The European Grand Prix got off to an extraordinary start yesterday as torrential rain turned the first few laps into to something more akin to Power Boating.

For the first time in years, the race was red flagged for unsafe weather conditions as Buttons Honda opened a very expensive -but not so exclusive- marina at turn one. 

Six cars aquaplaned off the course, with only Hamilton being placed back on the track to beat the red flag (this was done under the legal move of relocating a car which is seen to be at peril to others, but still able to continue - a Michael Schumacher special move, seen often before over the years).

The usual rush into the pit lane began, with one car (Kimi) appearing to have to 'bale out' when he was simply too fast to turn at the final bend. That cost him dearly - probably the race win.

For Super Aguri F1 it was a problem race too. Anthony Davidson finished 12th after a ding-dong race with the remaining Honda of Rubens. Most of the race saw him faster than the Honda - but track position wasn't gained and Anthony had to stay behind him.

Takuma Sato only completed 19 laps after a hydraulic failure to the car finished his race. Early promise at the start, where he moved up as high as 10th place couldn't be exploited. On his website, Taku is quoted as:

Takuma Sato:
"It was great fun at the start of the race having to run in the rain on the dry tyre. I made up a lot of positions and was P10 by the end of Lap 1. But then the rain was too strong to keep on the dry tyre and I came back to the pit on the next lap, before the Red Flag. At the re-start we looked as though we had reasonable race pace, but unfortunately I had a hydraulic failure and had to retire from the race, which is a big shame."