Rosberg's despair, though, was in stark contrast to the mood at
Force India, with Fisichella – 5.4 seconds behind Nakajima – graduating into the points after
Super Aguri brought Sato in early for his second stop, electing for a long final stint of the race. The Italian was the next driver to blink, with 22 laps remaining, but Heidfeld was the real danger man back in 13th, the
BMW ace piling the pressure on Button, Coulthard and Glock in front of him, though he too was in next time around – his third pit visit of a frustrating afternoon – rejoining in the wheeltracks of his quarry Fisichella.
Massa then set a new fastest lap of race with 20 laps to go to deflate Hamilton's charge somewhat, but that sudden spurt of pace was explained by his pitting at the end of the lap, with Webber and Trulli doing likewise, though the latter was delayed by a tardy stop. Raikkonen, Hamilton and Kubica were again all in together, with a slow getaway seeing the long-time race leader only narrowly preserve his advantage over team-mate Massa. Hamilton similarly retained a small edge ahead of Kubica, with little to choose between any of the four with 18 laps left to run.
Heidfeld, meanwhile, was harrying Fisichella for all he was worth for the final points' position, the Italian desperately trying to cling on but under considerable pressure. Glock then went and jumped Fisichella in his second stop, shattering FI
F1's ambitions of a point under the Spanish sun, but shortly afterwards the German collided with Coulthard in turn five, as the
Toyota attempted a pass from a long way back, breaking his own front wing and leaving the Scot with a left rear puncture. Coulthard rejoined down in an unlucky 13th place, having been run into for what must seem to be the nth time this season.
