn from adversity," remarked Hamilton, who then attempted to recall a quote he had read from human rights activist, Martin Luther King.

"I can't remember it word for word, something like 'It is not the times when we triumph and are successful that make us who we are, but those when we are at our lowest and going through troubles'.

"It's a long way off from the actual quote, but I remember reading it and thinking it was very important.

"Coming into the race, the whole week had been tough, but when you take it all in, you learn more.

"And when you are racing, you learn a lot more and how to improve."

With respect to King, the quote reads: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

You can appreciate Hamilton's sentiments, adding: "I had a lot of pressure on me, especially after a terrible job in qualifying, at least by my standards.

"But the plan was not to beat myself up, not to go out and win by the first lap. In fact, I just wanted to get a point.

"I would have been happy with eighth, so with that approach I just remained relaxed. It was important I had the three c's - cool, calm and collected.

"That's really what helped me keep things together because it was such a mental challenge.

"To win took an incredible amount of energy, and to stay focused I needed to be 100 per cent, no more, no less.

"At the end of the day I've stayed true to my faith. Things happen for a reason, and I'm here for a reason, so I'm very thankful."

Hamilton is adamant that despite failing to score in his previous two races in Canada and France, and a demanding personal schedule, we should not have felt worried for him.

"Not at all," insisted Hamilton.

"Meeting Nelson Mandela was the most overwhelming experience. It took a lot out of me, to really understand what was going on.

"But I have a job to do, and I always want to perform at my best, not only in the car, but away from it.

"For me, the biggest emotional build-up was not wanting to let down the fans.

"I know how much support I have, how much my team believe in me, and I've a fantastic team-mate who is pushing me all the time.

"Although you try to contain the whole build-up, there is so much excitement, and that emotion is over-flowing all the time.

"But I feel I did a good job, and I'm very happy."

At the halfway point of the year, Hamilton is involved in a three-way tie for the lead with the Ferrari duo of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, although has the edge on countback.

After already leading the championship twice this season, only to lose it, Hamilton dismisses the suggestion it is third time lucky.

"It's a work in progress," added Hamilton.

"We're doing a good job and we just have to keep on building. As I said, I would have been happy with a point from this race which would have put us in good stead for the next in Germany.

"But we're in a good spot now. There's a lot of competition, and we just have to keep on scoring points."

HAMILTON HAPPY WITH PROGRESS

HAMILTON HAPPY TO BE HOME

HAMILTON LEARNS FROM ROAD RAGE

DUO FAIL TO HIT THE HEIGHTS

Coulthard and Hamilton experienced contrasting fortunes.

Lewis Hamilton enjoyed one of the high points of his career as he thrilled the Silverstone crowd to win the British Grand Prix on Sunday, but for fellow British drivers David Coulthard and Jenson Button the rain-soaked race was an occasion to forget.

On Thursday, Hamilton, Coulthard and Button joked their way through a light-hearted press conference ahead of their home event, but come Sunday afternoon only one member of that triumvirate was still smiling.

Both Coulthard and Button retired after coming unstuck in the tricky conditions at the Northamptonshire circuit, but for veteran Scot Coulthard the pain of failing to reach the chequered flag in his final British Grand Prix was acutely felt.

The Red Bull Racing driver has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season and was desperate for a good showing this weekend at a race he has won twice.

But the 37-year-old's challenge was over almost as soon as it began, Coulthard at fault as he collected Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel heading into Priory.

"The visibility was incredibly bad, as you can imagine," said Coulthard. "I was very close to Sebastian after Abbey, as he had a wobble coming out of there.

"There was a clear gap down the inside, but unfortunately it was closing as I made the move.

"I'm sorry for him that we made contact and went into the gravel, I'm sorry for Red Bull too, as it was two cars out in one hit.

"I'm extremely disappointed for this to happen at my last British Grand Prix."

Button, meanwhile, was left to rue a "crazy" race that saw him climb from 17th on the starting grid to sit in the points at one stage, but his afternoon quickly unravelled as the weather conditions began to deteriorate.

The Honda driver's charge was compromised by having to queue in the pits behind team-mate Rubens Barrichello when the rains came with renewed vigour on lap 35, while three laps later, as he tried to make to make up the time lost while stationary, the car snapped away through Bridge and his race was over.

To rub salt into Button's wounds, Barrichello went on to pick his way through the ensuing chaos to claim a deserved third place at the flag.

Button said: "It was a crazy race today with the conditions changing all the time.

"We had some good pace on the wet tyres for the first part of the race before the heavy shower which brought both Rubens and I into the pits for extreme wets.

"Shortly after that stop, I hit standing water at Bridge which caused the car to aquaplane off the circuit.

"I tried to spin the car round but there was another car coming so I had to get out of the way, couldn't get the car round far enough and ended up trapped in the gravel.

"There's always a bit of luck involved in this type of race and unfortunately it wasn't my day for luck today."

COULTHARD FRUSTRATED AFTER QUALIFYING

HAMILTON CUTS FAST AND LEWIS

RUBENS EYES NEW DEAL

Barrichello - first podium in three years.

Rubens Barrichello looks poised to earn himself a new contract for next season following his stunning performance in the British Grand Prix.

With David Coulthard due to retire at the end of the season, the Brazilian would become the oldest driver in Formula One at the age of 36 if Honda retain his services for another season.

Barrichello certainly appeared on his way out after failing to score a point for 22 races, but he has found a new lease of life since finishing sixth in Monaco at the end of May.

Seventh place followed in Canada before he underlined the value of experience with his first podium for three years at Silverstone by taking third behind race-winner Lewis Hamilton.

Barrichello now has 11 points to his name, overshadowing team-mate Jenson Button, and furthering his prospect of extending his current F1 record of 259 grand prix starts.

"I think Rubens has done a superb job all year," expressed Honda chief executive Nick Fry.

"Ross Brawn joining us (as team principal) has helped Rubens a lot, and he has a lot of confidence.

"He's not only driven well, but he's been a really happy person, which is great to see, and his fitness is very good.

"As for next year, at the end of the day we'll choose the best two drivers."

But when asked as to the likelihood of Barrichello being retained, Fry replied: "Obviously this race is very positive for Rubens."

For his part, Barrichello is naturally eager to prolong his racing career, believing he is driving as well now as at any time since he started out in 1993.

"The team know - maybe those outside don't - but I have this great feeling," said Barrichello.

"It's like I'm young, I'm smiling at problems, I'm working more. I feel that.

"I just love the sport, love the speed, and I cannot live without that.

"It's not that I want to prove to Ross I'm physically capable because he knows I have the speed and I want to keep on racing.

"But I've never lost the belief I have in me, and I've no intention of stopping.

"I will only stop if I have nowhere else to go, but my intention is to stay with Honda.

"I don't have a contract just yet, but I feel young. I love racing more than I ever did.

"The day I find I'm actually slower than in my first race at Kyalami (South Africa) is the day I will stop.

"Right now, I'm just feeling I'm faster than that day."

BARRICHELLO FUTURE IN THE BALANCE

BUTTON HOPES TO GET BACK ON TRACK

RUBENS ON A ROLL HEADING TO FRANCE

FERRARI VOW TO LEARN

Massa has problems at Silverstone.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has warned yesterday's British Grand Prix was littered with mistakes the Scuderia "cannot afford to repeat" in the second half of the season.

Both of the team's drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, encountered problems in treacherous wet conditions at Silverstone while title rival Lewis Hamilton eased to a dominant victory in front of a jubilant home crowd.

A costly tyre gamble at the first round of pit stops compromised the charge of Raikkonen, who had been battling for the lead with the McLaren of Hamilton up to that point.

Ferrari elected to keep the Finn on his original set of intermediate tyres, expecting no more rain would fall over the Silverstone circuit.

Down at McLaren, Hamilton was given a fresh set of intermediates, which came into their own when the heavens opened only three laps later.

Massa, meanwhile, endured a nightmare race, spinning five times before trailing home last of the 13 finishers.

"A Sunday to forget as quickly as possible in terms of the result, although we must remember certain elements of this weekend, as there were mistakes made that we cannot afford to repeat," admitted Domenicali.

"We could have won this race with Kimi but we made a key mistake at the first pit stop, choosing to stay on the same set of tyres.

"The rain did not ease off and lasted longer and our drivers - Felipe had also gone for the same choice - fo