Hamilton toppled as McLaren misfire

Updated 14.20 Sun Apr 06 2008
Keywords: McLaren, Alonso, hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has failed to score any world championship points after a disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix.

The British driver never recovered and finished the race outside the points in 13th place, allowing world champion Kimi Raikkonen to seize the championship lead.

Ferrari dominated with Felipe Massa winning and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen coming in second

From the green light Hamilton appeared to temporarily stall on the grid, forcing McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen to swerve around his car.

Hamilton, who had been third on the grid, eventually pulled away, but by the end of the first lap had dropped to ninth.

Further disaster unfolded for Hamilton as he ran into the back of former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso in his Renault.

The Finnish 'Iceman' finished second behind Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa and takes over at the top with 19 points.

BMW's Robert Kubica was third.

Hamilton, McLaren team mate Heikki Kovalainen and Poland's Robert Kubica are all level on 14.

Massa's sixth career win brought him his first points of the Formula One season.

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