MOTOR RACING

Hamilton breaks losing F1 streak

07-27-2009 | AFP

Panama Star The 24-year-old Englishman, who started from fourth on the grid, drove a near-faultless race to claim victory for the first time since last year's Chinese Grand Prix.

It was the 10th win of his career.

Hamilton's win endorsed emphatically the McLaren team's return to form after a dismal opening half to 2009 on a weekend overshadowed by Saturday's horrific accident during qualifying that left Brazilian Felipe Massa with severe head injuries.

Massa, 28, underwent surgery in a Budapest hospital on Saturday evening and a Ferrari statement on Sunday said he was stable and in an induced coma.

Hamilton won by 11.5 seconds ahead of Massa's Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen with Australian Mark Webber third for Red Bull, two weeks after his maiden victory in Germany.