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?

2008 Chinese GP McLaren Hamilton - 0

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).

Alex Chick / Eurosport

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  1. sorry, thats meant to say 'is very likely'

    From tifosi4eva, on Sun 2 Nov 2:19PM

  2. Mike, the weather forcast is that rain id very likely,­ last time I checked I think rain was 80%. The track at­ the minute is dry but clouds are moving in and­ thunderstorms are expeccted this afternoon.

    From tifosi4eva, on Sun 2 Nov 2:19PM

  3. Come on Lewis!!!lol Lets see you skid off the tracks­ and make it a Great night for Brasilian Samba!!!!!!!!!!­ :D MASSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FERRARI!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Marcos, on Sun 2 Nov 2:15PM

  4. Massa won 5? thats funny, I have only seen him on the­ top step 4 times, you can fix it all you like but what­ ever happens today, we all know how is the real­ Champion.

    From paul t, on Sun 2 Nov 2:09PM

  5. YOU JUST NO THAT SOMEONE OUT THERE IS SO JEALOUS ­ OF LEWIS THAT THEY WILL TAKE HIM OUT OF THE ­ RACE.

    From Dave worsell, on Sun 2 Nov 1:45PM

  6. Totallytv you mean,hi tulu... lovely lulu?

    Hope those­ filthy cheaters dont knock Lewis off the track..... its­ happened many times before..... and it bwill happen­ again.

    Hamilton for president.

    From teatotaller, on Sun 2 Nov 1:38PM

  7. CYRANO makes no sense?
    needs to look at tv and not read­ newspapers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From tulu, on Sun 2 Nov 1:22PM

  8. massa will choke on home soil.
    hamilton is a better­ driver.

    From tulu, on Sun 2 Nov 1:15PM

  9. @#$% OFF CYRANO YOU @#$%

    From Kevin, on Sun 2 Nov 1:06PM

  10. Seems so simple to do but there are so many what ifs­ involved!! All I do know is that if Hamilton loses this­ championship to a Ferrari driver who came into the race­ 7 points behind he is going to be really effected­ mentaly, not to mention get slaughtered by the press­ and every major news channel. That puts a lot of­ pressure on him to win it and we've all seen him­ under pressure.

    From tifosi4eva, on Sun 2 Nov 1:01PM

  11. Maclaren are indeed GUILTY as charged for the furore­ over the stealing designs but Lewis Hamilton is not­ Maclaren but a driver of a Maclaren Car. Anyone­ calling Hamilton a cheat for that is not corredct.

    From Marcus, on Sun 2 Nov 12:39PM

  12. Cyrano, let me guess, you could even do better! well as­ soon as Schumacher says that there is another driver in­ this era that could beat his record then i might­ believe you that Haimlton is not the best driver, but­ until then keep dreaming...

    From Paddy, on Sun 2 Nov 12:29PM

  13. Well, I like him actually !

    From m.e.jenner, on Sun 2 Nov 12:27PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I hope nobody touches Hamilton. I just want to see him­ choke again, overstress his used engine and blow the­ German mechanism to bits in a stream of smoke on about­ lap 5, so the kid can sit on the sidelines and weep­ while the rightful team takes the ganze tepple­ schmaltz. Or better yet, lose his cool on the­ formation lap and zip across into a tire wall to­ destroy his suspension. He is such a creep, and a­ shame in the top flight, where he should be Sutil's­ partner as a back-marker as he deserves to be. Let any­ other driver in the field have Hamilton's car and­ he will do better than Hamilton ever could.

    From Cyrano, on Sun 2 Nov 12:18PM

  15. if he is good enough he will survive ...IF

    From mags_039, on Sun 2 Nov 12:15PM

  16. you cannot argue that Massa 'should have already­ won' using the same logic as the FIA interference­ for Hamilton. Massa and his team screwed up, in­ Hamilton's case(s) unfair penalties have seen him­ falter, not mechanical failures which the team have to­ take responsibility for. the FIA could quite easily­ have not penalised Hamilton, but it's not like they­ could say 'no Massa was well ahead when his engine­ failed so he gets the victory', the way in which­ they have dropped points is not the same, there is­ always controversy surrounding penalties, that's­ how people can argue Hamilton 'should' be­ champion by now, there is nothing controversial about a­ smoking Ferrari engine...there is something wonderful­ about a sight like that though!. gillesthibodeau­ you're argument is completely invalid.

    From Paddy, on Sun 2 Nov 12:15PM

  17. the weather will be a factor together with no help­ whatsoever from his rivals

    From mags_039, on Sun 2 Nov 12:15PM

  18. cjevo....i think there will be drama

    From mags_039, on Sun 2 Nov 12:13PM

  19. i think that kimi or alonso will wrire hamilton off the­ track dont u?

    From Christopher, on Sun 2 Nov 11:57AM

  20. Yeah Bill Mac, stop using provocative words,­ that'll help.
    C'mon LEWIS!!

    From carlo, on Sun 2 Nov 11:23AM
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