Spanish Grand Prix 2008 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Kimi Räikkönen produced a dominant performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, securing pole position, fastest lap, and victory in a commanding display that showcased the Finnish driver at his imperious best. Leading home teammate Felipe Massa for Ferrari's second consecutive one-two finish, Räikkönen's Barcelona masterclass confirmed Ferrari as the team to beat in 2008, while Lewis Hamilton's third-place finish kept him in championship contention despite McLaren's pace deficit.

Starting from his first pole position of the season with a stunning lap of 1:21.813, Räikkönen controlled the race from the front with the clinical efficiency that defined his driving style. The Finn was untouchable at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, matching his qualifying dominance with flawless race execution. His Ferrari F2008 worked perfectly in the Spanish sunshine, and Räikkönen managed the gap to Massa throughout, also setting the fastest lap to complete a perfect weekend. Massa provided excellent support in second place, ensuring Ferrari extended their constructor's championship lead.

Hamilton drove a strong race to secure third place, extracting the maximum from his McLaren MP4-23 which was clearly slower than the Ferraris on this circuit. The British driver's podium finish limited the championship damage, though he had to defend hard from the chasing pack in the closing stages. Robert Kubica's BMW Sauber finished fourth, with the Polish team's early-season momentum beginning to fade as Ferrari and McLaren pulled away. The race marked a turning point in Ferrari's season, with their engineering excellence and driver lineup clicking into gear. Räikkönen's victory moved him firmly into championship contention alongside Massa and Hamilton, setting up a three-way title fight that would intensify through the European races.