Hamilton won't win title, says Briatore

Eurosport - Sat, 18 Oct 14:02:00 2008

Lewis Hamilton will throw away the Formula One title again this year because he has learned nothing from last season's failure, according to Renault team boss Flavio Briatore.

2008 Hungarian GP Renault Briatore - 0

"In my opinion Hamilton will try to throw the title away again," Friday's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper quoted the Italian as saying at the Chinese Grand Prix.

"He and McLaren were amazing last year, to lose it with a 17-point lead and two races to go is Guinness Book of Records stuff.

"Now that he has a five point-lead, he could repeat the trick. For me, Massa will win the title."

The 23-year-old McLaren driver leads Ferrari's Felipe Massa by five points and can clinch his first title as the youngest champion on Sunday at the penultimate race of the season in Shanghai.

The Briton could also have won the title in China last year but ultimately lost out when Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen made up a 17 point deficit in the final two races to win by a single point.

In Japan last weekend, Hamilton made a wild start and failed to score in a race that saw his lead over Massa cut from seven points.

"Hamilton has learnt nothing. We saw that in Japan," said Briatore, whose double world champion Fernando Alonso has won the last two races.

Alonso and Hamilton were feuding team mates at McLaren last year before the Spaniard, who recently made clear that he favours Massa, returned to Renault.

"You should tell him that he is a Formula One driver, not a Martian," said Briatore of Hamilton. "He is not Muhammad Ali. He is a young man who must still demonstrate his worth.

"He is a good driver but you see good drivers also taking results home. There are good (soccer) forwards who always hit the post or the bar and the ball never goes in.

"Then there are those that score and he hasn't scored yet."

The Italian also blasted McLaren, who were fined $100 million and stripped of their constructors' points for a spy saga involving Ferrari last season and also made allegations against Renault.

"It is logical that I support Ferrari, as an Italian, as Flavio Briatore, as Renault, for the relationship we have with Ferrari," he said.

"Instead McLaren accused us of spying, we went on for four months with this nonsense that never existed."

Reuters

Comment 91 - 110 of 130

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  1. FORZA MASSA...if Briatore said that...you can do it...better Hamilton will crash at the first corner!!!hahahhah

    From Mr b, on Sat 18 Oct 12:11PM

  2. All the more reason not to listen to him....

    From phoenix.roadshow, on Sat 18 Oct 12:01PM

  3. Briatore discovered Schumacher&Alonso...

    From furdiciaf, on Sat 18 Oct 11:57AM

  4. This coming from the man that has backed QPR for greatness....

    From Lynx, on Sat 18 Oct 10:48AM

  5. PERFECT PIT LANE STRATEGY SHOULD PROVIDE DOUBLE WORLD CHAMP ALONSO
    WITH THE RIGHT WINNING COMBINATION YET AGAIN

    From antoninnia, on Sat 18 Oct 8:35AM

  6. just keep backing double world champ ALONSO

    HE NEVER NEEDS TO VISIT PITS FOR A NEW NOSE CONE or for a drive thru penalty

    the boyshamilton/massa can hug & kiss round the track while ALONSO heads for winning line

    From antoninnia, on Sat 18 Oct 7:24AM

  7. yet another old parrot having some of lewis. he's just one of those guys, bla.. bla.. bla.. he should instead focus helping his godson (is that a word?) fighting for 6th or 7th in standing.. n if he is such a fan of ferrari, why not change renault color to a polka-dot red next season..?

    From carlamms, on Sat 18 Oct 6:05AM

  8. .............................

    From arshad_iceman2, on Sat 18 Oct 6:05AM

  9. Flav tells it like it is. He defiantly has the winning touch, I mean the man did help lead Benneton and Renault to championships when both teams were mediocre before his arrival. Judging by many of the comments, the truth hurts I guess.

    From Wellversed, on Sat 18 Oct 5:18AM

  10. get these bent bribing italian @#$% out of the sport in fact all sports

    From richard, on Sat 18 Oct 2:17AM

  11. Flav: news flash for you, bucko - Renault was shown to have McLaren data on its systems. Complete opposite of the McLaren - FIArrari situation where no one ever found even a trace of FIArrari data on McLaren systems. You got off because F1 couldn't afford to lose another team and Renault has been on the edge for a while.

    And Flav, your reputation for honesty is pretty poor: let's ask your first wife (and your second wife) about your ability to tell the truth. Guess that's why you parted ways with them huh? Honesty isn't your strong suit.

    From Rod, on Sat 18 Oct 2:09AM

  12. Go Peter! @#$% indeed!

    From shaunpry, on Sat 18 Oct 2:04AM

  13. Sir Briatore, I have your humble pie sir.

    From hoodie, on Sat 18 Oct 2:01AM

  14. The amazing thing is that both McLaren drivers scored the same amount of points last year and only lost the title by one point (that must say something). Also, a GP is supposed to be entertaining.. better to watch an exciting, have a go race that might end in tears than a boring procession to allow the driver with the most powerful car to win the World Championship. For me, Louise has brought back that fighting spirit that seemed to have been missing for a while and while I hope he wins a deserved Championship I don't mind if he doesn't provided the spirit remains. And I don't understand the comments regarding his driving style.. he's one of the few drivers who, up to now, does not collect other cars en route. He's had a few going off track events, but that's because he'trys and not an 'after you Charlie'.

    From Biffo, on Sat 18 Oct 1:48AM

  15. I stopped watching F1 after Shummi retired... A friend of mine, (who is spanish),got me interested again. Alonso is not only a great driver, but his knowledge of the engineering on the sport is superv. Hamilton is also very talented, but a little bit careless. Briatore is one of those guys who doesn't have a filter between his brain and mouth, but his a very knowledgeable guy and even if you don't agree, you have to respect his opinion.

    I'm a Ferrari fan, and a brazilian fan, so GO MASSA!!!

    Regards,

    Miguel

    From MiguelH, on Sat 18 Oct 1:44AM

  16. what does he know

    From Paul, on Sat 18 Oct 1:30AM

  17. Holy @#$%!! relax everyone!!! the man just expressed his own personal opinion! which of course won't affect anything and it doesn't mean anything! And I am not defending Briatore because I think it's very immature for a Team Principal to make such comments with only two races left in the season! if he is smart he should be politically correct and he should express his opinion(s) about Hamilton when the man's done racing! speculation is ultimately only speculation! even if you have a billion years of experience, it does not mean that your even remotely right! so please! everyone just take it easy! may the best man win tomorrow and I hope FIA dont do anything stupid again!! Good luck Hamilton and Massa AND KUBICA!! :D

    From dalnsour, on Sat 18 Oct 12:47AM

  18. BRIATORE, you couldnt f.u.c. k a spider with your character. Renault, what a joke.

    Recently married eh? She REALLY fell for your GOOD LOOKS eh?

    Seems to me that youre buying a wife.

    Youre a fat, grey haired, useless T W A T.

    From peter s, on Sat 18 Oct 12:00AM

  19. Pepbol, Alonso is in his eight season at Formula 1 and has had 2 championships - good for him - LH has another 6 years to go before you can even begin to compare them.

    From hebs1961, on Fri 17 Oct 11:56PM

  20. A-G-A-I-N......ALONSO 2....HAMILTON O.....

    From jose e, on Fri 17 Oct 11:49PM
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