Turkish Grand Prix 2008 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Felipe Massa stamped his authority on the 2008 championship with a commanding victory at the Turkish Grand Prix, converting pole position into his third win of the season at the spectacular Istanbul Park circuit. The Brazilian led home Lewis Hamilton's McLaren in a fierce battle that went down to the wire, while Kimi Räikkönen completed the podium to extend Ferrari's dominance as the Scuderia claimed their third consecutive one-two (or better) finish.

Massa's pole lap of 1:27.617 gave him the crucial track position at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult despite the long back straight. The Ferrari driver controlled the race brilliantly, managing his tire degradation through the punishing Turn 8 - one of Formula 1's greatest corners - while fending off intense pressure from Hamilton throughout. The McLaren driver pushed Massa hard, getting within striking distance on multiple occasions, but couldn't find a way past the perfectly positioned Ferrari. The battle between the two championship rivals provided thrilling racing, with Hamilton searching for any opportunity to attack.

Räikkönen secured third place for Ferrari, though the Finn was unable to match the pace of his teammate and Hamilton. His podium finish ensured maximum constructor points for Ferrari, who were beginning to pull away in the teams' championship. Robert Kubica finished fourth for BMW Sauber, with the team's early-season promise now clearly fading as development resources were controversially redirected toward their 2009 car. The Turkish sunshine and challenging circuit produced an excellent strategic battle, with teams gambling on different tire strategies. Massa's victory moved him to the top of the championship standings, overtaking Hamilton and establishing himself as Ferrari's lead title contender in what was developing into a captivating three-way fight.