Delighted Alonso keeps jubilation in check

While the double world champion celebrated his third victory of the season, after a wheel-banging thrust past Ferrari's Felipe Massa just four laps from the finish, Hamilton's run of nine podiums in a row came to an end.

The 22-year-old British rookie, passed fit only on Sunday morning after emerging unscathed from a high speed crash in qualifying, finished ninth and lapped in a race thrown into chaos by rain just after the start and in the closing stages.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, who started on pole position in search of his third win in a row, failed to finish again at a circuit full of bitter memories for him and he slipped to fourth overall on 52 points. In the past he had to retire twice while leading Grands Prix with his previous team McLaren.

Despite clawing back vital points, Alonso stayed cautious.

"It's an important race but the championship is so long," said the Spaniard. "You never know what's going to happen in 14 days. In Hungary anything can happen.

"We're still working in the same direction, same way. No doubt it will be tight in the end for all four drivers."

In a race halted in a downpour after four laps and then re-started behind the safety car, with Germany's Markus Winkelhock astonishingly leading on his debut for struggling Spyker, Alonso showed all his fighting spirit.

He went almost side by side with Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella down the pitlane after his final pitstop, successfully asserting his right of way, and then took the fight to Ferrari.

He took the chequered flag 8.1 seconds ahead of Massa, who struggled with his last set of tyres, and had a heated exchange with the Brazilian before they stepped on the podium.

To rub further salt in the scowling Brazilian's wounds, the winning team's trophy was presented to McLaren boss Ron Dennis by Ferrari's retired seven times champion Michael Schumacher.

Massa could only console himself with the fastest lap.

"I like the rain, there's no doubt. Always when it rains I'm quite happy and have some fun," said Alonso, who takes his career tally of wins to 18.

Hamilton, started 10th and made a blistering start to fourth place before he joined a fistful of drivers who skidded off at the first corner on the third lap.

However he kept the engine running and was lifted back onto the track by crane to continue for the restart - albeit a lap down on the leaders.

In the circumstances, his final position was still a fine result for the rookie, who set a series of quick laps in fighting back from last place.

Had he not been obliged to let Alonso lap him, he might even have snatched a point.

"It's a new experience for me, not having to find my way to the podium," he said. "You come from a bad weekend, you find the lessons from this and I will find them."