Hamilton forgets Fuji trauma

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 15:54:00 2008

Formula One World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton has shrugged off his disappointing finish in the Japanese Grand Prix and turned his focus on to the final two races of the season.

FORMULA 1 2008 Japanese GP Lewis Hamilton - 0

The McLaren driver started on pole but after impeding Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen at the first turn he then collided on the second lap with title rival Felipe Massa to end his hopes of a podium finish.

In the end, Hamilton finished a lowly 12th while Massa completed the race in eighth before being promoted to seventh after Sebastien Bourdais was struck with a time penalty after the race.

That saw the Toro Rosso driver drop to 10th, allowing Massa to collect a vital two points and close the gap on Hamilton in the driver standings to just five.

"There are positives to take," said Hamilton.

"I've only lost two points to Felipe in the drivers' championship, so it is definitely not over.

"Now I will forget [the race] ever happened and move forward. We have got two more races to go and my target is still to win both of them.

"I am not happy after a result like today but I'm already getting over it and tomorrow will be another day.

"Disappointingly, I didn't make a great start but I slipstreamed Kimi and went up the inside. I braked a bit late - but so did everybody.

"A lot of cars went wide at turn one and I just went a bit wider than everyone else.

"On lap two, Felipe went wide and I went up the inside, giving him room, but he tapped me quite hard into a spin."

Massa also let slip pole position in the previous race in Singapore to finish 13th and knows all too well that fortunes are capable of changing in an instant.

"It could have been better but it could have been worse looking at where we started and where Lewis started," said the Brazilian.

"We cannot leave here saying it was a disaster, it could have been better in terms of points but we at least finished in front [of the McLarens].

"You have to think race-by-race. Maybe you come here and you have a difficult result but in the next race you are very strong again.

"For me it will be two very difficult races. They [McLaren] can be very strong but so can we and we need to believe that."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. I praise/honour Maclaren for giving Lewis Hamilton the oppotunity to change motor racing forever.
    Cheers to all true motor-racing fans.. GOO LEWY LEWY

    From doji_fere, on Mon 13 Oct 4:18PM

  2. sweetie L,H. is the GEORG BEST of this circus

    From zzoeland, on Mon 13 Oct 4:01PM

  3. Very well said, Derek Waddell!

    From Emma, on Mon 13 Oct 3:44PM

  4. Hypocrites at it again with their best meaningful reasons on why LEWIS HAMILTON is all bad for F1! Believe it or not, black people will always do it better in any sport..but honestly, that will ofcourse change sometime soon when people or organisations bury racisizm for good.
    Fight on Lewis

    From doji_fere, on Mon 13 Oct 3:41PM

  5. Hamilton should of been banned from the next race for dangerous driving. He did not give two hoots to the drivers behind him, whether they lived or died. His only thought was of himself.
    Gladstone

    From Ann, on Mon 13 Oct 3:18PM

  6. Hamilton should of been banned from the ext race for dangerous driving. He did not give two hoots to the drivers behind him, whether they lived or died. He only thought was of himself.
    Gladstone

    From Ann, on Mon 13 Oct 3:17PM

  7. ginger... let me get this straight, hamilton 'admits' (finally) to making a mistake, but doesn't think he deserves the penalty?? try this out yourself, the next time you get pulled over by a police officer ... tell the officer, 'i know i made a mistake, but you don't have to give me a citation, becuase i did admit to it'... come on, already... this kid is not the second coming...

    From sagittarius1958, on Mon 13 Oct 2:55PM

  8. no, forza, you are not the only one to see it... evidently, hamilton is expecting everyone to see it 'his' way... after all, ron dennis says he can do no wrong... p.s. welcome back...

    From sagittarius1958, on Mon 13 Oct 2:51PM

  9. ssharifahh you dont have a clue ??

    From paul, on Mon 13 Oct 2:38PM

  10. "On lap two, Felipe went wide and I went up the inside, giving him room, but he tapped me quite hard into a spin."
    What room is he talking about. He cut right inside of Massa, leaving him no choice but to go over the kerb. Am I the only one who saw that?

    From Forza Ferrari, on Mon 13 Oct 2:27PM

  11. The intresting thing would have been if Lewis had let Massa back onto the track (as Lewis was ahead in that corner would Massa let Lewis back infront and if not would the stewards have done anything my bet is nothing would have been said.
    However i do think we need to realise a simple thing the rules and the farce that is F1 at this time is not due to the drivers it is due to the powers that are Ferrari and FIA/F1. Both driver made mistakes yesterday but atleast they were racing mistakes what about the stewards what excuse do they have? "well i have a new ferrari waiting for me at the dealers"?

    From Demo, on Mon 13 Oct 2:02PM

  12. LIVE, LEARN, AND LAST OUT! LEWIS THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS IN YOUR HANDS/FEET! JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND MAKE SURE THAT IN THE NEXT TWO RACES YOU ARE WELL AWAY; IN FRONT OF,ANY FERRARI;, OR FERRARI ASSOCIATED TEAM MEMBER, SUCH AS ALONSO!A IS ALREADY MAKING IS BID FOR A PLACE IN 2010!

    From Easyrider2609, on Mon 13 Oct 2:00PM

  13. my point is that to say in comment #69 that "lewis hamilton is without doubt an outstanding driver maybe the very best there is and has been" is blowing out of proportion, premature and even insane. There are at least 4 to 5 rider better the this Hamilton on the lineup today which unfortunately haven't got a Mclaren to prove their skills

    From mauricechlela, on Mon 13 Oct 1:55PM

  14. mauricechlela: And Raikkonen drove into a wall in Singapore and Massa dragged his fuel hose down the pitlane, what's your point?

    From ginger_gitt, on Mon 13 Oct 1:41PM

  15. #69: wait at least till his first world champion to write ur @#$% if that is gonna ever happen. He makes it look so easy that he managed somehow to ram Raikonnen at 80km/h in Canada and outbreak himself in the last race carrying at least 3 drivers with him.

    From mauricechlela, on Mon 13 Oct 1:31PM

  16. i must say, great show Mr, William D. i could not have said more. indeed very well said ........ ehem... how can i join this exclusive club FIA?......... LOL....... hope i could read your next issue,,,,,,,,, just a waker for these bunch of idiots,, that goes to all the FIA's out there....
    regards to you

    From ketz, on Mon 13 Oct 1:28PM

  17. or is there no-one there to read your comments?

    From usalien1967, on Mon 13 Oct 12:47PM

  18. Then go to the Moto GP thread then Dave h

    From usalien1967, on Mon 13 Oct 12:46PM

  19. fi motor racing is @#$% its like watching paint dry moto gp now your talking

    From dave h, on Mon 13 Oct 12:37PM

  20. It would be Massa, or Kubica. LH reactions shows that he does not accept any responsibility for anything that goes on on the track following his driving. He forced the entire field wide, he pushed Massa into the grass resulted in Massa hitting him. He could just cruise to 3rd, 4th or 5th and to title in last races. As Alonso did when he took the title. But, he is so pumped up, he fights small battles, like the battle for 1 place in the 1 race, 2 points battles, but the big one? I doubt.

    From imejl, on Mon 13 Oct 12:37PM
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