Hamilton's title bid
Last updated: 7th October 2007
The fortune that has seemingly favoured Lewis Hamilton all season long finally ran out at the Chinese Grand Prix, with his attempt to clinch the world championship ending instead with ignominious retirement.
Thus, with McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Fernando Alonso finishing second behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, the latter pair head to the Brazilian Grand Prix in a fortnight's time with renewed hopes surrounding their own respective title bids.
With Alonso now just four points behind his team-mate, and Raikkonen three points further back, do you think their greater experience will reap dividends now they are back on Hamilton's tail?
And what of the rookie himself? Do you think Hamilton will be unnerved by the outcome in Shanghai? Or do you think he's made of sterner stuff? Write in and let us know...
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Comments
Giovanni Fanzo says...
Everyone keeps talking about good and bad luck ! How about Hamilton not THINKING as his team delayed his pit stop ...it's that simple ! " I'm coming in for tyres ! " That is all he had to say and do. That's the difference between a rookie who is told what to do and has everything handed to him on a plate and a more experienced driver.....
Posted 14:06 11th October 2007
Bill James says...
Lewis is good - very good - though in the best most reliable car. He hasn't shown any sign of nerves getting the better of him; so expect him to perform at least very well in Brazil, say I. He has a long track record of success in other formulas which has helped him all season so why would he suddenly lose his cool and crack? The thing that gets me is that he has become less and less modest as the season has worn on and has now started sounding decidedly arrogant - eg the 'I'm in the same class as Senna or Fangio' soundbite as he won in Fuji, and now the 'I'm cooler than Kimi' quote. It's just all going to his head and it's a bit dismaying. The cute innocent kid is having his head swollen and it's all because he doesn't know just how lucky he is to be in the best car with no reliability problems this season. Kimi - for example - is enduring yet another year with mechanical problems which will, in all likelihood, see him just fall short of winning the title. You don't hear Kimi blowing his own horn about how great he is.
Posted 17:00 10th October 2007
Simon Goodwin says...
lewis is not lucky and can handle pressure, if anyone knows his passed they would know that he has probably won twice as many championships in his career than any other driver in F1! he is extremely proffessional, i used to race against him in karts and at 9 years old when all the other drivers played football in between races he would be in his awning preparing the kart!
Posted 20:59 9th October 2007
Omar Weir says...
Come on people. In the history of this sport there's never been a greater bunch of cry babies than Hamilton and his Dad! Moan moan moan all year round. Playing the old guilt trip card over and over again, getting Alonso knocked back ten places on the grid in Hungary, getting pushed back on the track in the European Grand Prix. Good driver..Yes, Gentleman.....most defeneately not. Alonso has shown us all a valuable lesson. I wonder how many of you would have lasted this long in your job under the same conditions.
Posted 20:56 8th October 2007
Royston Nero says...
Yes Lewis proved to be over zealous, costing himself and the team the win, but he is human after all. I thank a few on this page need to just admit that although young and a rookie Hamilton is the best thing to happen to F1 in a long time. If you don't like him then just say it and be done with it, but don't deny the obvious, it's an insult to the other drivers. Although LH does not hold the championship title yet, he has proved to be more of a champion then Alonso on his present course will ever be. That's right, I said it! Alonso is not a team player, in fact his behavior is ugly and dirty, which makes me want to see him lose, and I believe Lewis Hamilton is going to dust him off at the Brazilian race. On to victory Lewis!!!
Posted 18:43 8th October 2007
Martin Young says...
Hamilton is a superb driver and he deserves the championship as the pressure on him is been more than on all the other drivers and he has dealt with it in a profesional manner, not like a rookie.
Posted 18:02 8th October 2007
Stuart Wiiliams howell says...
Moan Moan Moan. I can honestly say Im embarrassed to be British. Have you all lost site of the fact that Hamilton is no more a Rookie to F1 than I am to living (Im 39 by the way) Lewis has been bought up in the Mclaren stable enviroment of F1 by Ron Dennis for the last 7 years, he's no tranger to what goes on in the Car or the Pit lane. He has mirrors on the Car and could see he was losing time when 3 cars passed him, could he have not radioed and told the pits "Im coming in my tyres are shot" or did he have such a big ego that he wanted to Win at what ever cost. He is his own worst enemy and should stop this Im Mr Innocent.Remember when he ignored Team orders to let Fernando pass in qualifying because he was on a different stratergy and then in Spa when "give me strength" he complained that he was pushed wide by Alonso on purpose. Give me a break Alonso had the back of the Mclaren sideways round that corner and took the racing line, surely Hamiltojn knows that if you try to go round the outside you run the risk of the Car on your inside taking his line, and anyway he was behind not level or in front of Alonso. Grow up and take as much as you give Hamilton and lets see you become Champion without all the lets feel sorry for me rubbish you keep coming out with.
Posted 14:49 8th October 2007
Martin Fowler says...
I disagree with carlos very strongly, how has a guy who has been so consistent this year been lucky? He has had pole numerous times and some of the maneuvers i have seen this year have been brilliant. His win in the rain last week was spectacular. What quality has the world champ shown this season? hams the man!!!!! good luck son!!!
Posted 14:33 8th October 2007
John Fitzsimons says...
Yes it was a costly and rare error for McLaren to leave Lewis out with the tyres in such bad condition. But it's in the past now. On Lewis form all season he will undoubtledly be crowned World Champion after the next race. The mistake yesterday will only serve to heighten his ambitions to lift the World Championship for McLaren. Commentators will suggest that he doesnt know the track, has never raced there before, hasn't the experience etc etc. However what people forget is that in Lewis Hamilton Ron Dennis has found the Star of the future, the man who will go on to become Formula 1's most successful driver ever bar none, and the man who will safeguard Formula 1's crown as the best watched sport in the World for the next generation. In his rookie season he has hardly put a foot wrong despite all the pressure he has been under, he has shown unfaltering loyalty to McLaren Mercedes unlike some, and acted with the demeanour of someone ten years older. He is a breath of fresh air to Formula 1 and next year he will proudly drive car no.1 for team no. 1 in Formula 1.Go Lewis !
Posted 12:27 8th October 2007
Prince Ighodaro says...
Yes, it was a bad mistake by the team. However, Hamilton should be rest assured. The race is over. He is the new champ. He should try and get atleast 1 point in Brazil. Thats all.
Posted 10:45 8th October 2007
Andrew Ferguson says...
tissue for Ron?and half the country...ur all moaning more than alonso is ...deary me
Posted 08:16 8th October 2007
Gill Hopkins says...
I can not believe that Lewis' race engineer did not call him in sooner. Everyone could see his tyres were fading fast when he was being overtaken. Fingers crossed for the Brazilian GP in two weeks. Come on Lewis, we have faith in you and you will be such a good Champion and Ambassador for the Sport.
Posted 08:12 8th October 2007
Carlos Gonzalez says...
Come on guys. Lewis has been lucky all the season and in spite of all that McLaren, FIA and Ecclestone have been done for him he is unable of keeping his position on a race. He is really a looser and unless he wins the title this year he will never ever win again. ciao ...
Posted 20:32 7th October 2007
Paul Christie says...
poor alonso... baby lost his rattle.. awwwwwww. if he is a world champ then why not act like one, ron should let him go now, before he causes lewis to look elsewhere. lewis is ten times the champ alonso ever will be, alonso tried to cheat to win and failed at that, he should remember mclaren are out of the constructors and will be hindered by smaller garages next year and alonso gets no punishment as they offered him imunity.. that is what makes no sense at all. we are all behind you lewis, just keep the dream alive and give em hell in the next race you will do it we all know you will.
Posted 20:25 7th October 2007
Rob Barnes says...
lewis hamilton is a great sportsman and is very mature and professional, unlike many of the other F1 drivers, particularly alonso, and it was very unlucky for him to lose the way he did. another great drive by him and one can only think what might've been if he had pitted earlier. Nevertheless, bring on brazil, i cant wait. come on lewis, shut those other jealous drivers mouths and win that world championship, you deserve it!!!
Posted 19:53 7th October 2007
George Mower says...
Does it not seem coincidental that Lewis has driven like a true star and like an arrow all season thus far, but after the sulky Alonso has thrown his toys out of the cot...and some of the lower ranked drivers complaints of last week(pure jealousy??) Lewis suddenly loses spectacularly? One wonders,,have tactics come into it all, and purely to placate some sulky, cry-babies?
Posted 13:56 7th October 2007
Andrew Sullivan says...
its such a shame what happened to lewis in this race he is such a proffesional sportsman for his age plus he is so honest as well admiting to making a mistake well done lewis and bring on the brazillian in a couple of weeks come on lewis i know you can do it and u deserve to be sports personality of the year aswell
Posted 11:45 7th October 2007
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