European Grand Prix 2008 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Felipe Massa delivered a dominant performance at the inaugural European Grand Prix on Valencia's new street circuit, leading from pole to flag and extending his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton to six points. The Brazilian controlled the race with imperious authority on the challenging Mediterranean circuit, setting fastest lap and securing his fifth victory of the season, while Hamilton could only manage second place despite a determined charge.

Massa's pole lap of 1:38.989 gave him crucial track position on the narrow, unforgiving Valencia Street Circuit, making its debut on the F1 calendar. The Ferrari driver made a perfect start and controlled the race throughout, managing his pace expertly while navigating the concrete walls that lined the harbor-side circuit. His Ferrari F2008 was ideally suited to the street circuit characteristics, and Massa never put a wheel wrong despite the punishing nature of the track and sweltering Spanish heat.

Hamilton drove a strong race to secure second place, extracting the maximum from his McLaren despite lacking the outright pace to challenge Massa. The British driver pushed hard throughout but couldn't find a way past the perfectly positioned Ferrari on a circuit where overtaking proved nearly impossible. Robert Kubica claimed third place for BMW Sauber, continuing his consistent points-scoring form. The race was marked by several incidents typical of a new street circuit, including crashes and safety car periods that bunched up the field. Massa's victory demonstrated his championship credentials and put him in control of the title fight heading into the crucial final races. The Valencia circuit, despite criticism for its lack of overtaking opportunities, provided a challenging test that separated the best from the rest.