Ferrari's Felipe Massa won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday while McLaren rookie Lewis Hamilton roared into the Formula One record books with another stunning second place.

Massa's third career victory, from pole position, revived the Brazilian's title challenge after a troubled start to the season.

But it was 22-year-old Briton Hamilton, starting on the front row for the first time, who was again the man to watch in a race that left him in a three-way tie on points at the top of the standings.

The runner-up, for the second race in a row, became the first driver in Formula One history to finish all of his first three races on the podium.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, winner of the season-opening Australian race last month, completed the top three for Ferrari with Germany's Nick Heidfeld fourth for BMW Sauber.

McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso, who led a McLaren one-two in Malaysia last weekend, was fifth after a difficult afternoon in the desert heat.

Spaniard Alonso, Finland's Raikkonen and Hamilton now share the overall lead after three races with 22 points apiece. Massa has 17.

(China Daily via Reuters April 16, 2007)