Raikkonen continued to lap up to four tenths of a second a lap quicker than Massa as the race passed the ten lap mark, with Hamilton beginning to apply the pressure on Alonso and Kovalainen doing likewise to Kubica behind, though neither was close enough to launch a challenge. Heidfeld,
Mark Webber,
Jarno Trulli and the advancing Rosberg rounded out the top ten, with the Hondas of
Rubens Barrichello – equalling Riccardo Patrese's record number of grand prix starts in Barcelona this weekend – and
Jenson Button just behind.
The biggest surprise at this stage of the race, however, was that Alonso had still not made his first pit-stop, making his sensational qualifying performance on Saturday seem even more impressive and giving
McLaren and
BMW considerable cause for concern, despite the Spaniard's low-key pre-race predictions [see separate story –
click here].
The double world champion was, however, the first man to blink at the end of lap 16, fuelling for a long middle stint as he had done back in 2006 – then
en route to victory – and consequently rejoining in-between the duelling Hondas down in eleventh place. That allowed Hamilton to finally get the hammer down, and the 23-year-old did indeed immediately set personal bests, just three tenths of a second shy of the quickest lap of the race.
Massa was next in, stopping some way short of his marks in his pit box, and he came back on-track behind seventh-placed Trulli. Raikkonen followed suit a lap later, but the McLarens and BMWs sailed on. That promoted Hamilton – 2.4 seconds clear of Kubica – into the lead of the grand prix with 46 laps remaining, whilst further back Webber and Trulli came in together, rejoining in the same order.
