Immaculate Hamilton on brink of title

Eurosport - Mon, 20 Oct 13:47:00 2008

Britain's Lewis Hamilton has moved to the brink of the Formula One title by winning the Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Felipe Massa.

FORMULA 1 2008 Malaysia GP Lewis Hamilton / Foto:EFE - 0

The McLaren driver led from start to finish, producing a superbly controlled display, but Massa kept the championship race alive by finishing second, 14.9 seconds adrift.

Hamilton leads the drivers' standings by seven points, with 94 to Massa's 87 ahead of the final race of the season at the Brazilian's home track of Interlagos. BMW's Robert Kubica has been mathematically eliminated from contention.

If the 23-year-old finishes fifth or better, he will become the youngest Formula One champion even if Massa wins.

However, he took the same lead into the final race of 2007 at the same track, and ended up surrendering the title to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

"All weekend we've had God on our side, and the team have done a phenomenal job," said a jubilant Hamilton.

"The car has taken a big step forward, it has felt fantastic all weekend and I owe so much to the guys.

"It was quite straightforward actually. I managed to do everything right on the formation lap. I got a great start, probably one of the best we have had. I got to turn one first, took the first few corners easy and then started to create a gap."

Massa said: "Lewis was stronger today. It was not a good result for the drivers' championship, but not so bad for the constructors and that is good for the team."

While the previous race in Japan provided non-stop drama, this was a processional race - but Hamilton's supporters will not mind given the recent criticism of his aggressive driving style.

The only mild controversy came from Ferrari, whose outgoing world champion Raikkonen slowed to let Massa through into second late on.

Although there were no 'team orders', the intention of the move was clear, and Massa takes two extra points into the final showdown on November 2.

Hamilton appeared unfazed by Raikkonen's decision to allow Massa through, saying: "It was inevitable Kimi would let Felipe past."

Raikkonen said of the arrangement: "I knew what to expect and what we wanted. I'm driving for the team. It's normal in this situation."

Ferrari struggled to match Hamilton's pace all weekend, even after selecting a softer tyre compound for the first stint.

Things were not so straightforward for Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, who retired with brake problems and also suffered a puncture.

Renault's Fernando Alonso took fourth place and his team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr took a point in eighth place.

BMW duo Nick Heidfeld and Kubica took fourth and fifth respectively, with Toyota's Timo Glock seventh.

Britons David Coulthard and Jenson Button finished out of the points in 10th and 16th places respectively.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 654 - 673 of 693

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  1. OMG Touronroute, we all know that McLaren are worried. There are no certainties in racing, but when you are constantly being penalized unjustly by the FIA, anyone would be worried.

    From usalien1967, on Mon 20 Oct 5:57PM

  2. USALIEN1967 .IMMACULATE HAMILTON, not loved by my many brits, the fans who write about him on here, dont even make his book a success, have you bought one.

    From touronroute, on Mon 20 Oct 5:56PM

  3. Invalid comment. If Massa wins at Brazil, of course Hamilton won't. But he will still claim the championship

    From usalien1967, on Mon 20 Oct 5:55PM

  4. USALIEN, you talking out of your arse once more, i never hide, i forecast last year and was proved right, and my last words were i wouldn,t see you after the final outcome, and i didn,t, WELL THAT IS NO SURPRISE,i can tell you ,first hand ,MCLAREN are worried sick about making the biggest mistake in there lives.USALIEN , do me a favour, and watch all the @#$% that is coming from ron dennis, from today onwards, i can tell you if massa finishes first at inter largos,lewis hamiltons car will not win the race.

    From touronroute, on Mon 20 Oct 5:47PM

  5. In case you are missing touronroute here is a quote from him.

    From touronroute, on Mon 29 Sep 3:58PM “massa will be 3 pts in the front after next race, no probs”

    I suppose if you substitute the word 'chance' for 'probs' then he was absolutely correct!

    From Grey Scale, on Mon 20 Oct 5:38PM

  6. Shouldn't Tifosi4eva be back from her vacation now? Sorry that her hero (Lewis) spoiled her vacation. Perhaps she was so dismayed that she pulled a "Reggie Perrin" and will come back with a different identity and newfound respect for the best driver currently in F1. Yes, that would be Lewis Hamilton

    From usalien1967, on Mon 20 Oct 5:31PM

  7. LMAO MikeQ @ The word generating bot comment. But I fear you may be wrong. Word generating bots have more knowledge and intelligence than Touronroute, and I suspect that they also use a spellcheck program. Touronroute on the other hand, has none of the above and is in total denial. I suspect that we shall no longer hear from him after Brazil, as even he will know by then that he is flogging a dead horse.
    BTW, Fantastic win by Lewis and McLaren. I bet the FIA were left scratching their heads knowing there was not a thing they could do after such an outstanding performance. My heart goes out to Hekki, but all in all, a good result.

    From usalien1967, on Mon 20 Oct 5:26PM

  8. Ha Tony W, I need to rest after flying thru' clouds to Hongkong for early dinner!!! Belly still full otherwise I'll be knocking @ your windows in search of your family's blood!!! I'll come anyway sooner or later!!! I particularly like your younger sisters & daughters blood!!! You can run but you can never hide!!! Vlad Tepes

    From vladtepes666@..., on Mon 20 Oct 5:22PM

  9. vlad...you have gone quiet... whats wrong...

    From Tony, on Mon 20 Oct 4:38PM

  10. 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.

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 4:31PM

  11. see you have changed the name from MALL to LANE.......... just looked it up on the internet

    From Tony, on Mon 20 Oct 4:25PM

  12. Vlad.. honk kong is my 2nd home..........NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOTEL in that name...

    From Tony, on Mon 20 Oct 4:23PM

  13. The Park Lane Hotel @ Central in Causeway Bay, Hongkong!!! Of course Tony W don't know about HK!!! Deluxe room US$600 per night!!! Can you afford Tony W???

    From vladtepes666@..., on Mon 20 Oct 4:17PM

  14. [bobby1.penman] - The British are no more fickle than the Spanish! .......Practically the WHOLE NATION were Renault Fans, until Alonso Defected to McLaren, & Spain became Mclaren Lovers, until he retreated back to Renault, and if he goes to Ferrari, The Spanish will become Ferrari Lovers!

    There will always be an element that support the "Driver" wherever he goes, and some will support the "Team" come-what-may and this is applicable globally!

    So Your comments are Invalid & Senseless!!!

    From Ed, on Mon 20 Oct 3:58PM

  15. KUBICA (with the right set-up) could be the spoiler for Ferrari in Brazil, because he has stated that it's not over, because he is fighting to keep his 3rd place from Kimmi!

    REMEMBER JAPAN? - Kimmi in a superior car, was kept at Bay by Kubica, and this 3rd place, makes all the difference to Sponsors!

    So while Ferrari /FIA are concentrating on hindering Hamilton, Kubica could come into play for his own Agenda.

    From Ed, on Mon 20 Oct 3:47PM

  16. vlad... no such hotel...

    From Tony, on Mon 20 Oct 3:08PM

  17. I wouldn't bother Voodoo, I think its a random word generating bot. I'm pretty sure it would fail the "Turing test"

    From Mike, on Mon 20 Oct 3:01PM

  18. Touronroute, I saw your comment before mine which is why I asked you again. Your comment does not answer the question. Why is using the McLaren engine at Brazil a problem for McLaren? I didn't think that they had been having engines fail on them that much this year even on their second outing so why should Brasil be any different?

    From Grey Scale, on Mon 20 Oct 2:57PM

  19. voodoopenguin, invalid comment, but look below your last thred

    From touronroute, on Mon 20 Oct 2:43PM

  20. Hello followers & worshippers of Yeti!!! I'm back from dinner in Hongkong having such sumptous food like Cantonese horfun, pork satay, fried beef kway teow dry style & YongChow fried rice!!! It was really delicious & I have booked a week there in The Park Mall Hotel 5* @ Central in Causeway Bay!!! Ah, Yeti's disciples are missing me!!! How sad!!!

    From vladtepes666@..., on Mon 20 Oct 2:31PM
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