Hamilton can't stop smiling after Turkey triumph

Lewis Hamilton returned to the top of the Formula One podium for the first time this season on Sunday with a smile of delight that only rubbed salt in Red Bull's wounds.

The 2008 world champion, without a victory since September, led McLaren team-mate and champion Jenson Button in a one-two finish in Turkey after his Red Bull rivals collided in front of him.

While Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel blamed each other, Hamilton put on a display of harmony afterwards by embracing Button and hugging his team-mate's father before spraying the champagne.

As Hamilton crossed the finish line, one could see his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger celebrating the win. Hamilton was quick to point out that Nicole is surely his good luck charm.

"I wouldn't say no to it," he said, when asked whether she was.

"Every time she seems to come I seem to win. I think it was Monaco 2008 she came, Hungary I won and Singapore (last year), so she is definitely a little bit lucky for me I think," Hamilton added.

Nicole too couldn't hide her happiness. The Pussycat Dolls singer was super excited in the McLaren garage as Hamilton won his first race of the season.

"I just got so excited in the garage. But I'm just so proud of him," she said after the race.

The 31-year-old singer insisted that she loves watching race and cheered Hamilton to the finish line.

The win also marks the first win since September. He faced stiff competition from Jenson Button but he managed to wriggle his way to the top.

The two Britons had also jousted on track, fighting hard for the lead without putting a wheel out of place or banging into each other.

Button offered his immediate congratulations over the team radio: "That was excellent, well done Lewis," said the older Briton, who has already won twice this season.

"Me and Jenson had a good little battle," said the 25-year-old Hamilton of his 12th career win.

"He got me on the outside into turn 13 and then fortunately I was able to get him back into turn one and so that was definitely unexpected," he added.

The only jarring point of the afternoon came when a questioner asked Hamilton at the post-race news conference whether he was now back.

"I don't think I was ever gone," he said.

"I have just been a little unfortunate up until now and I think bit by bit myself and the team have just worked very hard to chip away.

"Yesterday we qualified second. We knew that was just one step we needed to make. They made it very tough for us but we put up a good fight."

Hamilton was right behind the Red Bulls when they collided 18 laps from the finish and he could scarcely believe his luck.

"It was great to watch, it was like an action movie in HD or 3D; it was fantastic," said the Englishman, now third in the standings and nine points off Webber's lead.