Hamilton delighted to lead the championshipFernando Alonso's Spanish Grand Prix nearly came to an end at the very first turn as he and Massa went side-by-side into the first turn. Alonso on the outside moved across on Massa and light contact was made sending the McLaren
driver off into the gravel. Massa would go on to win ahead of Lewis Hamilton while Alonso finished a disappointed third.
"I thought I was very much in front of him in the first corner - and he didn't think so - and we touched each other. It was dangerous and we were lucky to finish," said a sad-looking Alonso afterwards.
"We were very lucky because 99 percent of the time in incidents like that you would finish the race in the first corner. I had braked late and I thought I was in front. He just did not think so."
Massa, whose second consecutive win reignited his hopes of mounting a serious challenge for the drivers' title, said: "It was very tight. I went inside and we went for it. It was very close for both of us in the first corner and it was important. I didn't want to lose it like (I did) in Malaysia. I was on the inside and I wanted to stay there."
"We touched, it was not too strong. He was trying to push me inside. It was a small contact, but fortunately nothing happened."
Alonso said the incident damaged his car and he lost places also as a result.
"If you are fourth and running with less fuel than your opponents well, then the race became very complicated. It was very tight. I had put myself in the slipstream and I thought I was a little in front.
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"After that I needed a miracle - and I am not going to say something that is wrong about anyone."
Massa stressed: "I was on the inside and I don't understand what he means. He was more aggressive than me."
The wheel-banging incident lit up an otherwise dull race for the lead and highlighted the tension and the tight battle in prospect between the two leading teams, Ferrari and McLaren.
Hamilton's achievement finishing second ahead of Alonso in third enabled him to become the youngest leader of the Formula One drivers' championship since the founder of his team Bruce McLaren of New Zealand.
"I keep on saying that I am living my dream," said Hamilton. "And that is true. This is the result of years of hard work for me and for my family. But this is only my fourth Grand Prix and it is just incredible to be leading the championship when you look at these guys here I am racing against."
He praised the team and predicted "ups and downs" in the races ahead. "It is all about scoring points and podiums and staying there with the consistency of the team."
Source AFP
