Hungarian Grand Prix 2008 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Heikki Kovalainen claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory with a perfectly judged performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix, holding off a charging Timo Glock and Kimi Räikkönen at the Hungaroring to give McLaren their third consecutive win. The Finnish driver's triumph came after Lewis Hamilton crashed out early while leading, handing his teammate victory and dealing a significant blow to his own championship aspirations in one of the most dramatic races of the season.

Starting from second behind Hamilton's pole position, Kovalainen followed his teammate in the opening laps before Hamilton made a costly error, crashing out on lap 41 while comfortably leading. This handed victory to Kovalainen, who had driven a mature and controlled race, managing his tires perfectly on the tight and twisty Budapest circuit. The affable Finn finally delivered on the promise that had earned him the McLaren seat, controlling the closing stages expertly despite intense pressure from behind.

Glock produced a sensational drive to finish second for Toyota, claiming his first F1 podium with brilliant pace and tire management. The German's performance marked Toyota's best result of the season and demonstrated his growing confidence. Räikkönen completed the podium for Ferrari, salvaging important constructor points despite being unable to challenge for victory. Hamilton's retirement while leading was a devastating blow - he had been cruising to what would have been his fourth consecutive victory when he lost control and crashed, handing the championship initiative back to Massa. The Ferrari driver finished third on the road initially but was promoted when Hamilton crashed, extending his points lead. Kovalainen's victory provided a bittersweet moment for McLaren - celebrating their driver's maiden win while lamenting Hamilton's costly error that may have cost him the championship.