1. Heikki Kovalainen Finland McLaren-Mercedes 1m 28.841s 2. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 1m 28.847s 3. Robert Kubica Poland BMW Sauber 1m 29.056s 4. Kazuki Nakajima Japan Williams-Toyota 1m 29.091s
While his on-track performance has yet to realise the lustre of a world champion, Lewis Hamilton will at least acquire some of the trappings of Formula One's 'top dog' when he returns to the scene of one of his finest 2008 victories next weekend.
Lewis Hamilton has described this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne as 'one of my best-ever races' as he stormed through the field from 18th place to third - admitting afterwards that he had 'wrung every last ounce of pace out of the car' and 'absolutely raced my heart out'.
"You could flip a coin between [Heikki] Kovalainen and [Lewis] Hamilton; they both could win races on a given day" - that is the expert view of Gary Anderson, who reckons that regardless of McLaren-Mercedes' struggles, the team's assumed 'number two' could be set to give the reigning Formula 1 Wo
Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that in his opinion McLaren-Mercedes are not quite as far off the pace heading into the 2009 curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this coming weekend as they would have their rivals believe.
Norbert Haug has confirmed what many paddock observers have suspected since pre-season Formula 1 testing got underway ahead of the forthcoming 2009 campaign - expected title challengers McLaren-Mercedes are simply 'far too slow'.
A third day of torrential rain welcomed the Formula 1 teams on the fourth and final day of pre-season testing at the Algarve Motor Park in Portugal - only this time the downpour was heavy enough to wipe out the running altogether.
After you voted in your thousands for who you thought to be the best Formula 1 driver of 2008, now's the time for Crash.net to reveal its own top ten, beginning today with positions six to ten. 10. Heikki Kovalainen
After you voted in your thousands for who you thought to be the best Formula 1 driver of 2008, now's the time for Crash.net to reveal its own top ten, beginning today with positions six to ten. 10. Heikki Kovalainen
Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship through a combination of skill, luck, McLaren-Mercedes' expertise and having 'the perfect wingman' alongside him in the form of team-mate Heikki Kovalainen - that is the view of grand prix legend Niki Lauda.
It is perhaps entirely appropriate that the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship title showdown should take place at Interlagos, since the circuit lends itself perfectly to drama and - whatever happens - the outcome of this weekend will make grand prix history.
Heikki Kovalainen has said that he will be gunning for victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix next weekend, as the 2008 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season comes to a close at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.
Paul di Resta has admitted that he is so keen to make his Formula 1 debut next year that he would be willing to do so with a back-of-the-grid team - something many in the paddock believe is a distinct possibility.
Lewis Hamilton's pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway has been lauded as 'possibly the best lap of his career so far' - even though the Formula 1 World Championship leader himself admitted it 'wasn't perfect'.
Formula 1 World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton did his utmost to break Ferrari's spirit by turning what had looked like being a scarlet benefit in qualifying for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix into pole position for McLaren-Mercedes - with title rival Felipe Massa able to do no better tha
The Japanese Grand Prix this weekend marks the 16th of 18 rounds on the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship calendar, and an absolutely pivotal moment in the see-saw title battle that has been waged almost season-long between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.
Bernie Ecclestone has enthusiastically praised the venue for this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix - the first race in Formula 1's 58-year history to be run after dark and under spotlights - as being 'without doubt the best in the world'.
Norbert Haug has sought to dismiss suggestions the battle for the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship has now boiled down to just a two-horse race between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.
Finnish drivers have always enjoyed success in the Hungarian Grand Prix - referring to it as their 'home' race - and Heikki Kovalainen made sure that tradition was maintained in the 2008 edition, as like subsequent world champions Damon Hill and Fernando Alonso before him, he secured the maiden v
Fernando Alonso has claimed that his Formula 1 World Championship chances in 2008 are no worse at Renault than they would have been had he remained at McLaren-Mercedes for a second season - suggesting that the Woking-based outfit is entirely Lewis Hamilton-centric.