Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen holds onto the lead into the first corner after starting the European Grand Prix on pole

But a sudden torrential downpour makes the track treacherous and Ferrari's Felipe Massa spins

Numerous drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, aquaplane off at the first corner as the gravel trap resembles a car park

Toro Rosso driver Vitanonio Liuzzi is another to fall foul of the worsening conditions at the end of the main straight

Hamilton manages to keep his engine ticking over, though, and is lifted back onto the track to continue the race in 17th

The race is stopped after four laps with Spyker's Markus Winkelhock leading and the safety car restarts the race

Winkelhock's lead is shortlived - he is overtaken when the safety car departs and then retires with his car on fire

And as the race settles down Massa leads Fernando Alonso, with Raikkonen third and Hamilton moving through the field

But Raikkonen's afternoon comes to a premature end when his Ferrari packs in on lap 34 and he retires

Hamilton rises to eighth but rain forces him to pit with five laps left and he ends ninth, failing to score for the first time

Alonso bears down on Massa and moves past him while Hamilton is in the pits and immediately starts to pull away

And the Spaniard claims his third victory of the season - Massa is unhappy after leading for much of the race

The Spaniard's third victory of the season cuts Hamilton's lead in the drivers' championship to just two points

Australia's Mark Webber rewards Red Bull with their first podium finish this year after a strong drive