What does Lewis have to do?
Eurosport - Sun, 02 Nov 19:05:00 2008
What does Lewis Hamilton have to do to in Brazil to ensure he becomes Formula One's youngest champion?
The 23-year-old McLaren driver only has one rival contender for the championship - Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
Hamilton's win in Shanghai saw him extend his points lead to seven, with the Briton on 94 and Massa on 87.
But the title race is far from over, as last year's events show.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2007?
Hamilton took a seven-point lead over Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen into the final race but ended up losing the title by a single point after he finished seventh and the Finn won the race.
But the Briton also had team-mate and bitter rival Fernando Alonso to contend with. The Spaniard went into the final round on 103 points to Hamilton's 107 and Raikkonen's 100, but fell just short as he finished third.
Raikkonen closed the closest season ever on 110, with Hamilton and Alonso on 109, the Briton taking the scant consolation of second place on countback.
WHAT DOES HAMILTON HAVE TO DO?
Hamilton knows that his destiny is in his hands. He has a seven point lead, and knows that if he finishes fifth or better, he will be champion, having secured enough points to make Massa's result irrelevant.
However, both Ferraris will be using new engines at Interlagos, and Kimi Raikkonen will once again be going all-out to help his team-mate so the Briton's task may not be simple.
If Hamilton finishes sixth or worse, the destiny of the title comes down to Massa.
WHAT DOES MASSA HAVE TO DO?
As he trails by seven points Massa must finish first or second to have any chance at all of winning.
If the Brazilian picks up a maximum 10-point haul, he will put the pressure on Hamilton, who will lose the title if he fails to finish fifth or better.
If Massa finishes second, he still has a chance - but only if Hamilton finishes in eighth or worse.
WHAT ABOUT COUNTBACK?
Countback is the FIA's method for separating drivers or teams who finish level on points.
The regulation states:
"If two or more constructors or drivers finish the season with the same number of points, the higher place in the Championship (in either case) shall be awarded to :
a) the holder of the greatest number of first places,
b) if the number of first places is the same, the holder of the greatest number of second places,
c) if the number of second places is the same, the holder of the greatest number of third places and so on until a winner emerges."
Only two possible scenarios see the drivers finish level on points, and both favour Massa:
If Massa wins and Hamilton is sixth, the drivers would be equal on 97 points. But the title would go to Massa as he would have six wins to Hamilton's five.
If Massa is second and Hamilton is eighth, the drivers would be equal on 96 points. But the title would go to Massa, with three second places to Hamilton's two (both men with five wins).
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Comment 161 - 180 of 200
I would not put Kubica with ALonso at Ferrari, I would leave Massa there as he is a team player.
ok hammy is good so far but is he a flash in the pan lets see if he dont win it this year how long will he be with maclaren montoier if thats how ya spell it lol any way i wish my two girls was motor car racers i love to pack up work and follow them around the world what a life hammys old mans got lol
Lewis to win, stay focused, stay in the race, stay 4th from grid start, pls!!!
barry i agree with you 100& kimmi should have stopped at maclaren but it was the call of money i suppose as if he ent got anoth already greed again
barry, I would be very happy with that, I also think that would defo work because Heikki was good at renault, Kimi would be content at Mclaren and Alonso would be happy at Ferrari.
Billy,hows Fred doing,Dave is cool he will fit in very nicely.
Thanks Mark he can be one of us boys aswell he will fit the gimp mask very nicely.
Ok,we are three.
Massa would probably do well at BMW
Yea , Massa has a little history with Sauber .
Dont encourage the untermensch...vlad 777.
What a sad waste of flesh.
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This vladtepes thing ....is a scammer,a defrauder,please find this thing that uses
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and prosecute/electrocute it..
Nothing worse on the planet than a defrauding scammer.
Mike , where would you send Massa with that lineup ?
If they took away the points that Massa has been gifted and not earned then the championship would already have been won by Hamilton.
What's all this talk about Lewis' engine being on it's 2nd race and the Ferraris have new engines?
Can someone please explain how Lewis won back to back races in the British and German GPs!!!!!!
Mike , I wish Kimi had not left McLaren . As quiet as he is it would be interesting to hear him and Lewis being interviewed together .
mark palin , You don't have a clue what at what you are talking about . The data was stolen by a disgruntled employee at Ferrari , not by McLaren . The FIA did not find ANYTHING of Ferrari design on the cars . You really should at least try to get some of your facts right before babble on . The were in possession of confidential data , thats all .
Ok as long as Lewis drives like the champion he is he will be champion
GO HAMILTON watch out for alonso he WILL try and take Hamilton out
Let the boys race. And enough of the racism already!
tifosi , I tried to get your opinion on team line ups last week . What do you think about Alonso going to Ferrari , Kimi back to McLaren , and Heikki back to Renault ?
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