Times Online and Agencies
Win a trip to the Ice Hotel in Lapland
Ron Dennis, the McLaren team boss, described Lewis Hamilton's retirement from the Chinese Grand Prix as 'just one of those things.'
The 22-year-old looked well on his way to becoming the first rookie to clinch the drivers' title as, after starting on pole today, he comfortably led Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari - with closest rival Fernando Alonso trailing some way down the track in fourth.
But intermittent rain had made strategy choice particularly difficult, as Hamilton found to his cost when the intermediate tyres he was running on began to wear rapidly on a drying track.
The loss of grip saw the Brit run wide at numerous corners as first Raikkonen passed him on lap 29 after a close duel, before team-mate Alonso rapidly erased an 18-second deficit - having just passed third-placed Felipe Massa.
A struggling Hamilton came in for what turned out to be a scheduled stop anyway on lap 31 but was caught out by a wet pit lane entrance, and his car ended up stuck in the gravel.
"I think Lewis drove an excellent race; this was about how wet the pit lane was, tyre condition - it's just one of those things," Dennis said.
"He was very keen to maintain the lead and he was so comfortable pulling out a gap on Kimi, although I suppose he gave the tyres just a little bit more of a hard time.
"I don't think we did anything dramatically wrong and I don't think Lewis did. But the circuit was much drier than the pit lane entrance, and that made the difference.
"Lewis has been very controlled, obviously disappointed, and he acknowledges his part in the whole thing."
Raikkonen went on to win the race, with Alonso claiming eight points for second, and the championship is now set for a thrilling three-car shoot-out in the last race of the season in Brazil.
While Hamilton admitted afterwards that he was at fault, McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh indicated they should have brought him in for new tyres when his lap times started to drop.
Dennis revealed the decision to leave Hamilton out on track was based on the unpredictable weather conditions.
"Everybody was just trying to get through that last rain period, which we knew was two or three laps," he said. "I'm disappointed obviously. We'd disregarded all the cars other than the Ferraris and ourselves. We were unconcerned with Kimi and happy to just let him past.
"The problem was rain, and his tyres were in the worst condition. We weren't at all fazed about Kimi; we didn't care about Kimi; we weren't racing Kimi; he was racing Fernando.
"Kimi winning and Lewis coming second was adequate - but it just didn't work out that way."
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
05/2005
£13,500
08/2008
£109,950
2005 / 55
£59,500
Great car insurance deals online
£Excellent+ executive benefits
Torres and Partners
London
£49,229 - £62,035 pro rata
Charity Commission
London/Liverpool/Taunton
Alstom Power
Europe
Six Figure
Rolls Royce
Midlands/Europe
From £89,950
Special Offers now available
At the new sophisticated
Encore Las Vegas Resort!
Cruise the Islands of Hawaii - Pride of America
List your property with two leading travel websites
Great travel insurance deals online
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths
News International associated websites: Globrix | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
Incredible isn't it, how we Brits can persistantly snatch defeat from the very jaws of victory. What on earth were McLaren thinking leaving Lewis out so long.....
carl lindgreen, manchester,
Not only in Spain.. The Mirror heard "We weren't fazed about Kimi, we were not racing him, we were racing against Fernando".
Why do you want to change te reality?
Diego, Zaragoza, Spain
"We weren't at all fazed about Kimi; we didn't care about Kimi; we weren't racing Kimi; he was racing Fernando."
WE weren't... WE didn't... WE weren't... HE was racing Fernando?? Sound strange within the context, doesn't it?
In spain we have read WE WERE racing Fernando, wich sounds much more accurate within the rest of the paragraph.
Please can anybody hang on the web the original audio track of this interview, just to chek what Ron really said?
GO FERNANDO.
Miguel, Madrid, Spain
Bernie Ecclestone: "In fact my main fear would be if he (Hamilton) didn't win it. Kimi Raikkonen barely talks to anyone and as such has done little for the sport, and as for Fernando Alonso, in his two years as world champion he has done nothing."
Ron Dennis: "We weren't at all fazed about Kimi; we didn't care about Kimi; we weren't racing Kimi; he was racing Fernando. " "Kimi winning and Lewis coming second was adequate - but it just didn't work out that way."
A punishment for Alonso in Hungary not based in any rule, no punishment for Hamiton in Fuji (but yes for the next pilot doing the same), Hamilton put back to track by a crane in Nurburgring, two problems with tyres pressures for Fernando in qualification the same year, Alonso 600 miliseconds behind Hamilton in China on Saturday in a "perfect" lap after doing the same times in every practice...
Can any Hamilton fan explain this? Are you sure you want to win this way?
Carlos, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
I just hope that nothing really dangerous happens to Fernando in Brazil, cause it seems that everything is acceptable so that LH wins this year.
And thanks Charlie to explain that the LH attitude behind the safety was wrong BUT only will be penalised next time. haha. For Fernando they invent the penalties and apply same day.
What a shame....
Jose, Alicante, Spain
"The problem was rain, and his tyres were in the worst condition. We weren't at all fazed about Kimi; we didn't care about Kimi; we weren't racing Kimi; he was racing Fernando.
"Kimi winning and Lewis coming second was adequate - but it just didn't work out that way."
This is a shame.
Is this equal treatment? JA!
Bye
Iker, Bilbao,
Mr Dennis: if Lewis don´t win the championship at Brazil, I believe is time for you to retire from Mc Laren. There´s no place for you in the team after not recognizing that you hire last year world championship Alonso and not recognizing either that you and your people made spionage. I understand that F1 is a circus where what only counts is money, but sometimes money can´t buy everything like it happen today at Shangai, or are you plotting something to unqualify Kimi, Alonso, Massa and all the other pilots, so your protected pilot can gain the Shangai race?.
SHAME OF YOU....
Never before I saw the way you treated a bi worldchampion in another team like you did it to Alonso the whole year....He still is the CHAMPION, so please if you are a GENTLEMAN, please respect his condition and his person.
Edwards
Ps: just a something else to say to Bernie Ecclestone....SHUT YOUR MOUTH
Edward, Rome, Italy
McLaren will do something to stop Alonso winning his third World Championship. Did you see what happened yesterday in the classification session?
All what happened this year in the championship was bizarre. LH was not penalized in Japan and he broke the rules, he didn't follow the team instructions in another classification session, he's shouted his boss... What if Alonso had done all that? Everything was forgiven to Hamilton.
He's not a good pilot, he's just a fast pilot who's taking advantage of Alonso's telemetry and mechanical knowledge. I do agree with you: if LH had had other team mates, he wouldn't have been up there in the classification.
Alison, Sheffiled, England
How comes that both McLaren drivers had exctlt the same tyres, and Fernando was about 15 sec. faster on the 3 laps before the funny" ending for LH?
Maybe he doen't know yet how to keep the tyres in good condition?
Being a World Champion is not only about driving fast. Not even if your team mate makes it for you (two-time World Champion molre than 100 races on Formula 1).
Being a World Champion is not only about getting the best out of the car, but being able to face the pressure...
LH is fast... He might be World Champion in two weeks, but I'd like to see him on a team (even McLaren) with Button, Fisico, Trulli or any of those on his side. He wouldn't make it.
FIA, Mosley, Ecclestone, Dennis... That's another story... Shameful... all in all... Did LH brake the FIA Safety Car rules? Of course. Was he to blam for the accident? Whoever says otherwise has not seen the video. Was he penalised?
You you the answer...
David, Estoril, Portugal
I did like Hamilton in the beginning now he's turned into another winging pom. "if I knew formula one was like this I wouldn't even be here" how about your pay cheque ?
francesco , london,
Thats because he doesn't like Fernando, he's not really denying that now. Lewis is his protege he wants him to win. You don't see Lewis kicking off doors and throwing helmets when everything doesn't go right for him.
Charlie, Manchester,
"The problem was rain, and his tyres were in the worst condition. We weren't at all fazed about Kimi; we didn't care about Kimi; we weren't racing Kimi; he was racing Fernando."
He or WE? Ron is racing Fernando; that's the equal treat he 's giving to both pilots....jaja
I didn't see Ron so worried last week when Fernando crashed.
Very strange...
Nacho, Seville, Spain