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

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  1. Mouronroute. Have you heard that if you lock enough monkeys in a room with typewriters for a long enough time the will write something inteligent ?. Keep trying, your not close yes. ( don't forget what the warden told you. Turn the cap lock off )

    From chtech06, on Mon 20 Oct 2:15PM

  2. OK touronroute, you didn't answer this on the other thread so I will try here. Why is it a problem for McLaren that it is the second race for the engine? Have their engines been prone to fail on their second outings this year?

    From Grey Scale, on Mon 20 Oct 1:53PM

  3. FERRARI, HE WHO LAUGHS LAST. LAUGHS THE LONGEST,(MCLAREN )SLIP UP, ENGINE WONT LAST INTER LAGOS GRAND PRIX, ENGINE MUST BE CHANGED BEFORE Q3, BUT BEING LAST RACE WILL NOT INCURE A 10 PLACE GRID SPOT FINE, BUT RULES STATE THAT MUST START FROM PIT LANE,( VERY CLEVER FERRARI)

    From touronroute, on Mon 20 Oct 1:30PM

  4. not a LH fan but well done anyway....to you ferrari haters I hope some day LH is in a Ferrari then we ll see how fond of him you are...that would be a dilema for most of you would nt it......though you english are so "fickle" you would all become ferrari fans over night. then renault then BMW then whatever suited you all at the time

    From bobby1.penman@..., on Mon 20 Oct 1:29PM

  5. blah blah- cheated- blah blah -losing- blah blah- what do i know anyway- blah blah ba bore blah- i is right -blah bore more bore YAWN,
    witless wittering...bah...bore...blah...

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 1:18PM

  6. It was very sad to see Mrs. Massa crying so much after the race - was this because she had seen her baby cheat his way to another 2 points. I expect so.

    From Biggles, on Mon 20 Oct 1:14PM

  7. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Mon 20 Oct 12:46PM

  8. INVALID INVALID move team orders affecting result

    massa must return illegal points & team fined heavily

    From zina222@..., on Mon 20 Oct 12:31PM

  9. I doubt it. If Spa & Fuji didn't embarrass them, then I don't think that would have

    From Mike, on Mon 20 Oct 12:20PM

  10. Don't listen to Kimi I was too fast for him and I put a blinding move on him, he still thinks I came third. - Massa

    From danluckylarry, on Mon 20 Oct 12:16PM

  11. I slowed down to let Massa Pass me says Kimi

    From danluckylarry, on Mon 20 Oct 12:15PM

  12. Tony w
    I have tried them....and the pictures gave me nightmares.....

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 12:14PM

  13. embarassing press conference for Ferrari

    From danluckylarry, on Mon 20 Oct 12:06PM

  14. Tony w.
    I live in the Cathedral and i am learning to Read has such learned scholar as yourself ...any useful advice??
    The hunch.

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 11:57AM

  15. Looking forward to Brazil

    From danluckylarry, on Mon 20 Oct 11:53AM

  16. I think "blah bluddy blah,and he isnt nice becoz blah friguckin blah"(bah bah black sheep)
    and he didnt win because "boring blah blah blah blag"
    and you all make me sick becoz blah yawn blah bore bah blah yawn.

    From , on Mon 20 Oct 11:50AM

  17. skyaerialsandsatellites... maybe you should learn to read... before commenting on somethinh you no nothing about

    From Tony, on Mon 20 Oct 11:50AM

  18. I must say I tend to agree with imejl99. I admire LH driving but am not a fan.
    I come from the era of Fangio, Moss, Clark, Hawthorn, Collins and company all Gentlemen.
    The racing was fabulous too.

    From HispanoSuiza, on Mon 20 Oct 11:45AM

  19. Futbollix says...

    Isnt it about time....?

    From skyaerialsandsatellites, on Mon 20 Oct 11:43AM

  20. Tony W, stop getting into slagging matches with Vlad. God teaches us that we should pity the feable minded and only treat them with kindness!!

    From Say no to FIA, on Mon 20 Oct 11:40AM
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