BUDAPEST, August 3, 2008 (AFP) - Felipe Massa exploded off the grid on Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix to steal a march on pole starter Lewis Hamilton, denting the Briton's hope of a Formula One hat-trick of wins.

The Ferrari driver, starting in the second row, made a daring dart on the first bend to capitalise on a sluggish start by drivers' championship leader Hamilton, driving for McLaren.

By the fourth lap the Brazilian had a tight 1.169sec lead over the Briton, with a chasing pack of Heikki Kovalainen and Timo Glock some 3sec further back.

A Massa pitstop on the 18th lap gave Hamilton a temporary lead, but the English driver stopped to refuel one lap later.

The Brazilian - who trails Hamilton by four standings points - powered his way back to the front again taking a lead of 3.648sec to the halfway stage.

Further down the field a fighting display from Scotsman David Coulthard, of Red Bull, saw him at one point sneak into fifth before a pitstop.

There was drama in the pitlane in lap 31 when a small fire broke out on Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais' Toro Rosso but it was quickly dealt with by his crew.

But it is Hamilton who has his work cut out if he is to record his third consecutive win, a feat last recorded by the great German Michael Schumacher in 2006.