Sebastian Vettel made light work of poor visibility at a rain-hit Chinese Grand Prix with a superb drive to give Red Bull their first ever race victory.
Team-mate Mark Webber made it a one-two to ensure it was a dream day for the British-based team in Shanghai.
Championship leader Jenson Button came third ahead of the second Brawn car of veteran driver Rubens Barrichello.
World champion Lewis Hamilton was sixth for rapidly-improving McLaren behind Finnish team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.
After two days of hot and sunny conditions for practice and qualifying, strong winds brought a continuous rain to the modern track meaning the Chinese GP started as the Malaysian race had finished - under the safety car.That appeared to open up the field and play into the hands of Brawn GP, the championship pace-setters who were sat in fourth and fifth on the grid and carrying a heavier fuel load than the Red Bulls ahead of them and, in particular, Renault's Fernando Alonso in second.
But Brawn's drivers could do nothing about the consistent pace of the Red Bulls in the soaking conditions, with Vettel particularly impressive on his way to his second GP victory after becoming the youngest ever race winner in Italy last year with Toro Rosso.
The race started with eight laps under the safety car, though when it peeled off the cars were still engulfed in spray.
But Vettel drove flawlessly throughout, eventually beating Webber by 10.9 seconds as he occasionally clocked laps that were three seconds quicker than anybody else - and the 21-year-old German now moves up to third in the drivers' championship.
Australian Webber could himself have notched his first GP win but will have to settle for his best ever finish as the pole sitter took victory for the third successive race this season.
Around 30 laps in he and Button became embroiled in a battle for second position and both drivers made small but costly errors, causing them to momentarily skid off the sheets of water which stood on the sodden track.That period proved crucial for Vettel who, with Button and Webber trading places but slightly losing time, kept his cool to stretch out his lead and make sure of the win.
"I am extremely happy, this is the second time now [I have won] in the wet," he said. "The car was fantastic, the team did a really good job in fixing the problems we had and preparing it.
"It was the right decision to start behind the safety car."
Button stretched his lead at the top of the championship by a point as a result of finishing third and highlighted the difficulties drivers faced in the treacherous conditions in Shanghai.
"It was crazy out there, there was so much aquaplaning," he said.
"Every lap I thought I was going to run the car off, especially on the last corner."
Sixth-placed Hamilton secured three points after experiencing an improved showing in a McLaren car which is showing far greater reliability than in the first two Grands Prix of the season.
Starting in eighth, the English driver made an impressive early charge after the safety car went in and moved up to fourth position around the 25-lap mark.
The world champion's determination to challenge the frontrunners in a season in which he has largely been well off the pace, allied to the wet circuit, saw him spin off a number of times - but Hamilton expressed a quiet pleasure with the progress McLaren are making."It was terrible [conditions] out there," he said.
"There was a little bit of fun at the beginning when I had some grip but it was really tough. I'm sure it was the same for everyone.
"[But] the reliability of the car is fantastic and these were some good points for the team."
One of the most notable performances of the race came from Sebastian Buemi - the only rookie driver this season - who drove aggressively and, after briefly sitting fourth at one stage and then recovering from a minor crash into the back of Vettel, eventually finished eight to notch a point for Toro Rosso.
Reigning constructors' champions Ferrari had another disastrous race and it is the first time since 1981 they have gone three races into the season without a point.
Whilst going well in third position on lap 21, Felipe Massa's car gradually slowed down before coming to a halt as it broke down on the track, causing the Brazilian to retire.
"I'm very disappointed and a bit upset but my motivation is still intact," said Massa.
"All of us must work together to get out of this situation. The team is united and there is a real will to turn things round as soon as possible."Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen did enjoy a brief battle with Hamilton around the same period as he looked to secure the Italian team's first points of 2009, but the Finn eventually finished 10th.
Force India came close to securing their first ever points in F1 but Adrian Sutil, who was in sixth place with five laps to go, spun off on worn tyres.
After the race both Red Bull drivers gave credit to the team's crew, who had to fix a driveshaft problem that had blighted the race cars in Saturday practice and restricting their running in qualifying.
They will now be looking to build on their first win in the next race in Bahrain on Sunday, 26 April.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Vettel seals first Red Bull win
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Vettel on shock pole for Red Bull
Sebastian Vettel grabbed Red Bull's first ever pole position in a thrilling qualifying session in Shanghai.
Team-mate Mark Webber starts Sunday's race in third as the favourites Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello of Brawn GP were pushed into fourth and fifth.
Renault's Fernando Alonso, who has widely struggled for speed so far this season, will start from second.
World champion Lewis Hamilton was ninth for McLaren, who have shown signs of improvement with an updated car.
Starting in first and third at the Chinese Grand Prix represents a real achievement for Red Bull - considered one of the teams with fewer resources than the traditional powerhouses - as the 2009 season continues to throw any sense of Formula 1's conventions on its head.
It was generally anticipated that Brawn GP, who have dominated the first two races, would again put a driver on the front row. But the British-based team showed they have the best car on the grid that is not running with a double-decker diffuser - a controversial take on a key component at the rear of a car which Brawn, Williams and Toyota have used so far this season and was passed as legal by F1's governing body, the FIA, on Wednesday.
German Vettel coolly came first in the second session before triumphing in the final session with a time of one minute 36.184, triggering an explosion of joy from his mechanics and engineers.
"I am very, very happy," said the 21-year-old.
"It is unbelievable that we made it to pole position in the end. This morning we had a problem with the car. The mechanics did a very good job and fixed the car. Basically it is all down to them."
When the weights of the cars in qualifying were published, however, it emerged that fourth-placed Barrichello was running with 18kg more fuel than frontrunner Vettel.
That heavier load equates to an approximate deficit of 0.6 seconds, meaning that he was essentially three tenths quicker - and the fastest man in the field.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
China considers ditching F1 race
China is considering ditching its loss-making Formula One Grand Prix, according to a senior race official.
Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, told AFP a decision on the future of the event would be announced in 2009.
"We're doing the assessment. By next year, we should be able to give you the answer," Qiu is reported to have said.
Qiu, who appeared cool on the idea of a night race, added that organisers "would like at least to break even".
Shanghai, China's biggest city, spent $240m (£161m) building a track suitable for F1 and has hosted a Grand Prix since 2004.
It has a contract with F1 until 2010 and is said by F1 insiders to pay about $50m (£34m) annually for the race.
But the event has not proved popular with local people and attendances have been poor - even with some spectators being transported in specifically to give the appearance of a fuller venue.
The event has been lucrative for F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone, who is believed to charge China some of the highest fees to host a race.
China is one of a string of locations which have joined the F1 circuit at a heavy cost in recent years in an attempt to boost their global image, joining the likes of Malaysia, Bahrain and Singapore on the calendar.
With the exception of Singapore, which held its inaugural Grand Prix as a night race in September, all have failed to capture widespread interest among locals.
Qiu said: "We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie [Ecclestone] and the F1 organisers as well.
"If this is something we can do, and our co-operation is very happy and smooth, we will consider it.
"Of course we would like at least to break even. But there are two factors - one is the assessment; the other part is the win-win situation that we can create."
Asia is a growth area for F1. Abu Dhabi is to host its first race in 2009, with South Korea and India scheduled to follow suit in 2010 and 2011.
Ecclestone is keen for locations in the eastern hemisphere to hold their races as late in the day as possible in order to make the start time more attractive for F1's core audience in western Europe.
But asked about the idea of night racing, Qiu said: "In Singapore... holding the event at night is a good way to attract tourists to a small country.
"Singapore is hosting this event in their own unique way but we have our own situation."
Qiu said that the Grand Prix had succeeded in creating "this huge wave of car fever, so in that sense it is good news".
He said the circuit would continue to exist if the Grand Prix dropped because it was already in use for most of the year by car clubs, who hosted private driving sessions.
China has already ditched its MotoGP race, which was also held at Shanghai.
And in January, the head of the track, Yu Zhifei, who helped bring F1 to China, was jailed on corruption charges.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Hamilton calm over Title Finale
Lewis Hamilton says he is approaching the title-deciding Brazilian Grand Prix with calm and confidence after winning the Chinese Grand Prix.
He has a seven-point lead over Ferrari rival Felipe Massa as he chases a first world championship on 2 November.
"It'll be a similar approach to this weekend," said Hamilton. "A bit calmer, a bit more confident in the package and what we have to do.
"It's not about cruising - it is about a strong finish but it will be tough."
Hamilton's points advantage is the same as the one he held over Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen heading into Brazil last year.
In 2007, he allowed a chance to claim the title in China to slip through his fingers when he slid off coming into the pits.
Then in Brazil he ran off the road trying unnecessarily to pass then team-mate Fernando Alonso before a gearbox problem left him at the tail of the field.
He was able to recover only to seventh as Raikkonen won to snatch the title from Hamilton's grasp.
But Hamilton rejected any comparisons between last year and this.
"It's a completely different year," said the 23-year-old, who could become Formula One's youngest world champion.
"The last race of last year was tough.
"We went to Brazil and we were on the back foot and knowing that Ferrari would be competitive in Brazil.
"We will arrive this year, knowing we have had a good race [in China] and we will settle down and work very, very hard to arrive in Brazil even more competitive.
"I'm feeling very good about it but we will try and do the best we can.
"We will have a similar approach to this weekend, which is a better approach than I had last year."
Massa must finish first or second in Brazil to have any chance of taking the title.
But Hamilton only needs to finish fifth if Massa wins or seventh if the Brazilian is second to secure the crown.
And after a season dotted with errors, Hamilton insists he will rein in his natural instincts to go all out for victory and settle for securing his first drivers' crown.
"We don't have to win in Brazil," he added. "We just have to do a solid job and that's going to be our target.
"[The title] is on your mind but the fact that we have done a good job in China is what we needed to do.
"We still have a tough race ahead in Brazil but I am really looking forward to it."
Chinese Grand Prix photos
A relaxed Lewis Hamilton carries the hopes of a nation as he attempts to become a Formula One world champion at the age of 23
With the race fast approaching, Hamilton turns to his father Anthony for a guiding hand and some moral support
Starting on pole position, Hamilton gets off to a clean start and does not allow any of his Ferrari rivals to pass
Italy's Jarno Trulli spins off just after the start of the race in overcast conditions
McLaren's hopes in the constructors' race are hit when birthday boy Heikki Kovalainen retires after puncturing his tyre
Massa moves past team-mate Raikkonen with six laps to go to claim second behind Hamilton and keep his title hopes alive
Massa cannot hide his dejection on the podium knowing a fifth-placed finish for Hamilton in Brazil will give his young rival the title
Stevenage-born Hamilton celebrates as he moves closer to succeeding Damon Hill as Britain's latest world champion
Hamilton closes on title with win
Lewis Hamilton has moved to the brink of the world title with a commanding victory in the Chinese Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver dominated the race at Shanghai while his title rival Felipe Massa was handed second place by Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
The Brazilian had run third for most of the event, unable to stay on terms with Hamilton or Raikkonen ahead of him.
Hamilton takes a seven-point lead over Massa into the season finale in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 2 November.
With a maximum of 10 points available, the 23-year-old Englishman will be a strong favourite to become the youngest champion in F1 history at Interlagos.
Just as importantly, Hamilton's margin is large enough that he will win the title in Brazil as long as he finishes fifth or higher.
"This is another step towards the championship, my dream and the team's dream," said Hamilton.
"We didn't want to go out and win everything in this race but to look to the two races. [This victory] was quite straightforward but it will be tough in Brazil with Ferrari pushing hard."
The third man who entered the Chinese race in the championship reckoning, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, is out of the running after finishing sixth.
Renault's Fernando Alonso was fourth, unable to stay with the Ferraris, but well clear of everyone else.
Nick Heidfeld of BMW took fifth after McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen suffered a puncture with 20 laps to go, with Toyota's Timo Glock and Renault's Nelson Piquet taking the final points positions in seventh and eighth.
Hamilton had been under pressure all weekend in China in the wake of a dramatic race in Japan last week, and his driving tactics have been criticised by some of his peers.
But he was unflustered on his way to one of his most commanding victories, in an uneventful race that was a stark contrast to events in Fuji.
There, Hamilton earned himself a penalty for a wild move at the first corner after messing up his start, tangled with Massa on the second lap and finished out of the points in 12th.
This time, he drove the race he should have driven in Fuji, making a perfect start and leading comfortably throughout the race apart from during the first pit-stop period.
"It was a great start, probably one of the best we've had which we needed," the Englishman said. "I took it quite easy through the first corners and then started to increase the gap.
"After my second stop we were pretty much cruising and I knew I just had to keep my head and keep calm and it wasn't tough at all."
Hamilton's main rival throughout the race was Raikkonen, but the McLaren built a four-second lead before they both made their first pit stops on lap 15.
Hamilton extended his advantage to 6.6secs by the time the field settled down after the pit-stop period.
And although Raikkonen nibbled at Hamilton's lead at times through the middle period of the race, the McLaren always appeared to be in control.
Hamilton was eight seconds in front by the time of the second pit-stop period, after which Raikkonen slowed and allowed his team-mate to take second place at the end of the back on lap 49.
Team orders are forbidden under FIA - the sport's governing body - rules but Raikkonen said he no qualms about doing whatever was necessary to help Ferrari, even though Massa was largely unable to match his pace throughout the race.
"I had nothing to lose - or win - so I'm driving for the team," said the Finn, whose title defence came to an end in Japan last week.
"I know what we want as a team and that's what we did. It's normal in those situations."
Massa kept alive his hopes of capturing the world title in front of his home fans in Brazil but was left frustrated by his inability to challenge Hamilton in Shanghai.
"I am fighting McLaren and it was not a fantastic result for the drivers' championship," he said.
"We were driving on the limit trying to reduce the gap but it was not possible. Lewis had a better car the whole weekend.
"I was strong enough to catch and pass [Raikkonen] and that was the best part of the race for me - but it was not enough."
Result of the Chinese Grand Prix:
1 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes
2 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 14.9 seconds behind
3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari at 16.4secs
4 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault at 18.3secs
5 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber at 28.9secs
6 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber at 33.2secs
7 Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota at 41.7secs
8 Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault at 56.6secs
9 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari at 1:04.3
10 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault at 1:14.5
11 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda at 1:25.0
12 Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota at 1:30.8
13 Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari at 1:31.4
14 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault at 1:32.4
15 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota one lap behind
16 Jenson Button (GB) Honda at one lap behind
17 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari at one lap
R Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 49 laps completed
R Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari 13 laps completed
R Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota two laps completed
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Hamilton storms to Shanghai pole
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton gave his world title hopes a big lift by taking pole for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.
The Briton finished in front of title rivals Felipe Massa, who will start third, and Robert Kubica, whose bid was dented by a poor qualifying session.
Hamilton, 23, leads the standings by five points with just two races to go.
World champion Kimi Raikkonen, Massa's Ferrari team-mate, was second, with Renault's Fernando Alonso, who has won the last two races, claiming fourth.
BMW Sauber's Kubica, who lies 12 points behind Hamilton, put in his worst qualifying performance of the season and will start in 11th.
The Pole complained about the car's balance throughout the session in Shanghai and had to drive to his limit to eke out any pace at all after just squeezing into the second period of qualifying.
"I expect a tough race now because we are not allowed to change the set-up," Kubica said.
Kovalainen, who had been expected to support his team-mate Hamilton with a strong performance in qualifying, claimed fifth place.
Asked after the race if he could help Hamilton's race strategy now, he shrugged and answered "not much".
Red Bull's Mark Webber qualified in sixth place but will start from 16th place on the grid after incurring a 10-place penalty for a last-minute engine change.
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld had finished seventh but was demoted three places for impeding David Coulthard's Red Bull.
Sebastian Vettel for Toro Rosso, Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Sebastien Bourdais in the second Toro Rosso complete the top-10 line-up.
Hamilton dominated qualifying, setting the benchmark for the rest of the field in each of the three sessions.
The 23-year-old repeated his usual trick of saving the best until last, setting a fastest lap of one minute 36.303 seconds in the closing minute to overhaul Raikkonen's best mark by 0.342secs.
"We came here very strong and determined and that was one of my best qualifying performances," Hamilton said.
"Ferrari will be very competitive at the start but I'm in a better position to at least attack. If Kimi is ahead of me it doesn't matter - as long as Felipe is behind me."
Hamilton's build-up to the race weekend has been overshadowed by criticism from his fellow drivers about his aggressive driving style but the Englishman insists he has been unaffected by the comments.
"I've not had anything hanging over me or anything on my mind except the need to produce a good lap," he added.
"You can see from this result I'm dealing with it all quite well. I've a huge amount of support from back home, from across the world, from my team and especially from my family.
"It was still tough out there with everyone very competitive, but I'm happy I got the lap done."
Hamilton can capture the world title in Shanghai on Sunday in several scenarios; if he wins, with Massa lower than fourth; if he is second, with Massa lower than sixth; or if he is third, with Massa out of the points, as long as Kubica does not win.
Massa ran behind Hamilton in qualifying and had a chance to eclipse Hamilton's provisional pole but could only manage the third fastest time, raising questions over his fuel load.
The Brazilian will line up on the second row alongside Alonso but remains confident he can still challenge his title rival Hamilton.
"We were struggling a bit this weekend, struggling to make the right lap and to put everything together and it looked like McLaren have an easier car," he said.
"We don't know how we will do in the race but I'm confident I can fight for the victory tomorrow."
In a repeat of last weekend's front row for the Japanese GP, Raikkonen lines up alongside Hamilton and the reigning world champion's presence could again unsettle the Englishman.
Hamilton made a shaky start in Fuji and was penalised for taking the Finn off the track as the pair battled for the lead.
Raikkonen played down Ferrari's competitiveness whilst making it clear he intended to challenge Hamilton again in Shanghai.
"This hasn't been the easiest weekend," said the Finn.
"The McLaren has been fast all weekend, and the three-tenths (of a second) gap is quite big, but we will see tomorrow how they will be in race conditions.
"We are not in first place but we are still in a good place to try to win."
At the opposite end of the pack, David Coulthard starts his penultimate Grand Prix in 15th place for Red Bull.
The Scot also successfully won an appeal against Heidfeld, who he claimed spoilt his flying lap in the opening session.
"It was unsporting behaviour by Heidfeld," Coulthard said. "He had no intention of a faster lap."
Results from qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.303
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1:36.645
3. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:36.889
4. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:36.927
5. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.9306.
6. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:37.685
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:37.934
8. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:38.885
9. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:37.201 *
10. Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault 1:35.722
11. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:35.814
12. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 1:35.937
13. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:36.079
14. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 1:36.210
15. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:36.7316.
16. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:37.083 **
17. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota 1:36.863
18. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:37.053
19. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari 1:37.730
20. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari 1:37.739
* = demoted three places for impeding
** = demoted 10 places for engine change
Friday, October 17, 2008
Japan crash behind me - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton says he has put the collision with title rival Felipe Massa at the Japanese Grand Prix behind him.
Hamilton failed to score points in his damaged car by finishing 12th, but Brazilian Massa was only able to score two points for seventh place.
The McLaren driver enters the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday five points ahead of Ferrari's Massa.
"We have collected ourselves and we're moving forward," Hamilton said in a news conference in Shanghai.
"Coming here (China) I feel just as strong as I always do and I've still got two races, still five points ahead, and still have a great opportunity to make the next step.
"When you have not such good races there's always going to be criticism. It doesn't matter if it's positive or negative, you move forward, you put it in the past."
Massa cut Hamilton's lead by two points by finishing seventh in Fuji last weekend.
BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica is also in with a chance of the title - he is 12 points behind Hamilton after finishing second behind Renault's Fernando Alonso in Japan
Hamilton accused Massa of deliberately running into him in Japan, but the Ferrari driver does not believe the Briton's aggressive style will be the decisive factor in the remaining races in China and Brazil.
"That is Lewis," he said. "That is his personality - to be aggressive and to always be over confident. That is true.
"It doesn't mean that he cannot be good, cannot be competitive or cannot be strong because of that.
"Everybody knows that he is very strong and these things made him a lot of points. That is why it doesn't change anything."
Kimi Raikkonen, who is out of the running for this year's title, has said he will do what he can to help team-mate Massa win the championship.
"Our goal is a one-two win," said the 2007 champion. "I'll give it all to help Felipe and the team to gain the results we want."
Alonso, who fell out with McLaren during a tumultuous season as Hamilton's team-mate last year, was quoted last week by Spanish newspapers saying that he would help Massa if he could.
And at the news conference on Thursday, the Spaniard was asked about his comments.
"I was waiting for this question. When I said this in Fuji, what I meant is now we have a competitive car it seems we are able to fight sometimes with Ferrari and McLaren.
"First of all we need to have a competitive car in Shanghai and in Brazil to be fighting with Ferrari and McLaren. If we do that and Felipe wins the race and I can be second or third, I will be happy to help Felipe take as many points as possible."
Hamilton, sitting alongside, responded: "I don't really have an opinion on it. I focus on my job and the most important thing is to be competitive this weekend and try to earn some points. I want to be at the front and what the others do is none of my business."
Rivals criticise Hamilton tactics
Lewis Hamilton's driving has come under the spotlight at the Chinese Grand Prix following criticism from his rivals.
The issue has been thrown into the spotlight after several leading drivers expressed concerns about some of the manoeuvres Hamilton has pulled.
"Lewis is a phenomenal talent but his respected colleagues are saying: 'Mate, it doesn't need to be like that all the time,'" Red Bull's Mark Webber said.
Hamilton said: "I know people have comments and that's fine with me."
Some drivers have been concerned about Hamilton's driving all season, but the issue has come to a head following last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Hamilton was penalised for an attempt to retain his lead following a slow start at Fuji, which led to him taking Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen off the track.
"The first corner in Fuji was pretty wild," said Webber, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
"Lewis was having a crack, but if someone had been sitting on his right rear when he pulled out then that was a crash," Webber said.
"There was also no way he was going to make the first corner, and while it is not illegal to out-brake yourself, we want to have a bit of a chat about moving around in the braking areas.
"If any guy moves two or three metres left or right then you have contact and you have tethers (on the wheels) going off, so that is what we want a chat about."
"I am not smashing Hamilton but it is about how you move on. Tiger Woods learns. Roger Federer learns. And Lewis is going through that.
"We lost a marshal at Monza [in 2000] when there were guys moving around in the braking areas and it is very hard to change your line if you don't know what is coming. That is the only thing that we need to look at."
Talking to the BBC on Friday, Webber was at pains to stress he had never said Hamilton could end up killing someone, as was reported in some British tabloid newspapers.
"I know I never said the word 'kill'," Webber said. "I said a lot of positive stuff about Lewis.
"It's clear there has been a few manoeuvres in the braking area that some of us have not agreed with, and I used Monza eight years ago as an example of that type of situation where we can have cars flying through the air.
"[I'm] very disappointed those at the headlines. I'm disappointed with the press - they come to you for your expertise and experience and sometimes they slate you."
Kubica, who crashed heavily in Canada last year and had questioned the safety of Hamilton's driving in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September, clarified his position in China.
"When one driver is overtaking another one and crossing his line just in front of his wheels, it's quite dangerous, especially if someone behind has to lift off," he said.
"The first corner in Fuji was pretty wild," said Webber, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
"Lewis was having a crack, but if someone had been sitting on his right rear when he pulled out then that was a crash," Webber said.
"There was also no way he was going to make the first corner, and while it is not illegal to out-brake yourself, we want to have a bit of a chat about moving around in the braking areas.
"If any guy moves two or three metres left or right then you have contact and you have tethers (on the wheels) going off, so that is what we want a chat about."
"I am not smashing Hamilton but it is about how you move on. Tiger Woods learns. Roger Federer learns. And Lewis is going through that.
"We lost a marshal at Monza [in 2000] when there were guys moving around in the braking areas and it is very hard to change your line if you don't know what is coming. That is the only thing that we need to look at."
Talking to the BBC on Friday, Webber was at pains to stress he had never said Hamilton could end up killing someone, as was reported in some British tabloid newspapers.
"I know I never said the word 'kill'," Webber said. "I said a lot of positive stuff about Lewis.
"It's clear there has been a few manoeuvres in the braking area that some of us have not agreed with, and I used Monza eight years ago as an example of that type of situation where we can have cars flying through the air.
"[I'm] very disappointed those at the headlines. I'm disappointed with the press - they come to you for your expertise and experience and sometimes they slate you."
Kubica, who crashed heavily in Canada last year and had questioned the safety of Hamilton's driving in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September, clarified his position in China.
"When one driver is overtaking another one and crossing his line just in front of his wheels, it's quite dangerous, especially if someone behind has to lift off," he said.
However, Webber's team-mate David Coulthard stamped out suggestions that the drivers resented the instant success Hamilton is enjoying in just his second year in the sport.
"Absolutely not," he told BBC Sport. "Whoever made that up, is people trying to imagine what it's like to be a racing driver rather than understanding what that is.
"From what I read in the media there seems to be a growing tide of drivers suggesting that his driving is too aggressive but most of the time I'm not racing against Lewis so can't really comment.
"I admire success and admire people who've dedicated themselves to the sport and if they are in a winning car then c'est la vie."
McLaren driver Hamilton leads his closest rival Felipe Massa of Ferrari by five points and BMW Sauber's Kubica by 12 with two races to go.
His lead at the top of the drivers' standings was cut by two points after he finished 12th and Massa seventh at last week's Japanese Grand Prix.
Hamilton is without a victory since the German Grand Prix seven races ago and has shown signs that he is feeling the pressure.
Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has said that Kubica would be the most worthy world champion this year.
The one who really deserves it now is Kubica," Villeneuve told BBC Sport
"He has not been in as good a car as either Felipe or Lewis yet he has produced a season without mistakes."
Villeneuve also questioned the number of penalties that have been handed out by race stewards this season.
"You have to say the penalties that both [Hamilton and Massa] have been getting has been a little bit surprising.
"Once you start giving penalties away you just have to keep giving more and more and where do you [draw] the line?"
"This year he's got it in his hands with two races to go so we'll see how it pans out.
"He's been thrown in very young and been told for many years that he's the best in the world.
"At some point you end up believing that and I guess that happens to most drivers at some point in their careers."
Hamilton heads Massa in practice
Lewis Hamilton got his Chinese Grand Prix weekend off to a perfect start with the fastest time in practice.
The McLaren driver clocked one minute 35.630 seconds in the first session to beat Ferrari's Felipe Massa, his main rival for the title, by 0.390 secs.
Hamilton was fastest again in the slower second session, with the Brazilian in sixth place.
The third driver in title contention, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, was fifth and 12th in the two sessions.
Fernando Alonso - the winner of the last two races, who has made it clear he would rather Kubica or Massa won the title than his former team-mate Hamilton - was second fastest in the afternoon, 0.274 secs adrift in his Renault.
Hamilton leads Massa in the drivers' standings by five points heading into this penultimate race, with Kubica a further seven adrift.
The 23-year-old can win the title on Sunday in one of several scenarios: if he wins, with Massa lower than fourth; if he is second, with Massa lower than sixth; or if he is third, with Massa out of the points, as long as Kubica does not win.
For now, Hamilton is focusing on the task ahead in Shanghai, where he is determined to atone for his dismal 12th-place finish in Japan.
I'm not going into this race saying it has to be done now," said Hamilton, who is attempting to become the youngest world champion in Formula One history.
"I just want to redeem myself from last week. I feel confident for qualifying but not too confident.
"We have a strong car as always and this was one of the best Fridays I've had - I'm very happy."
Massa was well adrift of his McLaren rival in both sessions but believes his practice pace is not a true reflection of his ability to challenge Hamilton over the course of the weekend.
"Today doesn't represent anything," said Massa. "There are possibilities to be strong in qualifying and the race.
"I hope we can be competitive; that's what we're working for and for sure it would be nice to start in the front or the front row.
"We did a good job on fine-tuning [in practice] and I'm confident."
Kubica, who retains slim hopes of a first world title, admitted he needs to find further improvement if he is to challenge in China.
"We tried all kinds of different things, but I'm not happy with the balance of the car, and the overall level of grip is poor," Kubica said.
"There is still a lot of work to be done."
Hamilton insists he has put behind him the first-corner error that led to him scoring no points at the Japanese Grand Prix last Sunday.
But his driving has come in for criticism from some of his fellow racers, who believe he sometimes moves around dangerously while braking.
Hamilton, however, showed no signs of being distracted by his critics as he blitzed both practice sessions at the Shanghai circuit comfortably clear of his rivals.
The Englishman set his hot lap late in the morning session but jumped straight to the top of the timesheets in his first flying lap of the afternoon, setting a benchmark of 1:35.750 which could not be bettered.
Hamilton had dominated in China last season only for his race to unravel, and along with it his grip on the world title, when he spun into the gravel and was forced to retire from the race.
He looked on from the McLaren garage as Renault's Nelson Piquet made the same mistake in the same spot in morning practice, sliding off the pit lane entry and ploughing across the gravel.
There were plenty of wobbles during practice and Hamilton's otherwise faultless display was slightly spoiled when he ran off the track halfway through the opening session before coming off again at the tricky Turn Two in the afternoon.
Kimi Raikkonen spun his Ferrari in the same place, while Toro Rosso's Sebastian Bourdais ended the second session marooned in the gravel trap.
The afternoon session saw most of the field experiment with different fuel loads and Renault's strategy elevated Alonso up to second with his team-mate Piquet third.
However, Alonso, surprise winner of the last two Grands Prix, is not ruling out another solid performance in Shanghai.
"We need to work hard because we can improve the car a little bit in terms of set up," the double world champion said.
"The two top teams are very quick so we need to get in the middle of them and have a better qualifier to start from the front."
First practice times from Chinese Grand Prix:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes one minute 35.630
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:36.020
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:36.052
4. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.103
5. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:36.507
6. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:36.661
7. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:37.040
8. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:37.070
9. Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault 1:37.180
10. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:37.278
11. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:37.491
12. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:37.619
13. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota 1:37.630
14. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:37.638
15. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 1:37.638
16. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 1:37.664
17. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:37.827
18. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:38.219
19. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari 1:38.285
20. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari 1:38.479
Second practice times:
1. Hamilton one minute 35.750
2. Alonso 1:36.024
3. Piquet 1:36.094
4. Trulli Toyota 1:36.159
5. Webber 1:36.375
6. Massa 1:36.480
7. Bourdais 1:36.529
8. Raikkonen 1:36.542
9. Heidfeld 1:36.553
10. Rosberg 1:36.556
11. Glock 1:36.615
12. Kubica 1:36.775
13. Kovalainen 1:36.797
14. Coulthard 1:36.808
15. Vettel 1:36.925
16. Nakajima 1:36.975
17. Fisichella 1:37.473
18. Sutil 1:37.617
19. Button 1:37.800
20. Barrichello 1:37.904
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hill warns Hamilton to stay cool
Damon Hill says Lewis Hamilton needs to rein in his "impatience" if he is to clinch his first Formula One crown.
McLaren driver Hamilton leads Felipe Massa of Ferrari by five points with two races to go, and the tension seemed to affect both in Sunday's Japanese GP.
Ex-world champion Hill told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Lewis is impatient to win that first title, but you can't force it.
"There's no question about his speed or ability, he just needs to stay cool and let it happen."
Hamilton was anything but cool after Sunday's race, accusing title rival Massa of deliberately running into him on lap two. The Brazilian denied the accusation.
The Briton, who also ran wide from pole going into the first turn, finished 12th, with Massa claiming two points in seventh. Both received penalties from the stewards.
British Racing Drivers' Club president Hill, who clinched the 1996 F1 drivers' title at Suzuka, said: "Sunday's race was a lesson, and Lewis learns very quickly.
"He'll look back and think maybe it would've been better to settle into it more and got his rhythm going.
"It's a mark of Lewis's career - he's always been very keen to get the job done and move on, and you need that impatience, but it can sometimes trip you up if you're not wary."
Hill added that Hamilton needed to develop the kind of detachment that helped take Hill's old rival Michael Schumacher seven F1 titles.
"Even Michael had his moments, but you could rest assured that he would usually bring it home," he said.
"He had a very cool head, an ability to detach himself and not let that impatience get the better of him.
"If Lewis keeps a cool head, then he'll be fine. I think he will get the job done."
Hamilton can win the championship in China on Sunday if he scores six more points than Massa
Hamilton hits back at criticism
Lewis Hamilton has been forced onto the defensive by the barrage of criticism levelled at him after his performance in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
The 23-year-old Englishman wasted the chance to extend his championship lead over title rival Felipe Massa at Fuji with another error-strewn race.
He still leads by five points with two races left but admitted: "When you're constantly scrutinised it is difficult.
"I'm only human, and every now and then people make mistakes."
On Sunday, Hamilton lost the lead from pole position on the first corner and then received a drive-through penalty after forcing Kimi Raikkonen off the track in an attempt to regain it.
His botched efforts paved the way for renewed attacks on his ability and character, and question whether Hamilton is again starting to crack under the weight of pressure as the title race draws to a close, as many suggest he did last year
Hamilton also raised eyebrows when he accused title rival Massa of deliberately colliding with him on the second lap in Japan and he admitted: "It's not easy to always say or do the right thing.
"Recently, there have been lots of different quotes attributed to me.
"Sometimes I've said things that have either come out the wrong way or been taken out of context, so people get a different feeling of what I've said when I haven't expressed myself correctly.
"Communication is so important in life and some of the things I've said were not meant to harm anyone. I don't feel like I've hurt anyone, and my family makes sure that doesn't happen."
Such a comment recently attributed to Hamilton quoted him as saying he felt he was a better driver than his hero Ayrton Senna.
Issuing a categorical denial, Hamilton said: "I never said that and I definitely wouldn't say it about Ayrton because he's my favourite driver.
"I think he's the best driver there ever was and, to this day, I still don't believe anyone would beat him. If I could achieve just a small part of what he's achieved, it would be a dream for me."
And the Briton also believes the perception of some that he is arrogant is wrong, saying: "I would never say I was better than anyone else, but I am a Formula One driver and all of us have to believe in ourselves to get to where we are.
"You have to have that belief to go out and win, and that's what helps you strive for a better performance and to achieve more in your life.
"I look at the other drivers, I just think all these guys are the best and to be the best I have to beat them. That's how every racing driver sees things."
In the space of 18 months, Hamilton has become a global superstar, mixing with stars from the entertainment industry and dating pop singer Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls.
But he said he had not been affected by fame.
"I feel I have that area of my life under control. I don't see myself as a celebrity, I feel I'm the same guy I was before I got to F1 - just more measured, maybe.
"Of course, you do get people watching you all the time so you have to be careful about what you say or what you do.
"It's not easy to live like I used to but I can still do it sometimes; you just do it with people you trust and just be smart about it."
Hamilton can win the championship in China on Sunday if he scores six more points than Massa.