Felipe Massa denied a 160,000-strong Barcelona crowd the result it was looking for by dominating the Spanish Grand Prix from lights to flag for his second consecutive victory.
The Ferrari driver emerged on top from a first-corner skirmish with McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, which sent the home hero scampering across the gravel and down to fourth place.
In that instant, the world champion’s chances of repeating his home win of last year unravelled.
Team-mate Lewis Hamilton took up the slack admirably, passing Kimi Raikkonen in the first corner to set the scene for another strong runner-up finish.
The result gives the 22-year-old rookie sole possession of the world championship lead after just four grands prix – another extraordinary milestone.
Alonso looked surprisingly out of sorts all afternoon and only an electrical failure for Kimi Raikkonen ensured that he salvaged a podium finish.
Robert Kubica converted his fifth-place grid slot into a fourth-place finish for BMW Sauber, but team-mate Nick Heidfeld’s chances were ruined by a botched pit stop.
David Coulthard underlined Red Bull's improved pace but had to nurse an ailing gearbox to fend off a fast-closing Nico Rosberg (Williams) for fifth place.
Renault's Heikki Kovalainen and Super Aguri's Takuma Sato were the final points finishers.
Spanish Grand Prix result (66 laps)
1. MASSA Ferrari 66 laps
2. HAMILTON McLaren +6.790s
3. ALONSO McLaren +17.456s
ITV