Kimi fails to read the script - Hamilton has to take back seat as Raikkonen roars to victory

Ferrari did not so much fail to read the script as put a red line through it, with Kimi Raikkonen streaking away to his 12th career victory at an emotion-charged British Grand Prix.

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Hamilton, who came third behind his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso, was refreshingly honest in owning up to mistakes — notably trying to drive away early from his first pit-stop — but there was no escaping the fact his scarlet-clad rivals were as sure and fast as bullets.

There was a tangible feeling of anticlimax at 22-year-old Hamilton's failure to convert rampant expectation into a third career win here at Silverstone, even though the sensational rookie extended his unbroken sequence of podium finishes to nine.

A capacity crowd of 85,000 were desperate for a homegrown champion, the nation's hopes pinned on 10st 10lb of raw motor-racing talent.

They sounded their klaxons in the grandstands. Union Flags with daubed messages of support were draped around the perimeter of the 3.2mile track. Sir Stirling Moss made a gesture on behalf of all Hamilton's fans with a thumbs-up and a wink of support on the grid.

Saturday's qualifying, when Hamilton grabbed pole from nowhere with a lap of icy precision, gave their hopes substance. However, there was still the nagging suspicion that Raikkonen, sharing the front row, would be too quick to contain. So it transpired, but not before Hamilton produced a start of typical bravery. He thundered across the Finn and arrived at the first 185mph Copse corner with the nose of his McLaren in front.

The next requirement was to establish a lead. He could not manage it, with Raikkonen hounding him until he pitted at the end of lap 16. Whether it was over-eagerness or nerves, Hamilton lurched out of his box before the lollipop was lifted. It was a sign this was not going to be his day. The time it cost him was small considering that he took the chequered flag 40 seconds behind Raikkonen.

Raikkonen was in on lap 18, surrendering the lead to Alonso, who maintained his advantage after his short first stop.

The outcome of the race revolved around the second round of re-fuelling. Alonso was in before Raikkonen, who tore around the track, and later emerged from the pits three seconds ahead of the Spaniard. There was no way back.

"I was held up by back-markers," said Alonso. "But I think second was our maximum today. Ferrari were too fast for us."

Indeed, had Felipe Massa not stalled on the grid — and so started the race in the pit lane — it would have been the Scuderia's second successive one-two of the season. As it was the Brazilian drove well to zoom up to a fifth-place finish. Raikkonen's victory in France last week was not a one-off. The battle for the championship is now a fourway fight between the McLaren and Ferrari drivers.

The winner, hiding his delight with customary skill, said: "This is important. The car is better for me and goes nicely. It is still a long season and we will keep on pushing."

Hamilton's mood was mixed. His ninth straight rostrum appearance puts him alongside Alberto Ascari, Jim Clark, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Michael Schumacher in the record books. Only Schumacher (19) and Alonso (15) have sustained their purple patches for longer.

"I've had a wicked season," said Hamilton. "I have no complaints. It's obviously not the best result for us. But to come to my first home Grand Prix you have to look on the bright side. It's nine podiums in a row."

Alonso was certainly pleased to have eclipsed his team-mate for the first time since Monaco on May 27. With a smile of satisfaction, he declared himself 'confident' after narrowing his deficit with Hamilton to 12 points.

With eight races to go, a season which is rekindling interest in Formula One looks destined for an exciting climax.

Even the off-track intrigue is compelling, with Ferrari going to the High Court in London tomorrow over the 'spy' scandal involving a document of theirs allegedly ending up in the house of McLaren designer, Mike Coughlan.

Anthony Davidson's first British Grand Prix was a disappointment. He did not finish after complaining that his Super Aguri felt unsafe, while Jenson Button (Honda) was 'reasonably happy' with his 10th place and David Coulthard (Red Bull) self-critical of his drive to 11th. Watching among the crowd, containing Posh and Becks, was a proud grandad. Davidson Hamilton flew over from Grenada to watch his family's most famous son in a Formula One car for the first time.

Not the perfect ending for him, but there will be other years. His grandson said: "I must say thank you to all the fans. Without their support, it would have been a harder race. Maybe next year we will be able to get it right."