It wasn't only the McLarens indulging in a little inter-necine activity, for Raikkonen's decision to start on the harder tyres began to pay off when he was able to switch to the softs for his second and third stints. The Finn was almost immediately lapping quicker than team-mate Massa, and was closing on the Brazilian, having been freed by the likes of Trulli, Webber and Rosberg making their belated first stops.
The suspicion that Alonso had been fuelled lighter than Hamilton first time around was all but confirmed by the Spaniard's re-appearance on pit-lane on lap 50, one tour ahead of his British colleague. Again, however, the world champion was stationary for less time, but again he had to accept the sight of Hamilton leaving the pits ahead of him, the pair racing into turn one on lap 52 from different starting points.
When Massa pitted next time around, Hamilton was back into the lead and, despite brief initial opposition from Alonso, both silver machines quickly cut their pace, suggesting that the race was over. The leading
Ferrari - still Massa's despite Raikkonen's improved pace - was over ten seconds in arrears, leaving
McLaren to keep a watchful eye on its machinery.
It was left to the Scuderia and others to provide the excitement in the closing stages, with Raikkonen closing right onto the tail of Massa when the Brazilian made a mistake in turn one and two. Try as he might, however, there was nowhere for the Finn to put his nose and the positions remained unchanged to the flag.
Further back, the different strategies had more of a say, with Webber, Heidfeld, Trulli and Kovalainen all appearing to be in with a shout of fifth. It wasn't to be for Heidfeld as
BMW's strong early run again faltered, the German pulling off reporting power steering problems but with his engine stuttering on gearchanges as well. With Kovalainen staking the strongest claim to fifth, the interest then centred on the final three scoring spots, with Webber, Trulli and Rosberg all in the frame.
