THREE STRAIGHT. How about that, Felipe Massa is now the official king of Turkey in a Formula 1 machine.

After the fifth race of the 2008 F1 season, the F1 world saw, for the third straight year, how Felipe Massa can dominate the Istanbul circuit after winning his third straight Turkish Grand Prix, winning last weekend despite the surprising challenge given by the young McLaren driver, Lewis Hamilton.

You read it folks, Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won in Istanbul again, winning the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix to earn himself the hat-trick of Turkish GP wins. Three of Massa’s seven career wins have now come at the Istanbul circuit, probably giving you a sure bet next year when the F1 season visits these parts again.

‘’It was a very difficult race. Lewis was pushing hard from the start, I thought he was light, but when I did my pit stop I thought he was straight away there so I thought maybe had less fuel, and the team told me he was on three stops and for sure that was a help,'’ Felipe Massa said, referring to the challenge he got from Lewis Hamilton during the race.

‘’He was strong and I could not hold him on track so he passed me. I knew I still had a big chance to win the race as three stops was quite optimistic. It was difficult, but we made it. A third win in Turkey is just amazing.'’

The win put Felipe Massa third in the drivers’ championship standings. Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen still leads after five races with Lewis Hamilton second.

Next up for Felipe Massa and the rest of the field is the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, probably the most grandiose race not only in Formula One but the entire sport of motor racing.

And although Massa may have won in Turkey, Lewis Hamilton is looking forward to the race in Monaco, looking to further improve on his second place finish in the Istanbul circuit.

‘’I am so thrilled with today’s result, and I think this is the best race ever for me. It’s not about winning, it’s about feeling that you extract 100% from yourself and the car and I did that today,'’ Lewis Hamilton said after the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix.

‘’The team did a fantastic job, the pitstops were great, and the balance of the car was superb, and we all kept our spirit up. There were no problems with the tires in the race. I managed to overtake Felipe at one point, and I really think we have closed the gap to Ferrari.'’

‘’I am so excited about the next race in Monaco and just can’t wait.'’

Who will win the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Kimi Raikkonen 2.75

Lewis Hamilton 3.00

Fernando Alonso 7.00

Felipe Massa 7.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more F1 betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Felipe Massa Lewis Hamilton