Massa drove a discreet but flawless race to second - will Ferrari prioritize him in the title battle now? (LAT Photo) » More Photos

Then, three laps from the end, came the rain. Hamilton ate up Raikkonen’s lead quickly, and tried an overly optimistic move on the outside braking for the Bus Stop chicane. The Brit cut the chicane but the Ferrari stayed ahead, only for Hamilton to complete the pass at La Source. The stewards of the race said the incident is under investigation.

Raikkonen was able to keep the heat on, however, and jumped back to first when Hamilton had to brake harder to avoid Nakajima, who was returning to the track after a spin. Incredibly, the Finn spun on the straight a few meters ahead, then, still on the same lap, crashed out after hitting the wall due to another spin.

"It was an experience and a half," said Hamilton, who became the first five-time winner this season. "I was praying for rain, I wanted the rain to come, I knew how to deal with it and the heavens opened. I saw Kimi about to back off, brake a lot earlier than he did, into Turn 8 and I knew the fight was on."

Hamilton also complaned of Raikkonen's defense when the duo touched at Bus Stop: "He pushed me wide. "I was a little bit ahead and on the outside of Turn 1, he could have been fair."

Meanwhile Massa said he was "pleased" with finishing second after surviving the chaos -- especially considering Raikkonen's DNF.

"[Near the end] I was slower than I was supposed to be because I saw many people going off, especially Kimi and Lewis who were a bit in front," he said. "I didn't want to risk. Eight points is eight points. I was going very slow through corners, it was very, very damp. Sometimes you think something and you go off.

"I was just comfortable in third place the whole race. It was difficult to catch Kimi and Lewis. Then suddenly second place came to me so I am pleased. We know the championship is still open. We are going to fight race by race to close the gap."

Raikkonen's crash may convince Ferrari that it's time for the Finn to support Massa's title bid: Hamilton extended his lead to eight points over the Brazilian, 80-72, while Raikkonen lags 23 behind at 57.

The 2008 Formula 1 season resumes next week with the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.


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