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. Dont criticise Lewis Hamilton for the odd mistake,­ he's a b***s out racer like Nigel was. F1 fans like­ to see passion and a willingness to win, not play the­ percentages game. I agree that sometimes a driver has­ to back off and take the points for the sake of the­ championship but this is a spectator sport. Lewis­ showed some real class by not passing commenting on the­ Ferrari favouritism during the last few races

    From Man 58, on Mon 20 Oct 12:57PM

  2. Damocles. excelent comment very funny and very true,­ thanks for a great laugh on this dark cold morning.

    From ANNOYED DISABLED GUY, on Mon 20 Oct 11:33AM

  3. Premonition - Lewis gets taken out by a Finn or­ Spaniard and the Brazilian takes 10 points. Ferrari­ International Assistance see this as a "racing­ incident"...........

    From PHILIP, on Mon 20 Oct 10:28AM

  4. Not Printable: That's so they can spot the fuel­ hose travelling down the pit lane at 70MPH

    From Tonka, on Mon 20 Oct 9:51AM

  5. Massa has a strange eye piece on his helmet - looked­ like a gunsight. Maybe Ferraris new secret - imagine!

    From not printable, on Mon 20 Oct 7:45AM

  6. good morning people

    From not printable, on Mon 20 Oct 7:44AM

  7. Why Worry about people like beegees25. there are always­ going to be people that hate for hates sake. This­ persons whole life is spent hating and leaves very­ little left in his/her very sorry narrow minded life.

    From Gavin F, on Mon 20 Oct 7:35AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    discipline, it will only help him to be a one hit­ wonder

    From touronroute, on Mon 20 Oct 7:07AM

  9. I said, please stop using the picture'image of her­ Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth ll. This is­ dishonorable, disrecpectful & insulting to the­ Queen of England!!! Am I correct to say this???

    From beegees25, on Mon 20 Oct 4:51AM

  10. This beegees25 what exactly did this person say.

    From Jacqueline, on Mon 20 Oct 3:31AM

  11. STAY TUNED! the Ferraris should be penalized 10­ positions at the start of next race, for their swap in­ team order, clearly forbidden under current­ regulations. That means that when Heiki, with his new­ engine, and Hamilton do it in Brazil, THEY will be the­ ones to get the penalty. The only difference is,­ McLaren will get 25 seconds off, giving the­ Championship to MASSA! You can't make this stuff­ up, its been happening all season! What a bunch of­ Clowns, including the stewards, Ferrari, and Ferrari­ International Advantageousness. Where's that­ penalty?

    From pHilo, on Mon 20 Oct 2:19AM

  12. beegees25,
    The KKK meeting is up the street, why­ don't you take your ignorant, racist, booger eating­ views and entertain them with it. And please, keep your­ pictures to yourself, I have a very low gag reflex.

    From Rich L, on Sun 19 Oct 11:45PM

  13. lh should not try to take anybody out all he has to do­ is to bring his car home and safe cos he will always be­ among the first three and thats it .we dont need no war­ we need clean and interesting final race in brazil..­ however i think it is time 4 BEEGEES25 COMMENTS SHOULD­ BE LOOKED AT

    From clement l, on Sun 19 Oct 9:39PM

  14. For me it wasn't a boring race at all because I­ know that anything could have happened all those pit­ stop moments had my heart beating like a drum. Massa­ was doing well in Malaysia until he did that 'pit­ stop' F1 isn't as boring as when Schumacer was­ always winning and didn't really have a ny strong­ competition. Kubica gained a few places too that was­ brilliant to watch. Also, watching the times and­ seeing Kimi taking seconds off Lewis and Lewis­ responding was very exciting to see.

    From danluckylarry, on Sun 19 Oct 8:45PM

  15. There was only one problem with the race: soooooo­ booooooring! Otherwise Hamilton was great today,­ finally without any trouble.

    From Péter, on Sun 19 Oct 8:25PM

  16. Hi dogbiscuit - it's great to hear from you again. ­ Not only did I sing-a-long I also stood up whilst I­ sang it - makes it a bit difficult typing - but hay,­ I'm a woman (multi-tasking etc).

    From m.e.jenner, on Sun 19 Oct 8:24PM

  17. i'm glad Hamilton hasn't raced the way he did­ today all season because it was sooo boring! Messing­ about like he has this season has kept the championship­ interesting and given the other drivers the illusion of­ hope! It's also kept my heart in my mouth through­ each race. He'd be untouchable if he raced the way­ he did today all the time and it'd kill the sport­ again if he did! Bernie and Max should both thank him­ for making the sport interesting and relevant again!

    From MARK, on Sun 19 Oct 8:15PM

  18. Re;patbuckley
    The way Max and the FIA have been­ 'poundung' on LH this year, Lewis would be a­ FOOL to do ANYTHING that could get him penalized!
    If­ you want to play that way, let KOVI do it, but LH has­ to be 'squeaky clean'!

    From Barry M, on Sun 19 Oct 7:32PM

  19. I think Lewis should do the same thing that Schumacher­ has done in the past - take Massa out at the first­ opportunity,

    From Patarac, on Sun 19 Oct 7:24PM

  20. By the way lads, mind your language, there's­ royalty present on this thread. And by the way, I hope­ you all remember to sing the national anthem before­ writing your latest witticism. I know I did.

    From Pete, on Sun 19 Oct 7:14PM
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