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Felipe Massa and Ferrari might have won the European GP, but there were still smiles in the McLaren camp afterwards. Second place and eight points for Lewis Hamilton was a useful reward at the end of a weekend that many had regarded in advance as something of a lottery. And despite being beaten by the Brazilian, Hamilton actually extended his lead in the championship.
The only thing is that his closest pursuer is now Massa and not Kimi Raikkonen, a graphic illustration of the complex juggling act that the Scuderia faces as they try to balance the interests of two drivers in the coming weeks.
But the real story was that Hamilton had got that result after a weekend when his physical condition had, if only for a few hours, put his participation in the race in doubt. The fact that, with the team's help, he overcame that hurdle and took second place - just as he bounced back from the Hungarian puncture to claim four priceless points for fifth - suggests that he has the sort of momentum that can carry him to the title.
