Lewis Hamilton has vowed to reel in Felipe Massa - despite setting another milestone in his remarkable Formula One career.
Hamilton was forced to settle for the runner-up spot for the third race in succession in the Spanish Grand Prix as Massa took the chequered flag for the fourth time in his career.
But the result now means after four races of his debut season, the 22-year-old Briton has the outright lead of the Formula One world championship.
In doing so, he has again etched his name into the history of the sport because at the age of 22 years and 127 days he becomes the youngest driver to lead the standings.
Remarkably, it betters by a month and two days the achievement set in 1960 by the founder of the team he drives for in New Zealander Bruce McLaren.
Hamilton now has a two-point cushion to team-mate Fernando Alonso and three over Massa heading into the Monaco Grand Prix later this month.
Massa, though, coasted to victory after a first corner incident with Alonso, and although not concerned by Ferrari's pace, they appear to have an edge over the McLarens.
Hamilton insisted: ‘I'm not worried.
‘I know we didn't have the pace of Felipe, but we're another step closer, and as I've said to him 'we'll get him soon'.
‘I think we'll be very strong in Monaco, again pushing hard to get as many points as we can, and for sure I'll be gunning for a win.
‘Monaco has always been a very strong race for me, and I'm looking forward to it.’
Hamilton was referring to his GP2 victory of last year around the Monte Carlo street circuit en route to his title triumph.
It would be a remarkable venue to clinch his first Formula One win and cement his place at the top of the drivers' standings.
For now he remains in dreamland as his remarkable debut year shows no sign of slowing down.
The beaming 22-year-old said after his fourth successive podium finish: 'I keep saying I'm living my dream, and it's really true.
‘I've been working so hard for this - me and my family - for so many years.
‘To come out of only my fourth grand prix leading the championship when I'm racing against the top drivers in the world is just incredible.
‘I couldn't be happier. It's an amazing feeling. I'm enjoying it, and I need to keep on enjoying it to keep on building up the points I have.
‘I've good points, but I definitely didn't expect to be doing as well as I am.’
Despite Hamilton heading the way, Alonso admits it is Ferrari who concern him more at this stage rather than his team-mate.
Although not intentionally dismissive, that is the way he came across, particularly given his dejected state of mind at what unfolded during the race.
"After one or two races we saw him as a championship contender, and he is still that," remarked reigning two-time title-holder Alonso.
‘I look at him like I do Kimi (Raikkonen) or Felipe, an opponent for the championship and I need to beat them if I want to become champion.
‘Of course, he is the one that worries me the least because he is my team-mate and we are here to help each other.
‘I worry more about Ferrari's pace, and with Lewis also just two points ahead of me in the championship, that is not much of a worry.’
Massa's team-mate Raikkonen was one of eight retirements due to an electrical fault and the Finn now trails Hamilton by eight points.
BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica was fourth, with David Coulthard fifth to give Red Bull Racing their first points of the season.
Williams' Nico Rosberg and Renault's Heikki Kovalainen were sixth and seventh, while Super Aguri won their first point since entering Formula One at the start of last year with Takuma Sato eighth.
