Lewis supreme despite team error

Eurosport - Sun, 20 Jul 16:36:00 2008

McLaren chief Ron Dennis apologised to Lewis Hamilton after the Briton's sensational German Grand Prix victory.

FORMULA 1 2008 German GP The Race (67 laps) Lewis Hamilton McLaren Mercees - 0

The 23-year-old ominated the early stages at Hockenheim but had his plans upset by two safety car interventions and some cautious team strategy.

But Hamilton then proved he could overtake anyone with a dazzling display of passing moves in the final laps.

"Sorry about that," said Dennis over the team radio on Hamilton's victory lap. "We made it much more difficult for you and we made you drive like that in such a great car."

The driver replied: "That's OK, Ron. Don't worry about it. We did good in the end, so it is OK."

In blistering style, Hamilton had to pass a clutch of drivers in the closing laps to make up for time lost in the pits when he made an out-of-synch late stop.

But he showed his true speed and brilliance by overtaking both Brazilian Felipe Massa in a Ferrari and then his compatriot Nelson Piquet in a Renault to regain the lead.

"I would have much preferred to have come in earlier (for my second pit stop) but the way it worked out I knew I had a lot of work to do. They let me stay out and I just had to push hard, as hard as I could.

"I really pushed, right over the limit, but it was not enough and then I had to fight my way back. So a big thank-you to my McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen who saw I was faster and did not make life more difficult.

"I had two great fights with the other guys, it was very fair and it was exciting. It was exciting for you guys watching and for me as well I can tell you that!"

Hamilton took the chequered flag 5.5 seconds ahead of Piquet who claimed the first podium of his career while Massa was third.

Hamilton now leads the standings with 58 points from Massa, on 54, whose Ferrari team-mate, defending drivers world champion Finn Kimi Raikkonen, is seven points adrift after finishing a disappointing sixth.

Hamilton had dominated the first half of the race after powering away from the ninth pole position of his career.

The Geneva-based driver had built-up a lead of around 12 seconds by lap 36 when German Timo Glock crashed out in his Toyota. Glock lost control of his car at the last corner when the right rear tyre suddenly deflated sending him spearing into the wall.

The German, 26, slid backwards down the home straight before his wrecked car finally came to a stop.

Glock was clearly dazed after he got out of the Toyota and was later taken to the medical centre and then a local hospital for a check-up, although his conditions was described as 'fine'.

Hamilton was kept out on the track as all his main rivals made their final pit-stops under the safety car.

The Mercedes-powered driver dropped to fifth when he was forced to make his final pit-stop, but soon passed Kovalainen for third spot.

Hamilton then hunted down Massa overtaking his rival on lap 57 as he forced him wide at the chicane to take second with Nick Heidfeld having pitted for BMW.

Massa attempted to fight back a couple of corners later, but was again forced into the dirt.

Hamilton made the same move on Piquet at the hairpin turn three laps later to regain a deserved lead before cruising to victory in the closing seven laps.

German Nick Heidfeld finished fourth for BMW Sauber ahead of Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Pole Robert Kubica in the second BMW and German Sebastian Vettlel for Toro Rosso.

AFP

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  1. I remember when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew I said "pilot" and yet LH even picked the team he wanted to drive for. Some people call it arrogance I call it self belief and determination. I bet there are a lot of pilots out there sorting mail or emptying bins. LH haters look at yourselves in the mirror and see yourselves for what you are FAILURES.

    From mstevns@..., on Thu 24 Jul 1:36PM

  2. rha_580,if you don't see a great developing race car driver in lewis hamilton, perhaps you're letting your personal "situation" blind you to the truth...you Hamilton-haters are sounding more and more stupid and biased....

    From jimi, on Tue 22 Jul 12:19PM

  3. GREAT RACE, GREAT DRIVING, FANTASTIC WIN. I AM SURE EVERY DRIVER WANTS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. HATE THE GAME, DON"T HATE THE PLAYER. LEWIS IS JUST PLAYING IT KIND OF VERY WELL.

    From Li Jiang M, on Tue 22 Jul 8:02AM

  4. Even the critics have to accept that was the best damn race anyone has seen in F1 in years.

    Lewis is starting to realise his potential. It's like he's just shifted gears. Now Kimi and Felippe have also become spectators and im sure deep down inside, in a freakish kind of way, they like it too.

    From Poison pill, on Mon 21 Jul 10:03PM

  5. Forget hating Hamilton or any driver for that matter. Love the sport, love those who entertain us with their skill and daring. Senna, Schumacher, and even Mansell entertained us and now it's Lewis Hamilton who is livening up the sport...........thats why he was brought into F1

    From TYGERZI, on Mon 21 Jul 9:58PM

  6. deflatintyre??thewhole suspension gavin-whowrote thisarticle??

    From sven, on Mon 21 Jul 7:30PM

  7. come down and bully your way though the race lne is not good driving it call i'll take you out if you don't get out of my way. yes it call racing but you have to earn respect and I think alot of fellow driver will not respect him look at Massa he was Piss Off and he had a right to be!

    From raiders1, on Mon 21 Jul 3:57PM

  8. brilliant drive lewis..agressive and fair play..do i have to mention schumahers achivments through the same style od driving=?he claimed 3 of them: one being agressive ..one being helped by barrchello..one on super car ,,and one with italian kitchen:) so much of all of this alonsos ,,raikonens and etc drivers proving their skills....clean and sweep victory lewis,,wish montoya was there to see some real racing:)

    From misha, on Mon 21 Jul 1:47PM

  9. All this bull about 'running people off the road' - that's motor racing! Hardly anyone has the speed advantage to simply pass another car down the straight, so what you do is position yourself on the road so the other guy has to ease off the accelerator or go off the track. The other guy has the opportunity to either not allow you to get him into that position or to try and accelerate out of it. If he tries the latter, then he gets 'squeezed'. It's a competetive sport! Do I really need to explain all this? If people don't understand motor racing, let them keep quiet

    From bowesey17, on Mon 21 Jul 1:14PM

  10. All you idiots who think LH ran people off the road should try a different sport, like knitting. If Massa or Piquet didn't have a problem with it then why do you? Grow up

    From Graham P, on Mon 21 Jul 1:05PM

  11. Yeah!!! Hamilton, you are a road Demon!!! Wooo...I love your "aggressive" style on the track...Yea!!! Hope to see you becoming a World Champ this year, and we can all see how "good" a champ you were by reading the history in F1. kekekeeekeee

    From stanleysylui, on Mon 21 Jul 11:22AM

  12. Lewis supreme despite team "ORDER"

    From stanleysylui, on Mon 21 Jul 11:17AM

  13. Why there are so many Hamilton haters, but no Sutil haters, Kimi Haters or Kubica haters? There must be a reason...

    From stanleysylui, on Mon 21 Jul 11:15AM

  14. Yup, LH ran ppl off the road in German GP, we all see that in the broadcasting. With equipment that he had in the race, he does not have to do that. Can someone tell me why he could risk wrecking his car for a win? Does it explain why the past few races, he either got 10 points or 0 point on the races. Made or Break...

    From stanleysylui, on Mon 21 Jul 11:13AM

  15. All you Hamilton-haters are sounding more and more stupid and biased....

    From bowesey17, on Mon 21 Jul 8:32AM

  16. ...if you don't see a great developing race car driver in lewis hamilton, perhaps you're letting your personal "situation" blind you to the truth...

    ...occasionally impatient, somewhat impetuous & certainly not immune to making mistakes, young mr hamilton, i'd venture to say, is an exceptionally talented "piloto" on a steep learning curve...

    ...the very kind of curve that will undoubtedly lead him to more finish lines & chequered flags than most of his contemporaries, over his career...

    From bikesgonewild, on Mon 21 Jul 7:38AM

  17. He ran cars off the road Just look at the video!

    From raiders1, on Mon 21 Jul 6:08AM

  18. This was a great result for THE TEAM and LH as the driver. As for the others the Ferrari is still a very fast car and still has good drivers but on the day one or the other did not perform so well. Another day will give another picture. Don't knock LH, rah_580, or the team. Its called modern motor racing where so many factors come in to play its unbelievable. Just a tyre pressure off by a pound will impact the performance.
    A good race, a good day and good result.

    From internationalfan, on Mon 21 Jul 5:13AM

  19. Lewis the WIZ!!!
    What else is new?
    -joseph

    From joseph c, on Mon 21 Jul 1:43AM

  20. rha_580 seems dissapointed and angry Lewis won. He is so angry he refuses to give Lewis any credit. I wonder why?

    From TREVOR C, on Mon 21 Jul 1:28AM
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