Hamilton reaps rewards of discipline

Eurosport - Mon, 20 Oct 09:20:00 2008

Lewis Hamilton turned discipline into dominance at the Chinese Grand Prix and trusts the same calm approach will lead him to the Formula One title in Brazil next month.

2008 Chinese GP McLaren Hamilton - 0

Last season, the McLaren driver gave up a 17-point championship lead to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen over the last two races, a collapse that began when he tried to win it all in Shanghai and ended up in a gravel trap.

There was no repeat of that rookie rashness this weekend, with the Briton driving a supremely measured race to take a seven-point lead over Raikkonen's team mate Felipe Massa.

The 23-year-old now requires only a top five finish to become the sport's youngest champion at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit on November 2.

"I've got a seven-point lead in the world championship but that doesn't allow me to take anything for granted," he said.

"I think our approach to this race was right. It was not to go out and win everything just in this race.

"It was to look at both races to try and score as many points collectively.

"I know going to Brazil will be a much better situation compared to last year and also we know that we will be a lot more competitive than we are here so that is comforting."

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said Hamilton had done a "truly fabulous job" and was encouraged that his protege had put his car on pole position despite carrying a heavier fuel load than his rivals.

"(This) clearly demonstrates the inherent pace of our car," he said.

Hamilton was not surprised that world champion Raikkonen had slowed down to allow Massa to move into second place and win two more points.

"They're a team and I know if I was in my position, if Heikki (Kovalainen) was leading, we would probably do the same thing," he said.

Hamilton, who said he arrived in China "humble as can be" after making a mess of last week's Japanese Grand Prix, was muted in his celebrations and quickly shifted his focus to the season finale.

"(We'll take) a similar approach to what I had this weekend, which was a better approach than I had last year coming here, a bit calmer, a bit more confident in the package and what we have to do," he said.

"We know that we have got to do a good job," he added. "It will be tough ... but hopefully as a team we can pull through."

Reuters

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  1. When I first married my first husband we spent some­ time living the Chela-Kela tribe in southern Borneo. ­ It was a wonderful experience - love making under a sky­ bursting with stars, the feel off.. that's enough­ of that.

    Anyway the Chela-Kela's had an expression­ that I think suits young Touronroute down to the­ ground. It was: Julka mana julla, krambani mugga mugga­ krambani.

    Just say that

    From Phoebe Dartington-Minge, on Fri 24 Jul 3:50PM

  2. When I first married my first husband we spent some­ time living the Chela-Kela tribe in southern Borneo. ­ It was a wonderful experience - love making under a sky­ bursting with stars, the feel off.. that's enough­ of that.

    Anyway the Chela-Kela's had an expression­ that I think suits young Touronroute down to the­ ground. It was: Julka mana julla, krambani mugga mugga­ krambani.

    From Phoebe Dartington-Minge, on Fri 24 Jul 3:49PM

  3. When I first married my first husband we spent some­ time living the Chela-Kela tribe in southern Borneo. ­ It was a wonderful experience - love making under a sky­ bursting with stars, the feel off.. that's enough­ of that.

    From Phoebe Dartington-Minge, on Fri 24 Jul 3:49PM

  4. men with ther toys a what will you all do when it all­ ends

    From Paul, on Tue 21 Oct 12:40PM

  5. Hello F1 groupies. Your good friend Emerson from Brazil­ here to wish you a good day. Don't understand all­ this talk about 'jumping ship'. I did it myself­ when I won my 1st Title with Lotus and then joined the­ honest Fun Team McLaren. Also that nice Mr. Schumie­ left 'Fast Eddie' Jordan after only one race­ after he had been given his maiden chance. Remember he­ then left the team that had given him 2 Titles to go to­ the horrible red cars, Every driver choses the best­ option for himself ( except the wonderful Mr. Clark who­ stayed faithful to Lotus even though it killed him in­ the end)
    See you all in Brazil

    From Biggles, on Tue 21 Oct 9:33AM

  6. Hello F1 groupies. Your good friend Emerson from Brazil­ here to wish you a good day. Congratulations to Mr.­ Hamilton's son on winning the Chinese GP in such an­ outstanding fashion! None of the THREE Ferrari drivers­ could catch him! He reminds me of the time I used to­ driver for the excellent and honest Fun Team McLaren­ back in 1974 when I won my 2nd championship. What fun­ we used to have and Mr. Hamilton's son has brought­ back the good times to honest Mr.Ron.
    Looking forward­ to Mr.Hamilton's son win the Championship in my­ home country Brazil! After the race you are all invited­ to my house for the biggest party in the world, i will­ provide lots of nice drink and food and beautiful­ Brazilian girls for you to meet. Even BeeGees, Jbolan,­ Touronroute, Rav A and pond.simba can come so we can­ laugh at them and push them in my swimming pool. See­ you in Brazil.
    OILYBOY - you can come and join the­ other fools in my pool!

    From Biggles, on Tue 21 Oct 9:12AM

  7. Not only does ollieboyy appear to have a stuter but­ he's watched WAY too much of the A-Team. Isn't­ that right "FOOL". When you go on holiday­ with your mummy and daddy, do you say "I AIN'T­ GETTIN' ON NO PLANE....FOOL?" hahahahaha

    From crispyduck, on Tue 21 Oct 8:39AM

  8. I think Ollieboyy has a stutter

    From Gavin F, on Tue 21 Oct 8:19AM

  9. hey oilyBOY hamiton was lucky with his mcclarens­ reliability?
    no he was the reciver of a well­ enginered car
    lewis was lucky to get the mcclaren seat­ for his first year ?
    no he was talent scouted at a­ young age and put through differant race classes and­ won championships just like modern football players if­ chelsea found anouther wayne rooney they would sign him­ up to there junior team and keep him playing so he­ learns his and improves his skill then move him to the­ full team this way they get a good player and the­ othere teams cant get him , its called sponsorship and­ happens in all sports

    From piers, on Tue 21 Oct 7:23AM

  10. ollieboyyy YOU ARE A MORON TO KEEP CALLING MCLAREN­ CHEATS . No make that a moron in denial .

    From barry w w, on Tue 21 Oct 1:53AM

  11. Lewis wants to win and race, I think if McLaren went­ off the boil,he would give them a couple of seasons­ (out of loyalty) to fix the problems, but would then­ listen to other options. That would be one more season­ than McLaren would give Lewis if he went off the boil!

    From Bentley Boy, on Tue 21 Oct 12:19AM

  12. Your Boring Olliboyy Just leave

    From Gavin F, on Tue 21 Oct 12:19AM

  13. ollieboyyy u say f1 is boring but have keep coming back­ with boring uninformed insults toward Lewis Hamilton­ maybe if we called it FF1 (Ferrari Formula 1). Yes the­ McLaren team was sent an email from a exferrari man but­ the team got a huge fine and they are still suffering­ from it this year think. Massa twice released into the­ path of an other car (other driver blamed Ferrari £5000­ fine and second time drivethrough ps also cause an­ accident with his crazy driving at Japan) again Kimi­ tried to crash into Lewis so he cut the corner but gave­ him his place back but due to his inability to drive in­ the wet he crashed (Lewis given a drivethrough)then­ Massa crashes into Lewis no penalty!!!!
    THE BETTER­ DRIVER WON ON SUNDAY AND AGAIN ITS DOWN TO BRAZIL MAY­ THE BEST MAN WIN AND IT BEING IN BRAZIL ITS YOUR MAN­ MASSA'S HOME GRAND PRIX SO HE WILL WIN HANDS DOWN,­ ALSO BEING HAMILTON STILL SOMEWHAT A ROOKIE HE WILL­ MAKE MISTAKES BUT YOUR KIMI AND MASSA ARE EXPERIENCED­ BUT ARE STILL TRYING TO BREAK THE BACKS OF THEIR PIT­ CREWS P.S. IF FF1 IS BORING TRY THE BTCC IT WAS A RED­ CAR THAT WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP BUT IT DID GET OVERTOOK­ REGULARLY.

    From lesleymcinally, on Tue 21 Oct 12:13AM

  14. Provocative question Forza - and what if Ron Dennis­ decides to quit racing? Would Lewis feel that his­ loyalty would not be compromised by moving away.

    From m.e.jenner, on Mon 20 Oct 11:27PM

  15. It will be interesting to see what Lewis does if­ McLaren is no longer competitive in a couple of years.­ Will he remain loyal to McLaren or will he seek greener­ pastures?

    From Forza Ferrari, on Mon 20 Oct 11:05PM

  16. So will LH jump ships?, next or one after??

    From peter, on Mon 20 Oct 11:00PM

  17. hamilton would be nothing in a mid table­ outfit,,,Accept it FOOL

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 9:46PM

  18. what happened FOOL that mclaren cheated

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 9:41PM

  19. It happened Ollie, or are you also in denial of the­ facts. See, you know nothing

    From usalien1967, on Mon 20 Oct 9:35PM

  20. I would like to point out that a mega corporation like­ McLaren would not have decided to invest in a rookie so­ heavily if they didn't think that he had potential.­ It is not a question of luck that Hamilton got a seat­ in a McLaren in his first year, it is that McLaren were­ fortunate enough to get Hamilton. It is Hammys career­ record prior to F1 that won him his seat at McLaren,­ and it has worked well for both of them. When different­ components come together and bond well, they become a­ reckoning force. This is what happened to­ Hamilton/McLaren.The same could be said of when Alonso­ was at Renault and became champion, but then he thought­ he was the best and left them and flunked. He is lucky­ that Flavio liked him enough to allow him to return, as­ he would have been left without a seat at all. Now he­ is seeking to desert Renault again. Flavio needs to­ wash his hands of Alonso after this season. The kid has­ no loyalty and only ever thinks of himself. He should­ turn to bull-fighting instead. I'd love to see him­ gored!

    From usalien1967, on Mon 20 Oct 9:33PM
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