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. You FOOLS,,regarding last season how can a motor racing team be disqualified from a championship yet their 2 drivers remain in the title hunt,,,,Doesnt make sence does it ,,,Like tony blair winning the election whilst the conservatives are in power,,, Get Real people,,, MCLAREN ARE CHEATS LIKE HAMMY

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 9:22PM

  2. Ollie, is that your other name when not using Touronroute? It seems to me looking at these comments, that you have proven yourself very foolish, therefore, I won't embarrass you any further! Listen to ClisbyDuck. He can be very amusing and funny, whilst having enough knowledge about the sport to be credible

    From usalien1967, on Mon 20 Oct 9:21PM

  3. ollieboyy: We read what you are saying but what we HEAR is "I am a jealous little boy that can't handle losing"
    Surely Hamilton's performances can no longer be put down to the car alone? He's been a consistent as hell for both his season so your little whiney argument has no substance and stinks of jealousy. Back your bile up with facts or drift away like the a bad fart smell that your ill prepared comments stink of.

    Ferrari's Stefano Domenicali was quoted "Lewis was in another league: he was driving perfectly, fast, consistent and we couldn't even think of attacking him"

    Massa's engineer Rob Smedley "Is the McLaren the best car or is it just that Hamilton is the best driver?"

    Now you could interpret this as being an engineer defending his team's car or you could start to wonder whether it is what I suspected would happen soon: Ferrari starting to woo Hamilton. It is a very unusual thing to hear a high ranking member of a championship rival team imply that a rival's driver is better than his team's drivers.

    ENOUGH SAID!

    From crispyduck, on Mon 20 Oct 8:38PM

  4. ollieboyyy , By the way Lewis has had more than his fair share of bad luck and still prevailed . Look at all of the bad calls that gained point for Ferrari there are many times that Ferrari got away with no penalties thanks to the stewards looking the other way .

    From barry w w, on Mon 20 Oct 8:24PM

  5. ollieboyyy , Please tell me how Lewis cheated by having a better car , and how McLaren has cheated ? If you are thinking about last year , remember they did not steal anything from Ferrari ,the data was given to an employee from a disgruntled Ferrari employee . They did not use ANY of the data as the drivers were allowed to keep their points and continue racing . Your comments that keep calling McLaren cheats make you sound like a moron .

    From barry w w, on Mon 20 Oct 8:19PM

  6. Hamilton is a CHEAT Mclaren are Cheats They remind me of chelsea fc the Machine that thinks it can run rug shod over every rule and regulation. Dont get me wrong i think massas poo too,, dont think any driver is worthy of being crowned champion this year If anyone then Alonso for what hes achieved in an inferior car. f1 has been tarnished over the last 2 seasons with the corrupt mclaren team and now the stewards. It all seems bitter and ugly the way this season has unfolded.People tend to forget that hammy has been extremley fortunate with reliability very lucky indeed,, massa had untold bad luck in first half of season concerning reliability with hes car,kimi too then look at hammys team mate always breaking down Point being if hammy had hes fair share of bad luck like fellow drivers he would never be leading the world championship..FACT.......

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 8:03PM

  7. MRt CAN I HAVE WHAT YOUR ON GET IN REAL WORLD

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 7:47PM

  8. SCHUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY777777777777 77777777777777777777777777777777NOTHING COMPARES7777777777777777777777TRUE LEGEND SOMETING HAMMY WILL NEVER BE,,,lollol

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 7:45PM

  9. Mr T says: ollieboyyy, what are you talking about fool! How can you say Hamilton "will never be the full package ever" have you seen the future? The T man pitys crazy fools like you that think they are experts and make ridiculous "never, cant, wont" statements. The fact is you dont like Hamilton and your just venting that fact here. Your statements have no relevance in reality whatsoever. Dont let the T man catch you acting like a crazy fool again!

    From MR T, on Mon 20 Oct 7:44PM

  10. ollieboyyyy are you forgetting Moza. 15 to 7th and if McLaren had made the right tire choices in the race he could have won the race easily. Or maybe in Brazil. He fluffed up and was down to 18th at one point but came back to a credible 7th. so don't say he can't drive through traffic. Massa is the one who can't drive through traffic, he' hopeless.

    From Leo G, on Mon 20 Oct 7:12PM

  11. What a joy it was to see lewis win in china, and is it amazing how nobody says a thing about that little swap of places by massa and kimi. What about no team orders. I don't mind that the swap took place. It's just if lewis and heikki wanted to do the same would every body be taking it in the good graces like they took what happened yesterday.I really do wonder!!!

    From kevingolding@..., on Mon 20 Oct 6:52PM

  12. No rookie driver in f1 history has ever came into f1 in their years and been given a Top drive straight away Not even senna or Schuyyy Its fact when their young and fresh to the game their at their fastest and most daring which explains hamiltons erractic dim witted driving skills,,,Think when Button came on the scene,,he made a name for himself,,showed alot of promise as he was in hes younger days then drifted awayyyy.. He was never given a Top drive,, Had he been given one there easily the possibility he could of won a title I wonder where Hammy would be if he had started off in f1 like all the other drivers do in a mid table outfit like toyota or minardi,,,Hes quick there no doubting but once under pressure in traffic hes PATHETIC,,,hamilton will never be the full package Ever,,,its not in him You either have it or you dont,,,I think of SCHUYYYYYY,,,theres no comparrison,,,EVER 7777777777777777777777777777

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 6:49PM

  13. mclaren are total cheats , have tarnished the name of f1 , last years antics were unforgivable LEWIS THE COWBOY DRIVER MONTOYA 2

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 6:36PM

  14. f1 is boring

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 6:23PM

  15. massa has had 4 points gifted him over the last 2 races add the points deducted from \\\\\\\\L h at spa he would be out of sight now go win it again Lewis from capone

    From peter, on Mon 20 Oct 6:23PM

  16. Well done Lewis, he just needs to bring it home in brazil and he will be a very deserving champion. Nobody has made such an impact on the sport in recent years compared to Lewis- all the haters need to give this guy respect for what he has done. Just imagine what he'll be like in a few years time if he is this good now...

    From chris, on Mon 20 Oct 4:07PM

  17. While I agree with Gordon W's comments wholeheartedly, the events of this season have shown that when a driver (and especially Lewis) drives in an exciting and aggressive manner, thereby entertaining the fans, the stewards and the FIA come down on them like a ton of bricks. Each time we have been entertained with some great racing the aggressive driver has been docked points, demoted back down the field or given time penalties.
    Even when teams have sought clarification (I'm talking Belgium) before the end of the race the stewards and the FIA have still taken the law into their own hands and changed the result. Consequently, the fans are left cheated and the sport is left with egg on it's overbloated face.
    I personally hope Lewis races in a very conservative manner in Brazil, gets his top five finish, wins the championship and the whole race is as uneventful and unexciting as China was yesterday. That way the FIA lose all round - Hamilton (and not a Ferrari driver) as champion and a sport about as exciting as watching paint dry - which is what they've had for the past few years with Schumacher at the helm, until he retired and Hamilton exploded onto the scene.
    Hamilton has re-awoken my love for the sport and made it essential viewing over the past two years. The FIA seem to be doing their very best to send me back to sleep and keep Hamilton and Maclaren out of the picture.

    From boxster, on Mon 20 Oct 3:53PM

  18. Lewis is the best! Now Alonso can go and eat with Massa!

    From Vic M, on Mon 20 Oct 3:06PM

  19. Exchange photo album and spend the lonely nights ______Wealthy Finder C om_______ for people tired of lonely life

    From sexymodel2008d, on Mon 20 Oct 2:31PM

  20. Guess the kiddies and racists who post on these forums should be directed to the football ones - its allowed and wanted there.

    As for Formula 1 well, i hope hamilton goes for it in final race and doesnt sit back in 4th or 5th place to win by not racing. Surely the whole point of F1 is to entertain those who pay the high prices to watch at the circuits even more than becoming the champion and im sure thats what the crowds go for is the excitment of the overtaking and real racing - Maybe like what i heard that everyone using the same engine and drive train, but with their own bodies and tweaks will make the sport more exciting, although i know that advances in engines and body shells taken from the sport would not be passed on to the improvements to our own vehicles. I just hope we have a good clean race with everyone actually going for the win

    From lxdollarsxl, on Mon 20 Oct 1:50PM
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