A newly-barbered and clearly happy Kimi Raikkonen cruised to the 17th win of his career on Sunday when he produced a flawless performance for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The defending drivers world champion, complete with a new short haircut, grinned broadly on the podium where he was presented with his winners' trophy by King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Finn Raikkonen has now won two races this season and has opened up a nine points lead in the drivers championship ahead of a cluster of his rivals led by Briton Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton finished third on Sunday for McLaren-Mercedes as Ferrari secured their second successive one-two triumph of the season with former hero and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher sitting on their pit wall in his consultancy role.

Raikkonen's Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa of Brazil finished second to improve his points tally to 18, one fewer than Pole Robert Kubica, who finished fourth for BMW Sauber. Raikkonen has 29 points and Hamilton has 20.

"I did not make a perfect start," said Raikkonen. "But it was good enough to stay in front. After that, I led and I could have gone faster, but there was no need for me to push.

"But there were so many Safety Car interventions that maybe, without them, it might have been a bit different. But it has been a good day. Everything worked well and I am very happy that Heikki (Kovalainen) is ok after his accident."

Fellow-Finn Kovalainen, of McLaren, suffered a left-front high-speed puncture and crashed into the tyre barriers. He was pulled out and taken to hospital, but was declared unhurt and stable in a later statement.

"I couldn't have asked for more this weekend," added Raikkonen (28), who delivered the classic F1 hat-trick of pole position, fastest lap and victory.

"This circuit is very difficult to overtake on and so the start is important - and with so many Safety Cars the best place to win is from the front."

Raikkonen admitted he had one awkward moment.

"It came in corner three when I had massive under-steer and then my front end was biting and I was worried I would have a big sideways moment. Luckily, it did not happen!"

Massa said: "I had a good start and for us, of course, qualifying well was important. I managed to pass Fernando (Alonso) and then I managed to build my gap in the second stint.

"We did our homework, the team did, and it is good to see the two Ferraris finish first and second - this is an important result for the championship. But we have to keep working very hard and improve the car in all areas all the time."

Hamilton said: "It is a relief for me to be back on the podium and for me the key to this race was the start.

"I knew I had to make up places and fortunately I was able to do that. We had a feeling that Fernando may have been running a bit lighter so that didn't cause us any trouble.

"It was very close and I was able to push all the way to the finish and on the last lap, including Kubica, who was always in the same spot in my mirrors. It is very close. It was not such a great day for Heikki, but I am glad he ok."

Hamilton added: "We knew what to expect. I got good traction at the start and moved to the right and was at a similar pace to Robert (Kubica).

"I think he was thinking of moving left to slipstream a Ferrari and I don't think he expected me on his right and he could not react.

"Robert is one of the hardest to overtake and he is always very aggressive on the first lap and I was happy to go up the inside and pass him. After that it was plain sailing.

"We have had two bad races and to be back on the podium is fantastic for me."

Asked about seeing his team-mate Kovalainen's accident, Hamilton said: "I came past and saw a car in the wall. It just looked red so I was not sure if it was one of us, or a Ferrari.

"I only had a glimpse and then I saw it on the big screens and it looked like my accident last year at the Nurburgring. So I was terrified for whoever it was and then the team came on the radio and said he was okay and maybe slightly concussed.

"I am sure he will be okay and come back as strong as ever."

Hamilton said he had no problems keeping the incident out of his own mind.

"If you have these problems in your mind, then you are in trouble and make mistakes or whatever. So, for me, it was not in my mind and I was sure about the car and did not think about it," he said.

Kubica continued his fine form by finishing fourth for BMW Sauber ahead of Australian Mark Webber in a Red Bull and Briton Jenson Button in a Honda.

Japanese Kazuki Nakajima finished seventh for Williams and Italian Jarno Trulli ninth for Toyota. The race saw the Safety Car sent out twice following accidents.

Home hero Fernando Alonso of Spain was forced to retire in his Renault after blowing the engine. He started an unexpected second on the grid, but failed to match that in front of a crowd of more than 115 000 spectators at the Circuit de Catalunya.

AFP