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From The Times

October 23, 2007

Lewis Hamilton finds no appeal in fuelling fire of McLaren stand

Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen (L) of Finland is congratulated by McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo

Edward Gorman, Motor Racing Correspondent

Lewis Hamilton made it clear yesterday that he has no interest in winning a World Championship that he lost on the track at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday as a result of an appeal by his team against competitors who used illegal fuel.

Hamilton, who finished his first season in Formula One as runner-up to Kimi Raikkonen, of Ferrari, said that it would feel strange were he to be awarded the title should three other drivers who finished ahead of him at the Interlagos circuit be thrown out of the race.

“It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in the last two races,” Hamilton said. “He won here yesterday and to have that taken away would be cruel. It wouldn’t be good for the sport. I am sure the team are doing the appeal for good reasons but, as a team, we want to win it on the track. As a driver, it is over and done with - the championship is settled.”

Hamilton’s comments came after it emerged that Ron Dennis, the McLaren Mercedes team principal, has set in motion the early stages of an appeal with the FIA, the governing body of motorsport, over a decision by the stewards not to punish teams for using illegal “cool fuel” during the race on Sunday. The FIA confirmed tonight that they had received official notification of McLaren's appeal.

The cars in question were the BMW Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica and the Williams of Nico Rosberg. If all three drivers were retrospectively excluded from the finale in Brazil, as some observers had predicted might happen when the stewards investigated the affair on Sunday night, Hamilton would have been promoted from seventh position to fourth, enough to secure him the championship.

At issue is the temperature of the fuel used in the cars which is supposed to be within 10 degrees of the ambient air temperature. But checks during pit-stops found all three cars were using colder fuel than allowed, something which makes refuelling quicker and gives the cars a small power boost.

Stewards decided there was insufficient evidence to prove that the fuel was too cold and they were unable to say definitively what the ambient temperature was. An FIA spokesman also made clear last night, that even if the stewards had found against BMW and Williams, exclusion of the drivers from the race would not necessarily follow.

Hamilton was not interested either way. “I don’t believe it will happen,” he said. “Everyone did a great job. What can you say? If they were wrong, they were wrong but I want to win it on the track. I want to do it with style, I want to win the race, I want to win it battling it out for the lead. Being promoted after somebody has been thrown out is not the way I want to do it.”

Hamilton’s beaten team-mate, the former champion Fernando Alonso, who finished third overall for the year, was critical of McLaren’s decision. The Spaniard, whose future at the Woking-based team is expected to be sorted out within the next two weeks, said he had no doubt Raikkonen should have the title. “Raikkonen is the deserved champion. If you have more points, you are the deserved champion just like in football. He [Raikkonen] has won six races and Hamilton, like me, has won four,” Alonso said.

Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren chief executive, claimed that the team had no choice but to act because they would have faced criticism had they not done so. Speaking before he left Brazil, Whitmarsh said he did not know why Williams and BMW had not been punished. “We were surprised and don’t really understand the stewards’ decision,” he said. “Therefore, we feel that if we hadn’t lodged our intention to appeal we would surely have been criticised by fans and Formula One insiders alike for not supporting our drivers’ best interest.”

Whitmarsh argued that McLaren were not motivated by a desire to attack Ferrari or Raikkonen, despite the threat to his title that the appeal would appear to present. “I want to stress that our quarrel, if you can call it that, is not with Ferrari or with Kimi Raikkonen,” he said. “Our argument is with the stewards’ decision in relation to the cars of Rosberg, Kubica and Heidfeld.”

Heated debate surrounds fuel controversy

— Article 6.5.5 of the FIA’s technical regulations states: “No fuel on board the car may be more than 10C (50F) below ambient temperature”.

— There is nothing in the regulations that states how the ambient temperature is recorded. The stewards’ statement referred to a presumption that this would be as was recorded by Formula One Management’s timing screens, but this proved to be different than that logged by Meteo France, who are contracted by the FIA and teams.

— “Cool fuel” is more dense and therefore contains more energy per unit of volume, giving a car a slight increase in power for the first few laps on the track – a difference of up to 10hp – although it would probably decrease their overall race time by about a second.

— The increase in density would also allow the car to be refuelled faster and with more fuel than the rules of a rate no greater than 12.1 litres per second allow.

— In Brazil in 1995, Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard were disqualified after an irregularity with their fuel’s chemical fingerprint. The decision was later overturned by the FIA court of appeal because fuel experts could not agree whether they had gained an advantage.

Of course Lewis will bounce back. He has undeniable talent plus the breeding and charisma that goes with being well brought up. Hey all you green eyed monsters out there why kep dragging somebody down, he has given us someone to be proud of. Pity media et al have to keep pulling him down - where would you all have been if he had won the F1 World Championship? I totally believe in credit where it is due. Get a life and move on.

Ann Limbert, Derby, Derbyshire

Jacques Villeneuve was a rookie when he bagged second place in 1996

People with no F1 knowledge please do not make HamiltonÂ´s 'feat' seem extraordinary.

Let's see what 2008 willthrow up fpr him. If he wins one (yes 1) race,he should be thankful

Toks, London, UK

I read someone saying Lewis is the best.He isnÂ´t F1 champion today. All this nationalistic tub thumping is nauseating.

As to KimiÂ´s personality...when did personality win titles

Get real

Toks, London, UK

Wrong butto, don't ever push the wrong button, the forever and ever best driver of all times lost the championsship casue he pressed the wrong butto.

Hilarious!

trotski, Cartago Nova, Tunice

Did you know about Hamilton reseting the car? hahahaha, He lost cos he reset the car!! Don't touch that button little boy!

Albert, Granada,

It is clear that the only people at Mclaren who fought Ferrari this season are:
1. Fernando Alonso
2. His mechanics.
3. Engineers back at the factory.

Hamilton, Dennis, Haug and Whitmarsh, dedicated all season to wrestling WDC from Alonso.

And O Boy!! they flopped.

Can you imagine for one second that they would have treat drivers this season, like they treated Hakkinen and DC??

Alonso would have 8 wins at least. hamilton may be one (Canada??) Iâ€™m kidding!!

All this story is reminiscent of Cinderella,
but they clearly picked the wrong guy to play the part!!

McLaren management is a disgrace to the sport, period. No excuses!!!

Bobby_, Bolton,

A team that hasn't got problems with their engines must be world champion. Fernando Alonso did everything with all against him, Ron Dennis, Lewis Hamilton, FIA and english press. All the time in Interlagos, Alonso's car was slow, meanwhile, Hamilton's car was a bullet. I can't understand how to say that Fernando Alonso is not the best driver, when all his numbers are the best: fastest laps, more laps...

Alonso was driving against McLaren, Hamilton, Dennis and FIA, but Hamilton had everything what he wanted.

Kimi Raikkonen is the world champion, and nothing can change it, and I don't want to change it. If Hamilton gets the championshiat the end, this sport will a really circus.

Antonio, Sevilla, Spain

What an interesting phenomenon we are living nowadays in Spain. For some of you who may not read Spanish, I recommend that you get into Marca (Spanish leading Sport Newspaper) F1 aficionados comments and have them somehow translated. You will be amazed on how Hamilton has succeeded in getting all the hidden racist, vitriolic and futile attitude that the so-called Sports Media and Gurus harbor towards anything and anyone that dares challenge their inept and wannabe-nouveaux sports heroes. It is really sad to hear what they say about Hamilton and anything British nowadays. They are so off-marks that the villain is not just Hamilton who has spoilt and unmasked their prima dona heroe, but also his Dad, race, Ron Dennis and the entire McLaren Team. The media, and many of the so-called respectful figures in the world of Sports have also jumped on the Hamilton bashing by denigrating, insulting, and belittling Hamilton. Question. Did the Spaniard Fans of F1 exist before Alonso Came to fore?

chieforce, Talavera, Spain

The truth is Fernando Alonso blew his chance at being a great champion with his constant complaining about not having No. 1 driver status in a team with a stated policy of driver equality. He has only himself to blame as he said a contract with the team with this policy in place. Forget the fact that he was not faster than Hamilton. As for the Spanish F1 fans, your media is doing you a great dis-service with it constant compaign of Hamilton bashing and half truths. In fairness neither Alonso or Hamilton should have been included in this years championship due to spy-gate.

sam, Madrid,

I am English but live in Spain and am in no way surprised at the unpleasant nature of the comments posted my my adopted countrymen over the course of the F1 season.

When it comes to any kind of sport the national characteristic is one of unspeakable arrogance. The press fills with boasts and claims regarding football, Nadal - sorry tennis, F1, rally cycling, surfing, basketball and any other sport where Spain has a halfway decent chance of success.

The fact is that the Spanish do have a right to feel proud of their sporting abilities, and in Alonso they do have a two time world champion and, at the beginning of the season, who would have imagined that he would not finish a three time champ?

The problem comes when things don't go according to plan and a scapegoat must be sought. Then the arrogance turns to pure vitriol, aimed at any and all convenient targets.

Try not getting your hopes up so high, and then when the inevitable happens it won't hurt so much. (go Kimmi!)

Tim, donosti, spain

A long time F1 fan, I would be disgusted if the championship were to be settled in a court. In that case, what is the point of having a race? We should all just read the FIA transcripts to find out who wins the championship in court and there should be no cars, no wheel to wheel racing, great tracks, etc. What's the point.

Joel Bumpus, Kirkland, USA, WA

All this whining is making me feel nauseous.

Why can'y you see that all this childish schadenfreude has been supercharged by a Spanish media hell bent on protecting their golden boy from any criticism. Now I can imagine you think that English F1 fans are similarly disinformed. We surely are, but we don't swallow all that bile and regurgitate it as fact whilst whining like spoilt children. "Mummy, he took my rattle! Baaaaaah! "

Hamilton is a good driver, Alonso is a good driver. Who's better? Well Alonso has won two championships. This is Hamilton's first year. Mclaren look stupid. No one disputes this.

I'm sure most of these negative posters are new fans whose nationlistic sympathies have been stirred by the all the drama this year. New fans are good for the sport but please grow up. And leave the malice at home. It's sport.

That is all.

Paul, San Francisco, USA

Kimi champion
Hamilton runner up
Alonso 2nd place

is that not enough to stop all the nonsense from Spain?

Alonso is slower than the Champ and slower than his team mate....#2 status for next season - lets hope he gets the treatment he thought Hamilton should have.

Your boy lost - viva Kimi

Max Iyer, Geneva, Switzerland

A lot of people here assess that Ferrari won a GP with an illegal car. That's not true, indeed. That car was legal. Please, read the document of the second FIA meeting, when the McLaren was punished: there's a quick exchange on this topic. The fact is that the technical rules CANNOT be so precise to predict all the technical solutions that the teams can found. So, it always happened that the teams found systems that are legals, but sometimes against the spirit of the rules. When it happens, there were never punishments for the team.
It was the same last year with the Renault's mass-dumper. It was decide that it was illegal and that the Renault had to dismiss it. No point were reduced to the team or drivers. The same happened, for example, in 70ies with the Brabham fan-car and Lauda. You will find a lot of such decisions, if you look. The FIA decision on Merlbourne GP is probably the only 2007 decision made by FIA that was clearly conform to the rules and history.

Mauro, Bologna, Italy

I'm very disappointed with spanish fan!!! I used to live in London in the '90es and now i'm leaving since 2002 in Spain...what a difference of view...spanish were very angry,accused everything and anyone who is critical with their "idol"....I prefer english style,more ironic and,above all,more critical(they like sport,above all!!).
Alex,an italian Ferrari fan.

nivola, Valencia, Spain

Have your newspapers explained what was the problem on hamiltonÂ´s car?
That incident that made him lose a lot of positions and be overtaken by other drivers.
Well, was not other, than a drivers fault. A lot of pressure a lot of buttons that can be pushed when you are under stress.
Hamilton stoped his car because he push the P.L.S (Pit Limit Speed) and he didnt know what happened.

Alberto, zaragoza, Spain

Tyres-Hamilton-Brasil: 15000$

WHAT IS FAIR:
Fuel-BMW,Willians-Brasil: 15000$

:) :)

Congratulations Ron Dennis
Congratulations Hamilton

Alonso 2-Ron+Hamilton+FIA 0
:)
:) :):):)

Jose, Santander, Spain

Mclaren is appealing because the fans want it? Give me a break. Ron deserves to be fired. Only then can Mclaren start over with a clean sate. They cheated the entire year with Ferrari secrets, and as a consequence lost all constructors points. They should have lost all drivers points but they lucked out. Ferrari then wins straight up, on the track.
What a nice week for Brits - lost the Rugby World Cup and the F1 Championship all in two days times. Nice job.
Forza Ferrari.

Matt, Bologna, Italy

Time to celebrate!!! Thanks to Kimi RÃ¤ikkÃ¶nen and Ferrari!

Pikku Musta, Turku, Finland

Congratulations Kimmi!! This is a good lesson for Hamilton and more for Ron Dennis. Alonso could have won the tittle if his team mate and manager would hv not fucked him in Hungary and many other races. Even Ferrari didnt take any legal actions against Hamilton in the clasifications after Hamilton disturbed Kimmi's clasification lap, and now Mc Laren is trying to win the titlle in the court. DIRTY AND DISGUSTING! Good lesson for Mc Laren team. Let's see next year ,when Alonso wont be there , how good is Hamilton for the telemetrics and to prepare a wining car.

Red B., Cape Town, South Africa

Hamilton is a great driver. Raikkonen is a great driver and World Champion 2007, on the track, with the best F1 car of 2007.
The double loser is Mr. Dennis and McLaren, who lost the championship and the dignity. McLaren is so distant from my idea of sport. They should stop and think about what they've done, instead of thinking on stealing another couple of points. Shame. Just shame. I wonder how a sponsor can support this team.
Congratulations to Raikkonen, Hamilton and Fernando!

Fab, Bozen,

If any of the teams dont abide by the rules of the F1A then the team has to be penalised. Mclaren didnt abide by the rules and they were docked their constructor points and fined Â£50m. So if Sauber And BMW broke the rules regarding the temp of the fuel then they have to be penalised.
Its a clear cut case.
That surely is where McLaren are coming from.

Louis Blanc, Liverpool, UK

Alonso's comments are probably as expected, would he have made the same comment if Hamilton had won at the expense of Raikkonen, probably not. His attitude since not being the more supported driver in the McLaren team has been that of a spoilt brat who's been told he has to share his toys with the little boy down the lane. McLaren have every right to appeal, whether Hamilton wins at the expense of Raikkonen or not does not really matter, if a team is seen to gain an advantage from their transgression then they should be punished without consideration for who else will benefit. I am not a fan of Ferrari and their manipulation of drivers in the past in order to ensure Schumacher won the title at the earliest possible time so I hope they do lose out.

A.D. GREGORY, Haywards Heath,

Alonso is the best actually. Mclaren loves hamilton but mclaren know that alonso is better than hamilton. gogo alonso the next year you are the winner.. in renault

alonsomania, york, spain

Wow all these new experts on F1 !!!! . Fact.. Lewis was the best driver of the season. Alonso destroyed his credibility. Kimi has the personality of a pencil. As an ex racing driver I used to nod off for an hour on GP weekends. I HAVN'T SLEPT ALL YEAR. What an exciting season. Can't wait for next year. Don't care what colour, creed or nationality Lewis is, what a great role model he is for mankind. His new nickname should be The ANGEL.

Roy King, Manchester, England

I don't recall similar magnanimity expressed after the fiasco of Hungary.

John, Paris,

i think Kimi is deserved winner, Ferrari with all the things happend against it must be the winner. I dont think McLaren or Hamilton must be given championship even if these 3 drivers are penalised.

I am no fan of McLaren but it is not the right way to win a World championship, Hamilton has many years and can perform better , He should win on track as he says.

saj, San francisco, USA

I think this is not a problem about Spain and UK, this is a problem of one team McLarem-Mercedes and three persons Ron, Hamilton and Alonso.

The better for sport is the Fair Play.

Sorry for my english !!!

sebas, Barcelona,

The suspicion that Raikonnen's win in Brazil was the result of team orders is only just wide of the mark. The televison commentators were saying over and over that Ferrari had to find some way to get him ahead of Massa, and that's what they did with a couple of pit stops. While I think it's very noble of Lewis Hamilton to say that it wouldn't be fair to win the championship as a result of the disqualification of three cars ahead of him, he can easily look at the fact that it has not been proved conclusively that the McLaren team benefited from the alleged exhange of information on Ferrari's cars by two individuals, one of whom had belonged to the team, and that the punishment handed out to McLaren was so over the top it was ridiculous. But, of course, the FIA will always bow to the wishes of Ferrari.

david holmes, duncan, BC Canada

Surely whats more controversial is the fact that Ferrari won the first race of the season using an illegal device!

While I dont advocate giving Hamilton the title, I do not think there is a level playing field when it comes to implementation of the rules.

Jacob, Macclesfield,

Lewis Hamilton is a fantastic, superb driver, nobody (with more then a "national proud" point of view) in Spain questions it. But what has caused this never-felt phobia ( more intense than any football related or other sports feelings) against him, against his manager Dennis and consequently against Mercedes as a brand (look at the sales wreck of Mercedes cars in Spain since the Hungary championship) in the spanish sport fans , it has been the double moral attitudes, the unfair coping of some race and situations. Lewis could be a new face in the F1, but not the face of the F1, because then some people - not only spanish fans - just SPORT (citius, altius, fortius...but cleaner and more honest) lovers will switch off.

Rafa , Valencia , Spain

It's about time people stopped the Hamilton bashing and got a life! He is an excellent role model for the UK (how many of those do we have)? There is no shame in finishing second in your first season. There have been petty, sniping comments saying that "but for having a good car... support from his family etc he would be where is is now". Well he had to work hard to get into the team in the first place. Alonso quite plainly did not like the fact that he met his match in a rookie and threw his toys out of the pram. If Alonso felt so hard done and is such an amazing driver then why did he not rise above it and channel the same energy into winning as he did into his more unsporting antics? I find it hard to believe that if he was so happy to tell all his woes to the media that he would then meekly follow team orders on the track. I notice with interest he was keen to get his tuppence worth in before Lewis about the appeal-I bet he would feel differently if he benefitted!

Leigh, Birmingham , UK

mclaren merdeces never deserve to be world champion.
they always have the best car and the best driver ( exclude M.Schumacher, but at least the got M.hakkinen which is superb) and they always makes funny things , like engine faulty , or mechanical problem.That's why kimi shift to ferrari , and ferrari is capable to win it.McLaren plays a weak championship year , or it is the last race they play intelligent GAME to force Lewis out to 18 ? Doubt it or not , MCLaren get their consequences, they dont win the championship, but i think LEWIS HAMILTON does.

G P, cambridge, cambridgeshire

Reading this is really wonderful, especilly from those situated in Madrid. Do these children remember when their fellow child jumped out of his pram at Canada and forgot where his brakes where several times on the first corner.

It was clear evidence that the so called champion was rattled by the rookie.

Then lets not forget his blackmailing antics,

The results were as they should of been: 1 Kimi (Kept his head) 2 Lewis (Showed his age) 3 Alonso (cried, Rattled, lied, and tried to blackmail his boss )

P.S. Who he gonna drive for next season after sulling the F1 image and showing how disloyal he can be

Colin, london,

We will know if Lewis is so good just next year: without copying strategies and telemetries from Fernando Alonso and without tremendous and unfair support from FIA... and of course without the possibility of boycott Alonso's car.

Lewis will actually need a lot of good luck!!

Petra, Buenos Aires, Argentina

I suspect that what's in Ron Denis's mind is the inconsistency in decisions which have been made by the stewards and FIA over the year. Ferrari started with a car which when examined was found not to comply with the rules, but they were allowed to keep the points they had gained using that car. At other times people have been penalised for breaking rules although there was no evidence advantage accrued as a result whilst others have not been penalised on the basis that no advantage accrued.

Perhaps the most shambolic aspect of the entire season has been the actions of the FIA. Going into next year it needs that to be sorted out, and this will help focus attention on the issue. What's the point of having a rule based on "ambient temperature" if there's no defined measurement of ambient temperature?

Personally, I believe that a wholesale rewriting of the entire protest/penalty system is required. In the meantime, congrats to Kimi for never giving up and just driving, quietly!

E Burgess, Slough,

I must give Lewis credit for taking a step forward and admitting his mistakes in Shanghai and Interlagos, and his refusal to have the title landed to him off the track. I think his refusal is honest, judging from how outspoken he has been all season. I came to strongly dislike him because of all the biased and unfair support he has consistently received (basically from the FIA, because I can understand the support from McLaren), but with the benefit of hindsight I'm starting to respect him.

I have no doubt, however, that if the champion were Alonso, with 111 points (had he finished second in Brazil) instead of 109, the FIA would eagerly have disqualified Rosberg, Kubica and Heidfeld, landing Hamilton with another three points that would have made him World Champion in his first year.

Michel Angstadt, Serranillos del Valle, (Madrid) Spain

Lewis Hamilton is a great driver, but he's also so afortunated because not every drivers start ther Formula One career in a great team like McLaren..
Usually, lots of drivers, included Michael Schumacher, begins their career in Minardi, Spyker, Jordan...
I think that a victory in F1 is 50% driver and 50% the car... look at Barrichello... he always was second with Ferrari... or look at Massa... in Sauber he didn't win races and made poles...
Lewis has made a great season, but not for that we can say that he's going to be the best driver...
And look at Fernando, he was twice Champion and he didn't have the best car (Renault)...
It depends... for me, the dissapointing aspect this year has been the McLaren managing and the stupit FIA behaviour...
Let's see next year...

I think that Fernando speak a kit

Fernando Gonzalez Rivas, London, UK

In Fairness to Lewis Hamilton he has proven to be a quality driver, he has no doupt a fruitful career infront off him, but come on Ron, you speak of equality, integrity, fair play, so how come mclaren get booted out of the constructors, nil point! mclaren then muck it up in Shanghai by keeping hamilton out to long, (Schumacher hungary 2006 given Jenson his maiden victory) comes to mind, and then because of a chink in the lads armour pressure gets to him and he throws himself off the track in Brazil. Kimi Drove a superb 2nd half of the championship and made the points stick and count, mclaren got it wrong - end of story - your drivers can live with the result why can't you, don't try and get something on the back of alleged wrongdoings without proof by other teams. Let the drivers do the talking on the track in 2008 and the best driver and best team will win.

Steve, Newport, South Wales UK

What a shame if it comes to this -political rules. Mclaren accept your fate - what a year this has been - all politics - no racing, except for the last2 races!!

Adrian, cheltenham,

Ferrari has won the championship because they have used the team in the way it has to be used.
Ron played his cards the wrong way and as a result no tittle at all for McLaren Mercedes.
Hamilton is a very good driver that is going to bring good moments to UKÂ´s supporters. With a good advice, he is the future of F1. He only has to know how to act under pressure as the big mistake he did, trying to overtake Alonso when he had the tittle in his hands with the fourth place.
Harder is the work to do with Ron, who, as a team manager, doesnÂ´t even know the meaning of the word "team".

Inaki, Galdakao, Spain

Kimi against McLaren: 110 points
Lewis against Ferrari : 109 points
Alonso against Ferrari and Mc Laren: 109 points.

Luis, Barcelona,

Thilaki - No rookie would have got second place in the championship like him. Aren't you forgetting the great Jacque Villeneuve (1996)!

Hamilton it's all false we all know that if you get the title on appeal you'd be happy like Fernando said!!!! Congratulations Kimi, after all your bad luck you finally pulled it out the bag! We all know you always play fair & square and are a well deserved champion!

Debbie, Chesterfield, United Kingdom

IIn all this LH vs FA issue what amazes me most is the image of alonso offered by the british media: alonso pressing, mobbing, and complaining in his own team. A double world champion, racing ALONE against a british racer, in a british team led by a british director AND in a british-ruled competition. Now you tell me: who puts pressure on who?

Alonso and Hamilton are two extraordinary drivers. Dennis made his choices. Hamilton fought alonso, Alonso fought everybody else. and hey, he didnÂ´t lose.

congrats to kimi raikkonen.

Javier Torres, Madrid , Spain

The regulation â€œNo fuel on board the car may be more than 10C (50F) below ambient temperatureâ€ is technically incorrect - a 10 C temperature DIFFERENCE is actually an 18 F temperature DIFFERENCE - NOT 50 F!

Bill Horne, Keighley,

With his words the kid gained some points to me. He'll grow up even in that lair of snakes that his team is. He surely has a great talent. Unfortunately his coach was too blinded by the possibility to win the title with an English rookie to understand that a talent has to be cultivated, and not directly thrown in the arena with the sharks.
He is even so ingenuous to not understand that, yes, winning a title in the court a pair of months after the last race has no value and there are pratically no possibilities that this will happen but, now and here, McLaren's action has the important goal to devaluate their bitter rival's victory.

Andrea, Rome, Italy

Lewis hamilton is probably the best driver in the world, even if he lost the cup. No rookie would have got second place in the championship like him. Even if Kimi won the championship, he is still a champion inhis own way, not cocky like other drivers. there is still such a thing as next year, so brace yourself, lewis, and get out on the field to win the championship next year. We, your ever faithful friends, are always behind you, no matter what. GOOD LUCK!

THILAKA, SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA

I agree whole heartedly with Ted from London. Lewis is the new face of F1 & why not. He has maturity beyond his years, a gentleman who apologises when he is wrong and is gracious in defeat. If only all forms of sport had that kind of role model we'd be true to the real meaning of sport. Second place is no shame...

Alison, Cape Town, South Africa

Hamilton's only trying to act as a nice guy.............If he isnt interested why doesnt he speak straight to Ron...........i am sure Ron will drop his appeal then.......

Better concentrate on next year McLaren

Prat, Lko, India

Finally Hamilton is acting as a mature sportsman and asummed his defeat as it happened on the track. He and Mr Dennis had it all to win and through it away by undermining a 2 time world champion, whom could have won de title should he had been allowed to do so, and overating the capacity of this rookie to do well under pressure. He did not cope with pressure and cracked at the last 2 races losing 17 points to Kimi and a few to Alonso. I hope McLaren thinks about this and ask Ron Dennis to leave the team after a horrible season from him.

Alonso Reyes, Madrid, Madrid

Well done, Lewis.
You demonstrate you are a loyal person and someone who appreciate true sport values, better someone else in your Team would take inspiration from such a behaviour.

Rick, Cremona, Italy

Firstly its wrong that there are only 2 points between 1st and 2nd place thus creating a situation where a man with only 4 victories can be leading the championship.
Secondly I think that if the rules are rules then what should be done about the 2 sets of wets used by Hamilton?
If by having the best cars, motors, and drivers is seen as fixing races, then more power to Ferrari.

Joe Salfa, Melbourne, Australia

Lewis Hamilton has raised the bar so high in his first season in F1 that even a 2nd place in the competition is now being considered a 'catastrophe'. Such is the weight of expectations that Lewis has now become a victim of his own success. The same mouths that praised him, now criticize him. Those that were jealous of him earlier now find more ammo to crucify him.
I've heard of dancing in the streets of Spain as a result of Lewis's failure to clinch the championship. I've heard of criticisms from fellow drivers eg Mark webber, fernando Alonso. And more criticism from sports writers and even market women. No doubt there will be more analysis and criticisms in time to come from all sorts of men big and small. But lets not forget that there were 22 drivers in the championship and Kimi Raikonnen with all his years and experience in F1 has only just won the title. Lewis is now a superstar and indeed a brand and should be flattered by all this comments whether good or bad. The more we talk of Lewis Hamilton, the bigger he becomes.
Forget it guys, the 'Rookie' has arrived and is now a global phenomenom.
Lewis has now become the face of F1 worldwide

ted, london, uk

michael forster's comments that "everyone knows the Finns last two victories were as a result of team orders..." sounds like the typical english sourgrapes' response to everything that did not turn out the way they wanted it. By "everyone" he must of course have meant the english who were gutted by the turnaround put up by the ferraris. sure..blame Alonso too. sure ...Cueto's attempt was a try and England was cheated (despite the video replay's confirmation). How pathetic!

John seow, Singapore,

even though lewis has lost, I think tkat he is still the best driver in the world. no one could have achieved a second place in the world championship in their rookie years. Don't worry lewis! There is still a next year. You rock, lewis! We, your fans are always behind you!

Thilaka, selangor, malaysia

So, now the good, loyal, clean boy made it clear he has no interest in winning a World Championship based on the result of an appeal.

I wonder what make him change his mind since Hungary...

jordi, bournemouth, uk

Does Lewis not remember the OZ GP then when Ferrari won with an illegal car!!

Paul Smart, Monmouth, uk

It has been a tremendous season full of surprises and thrilling moments. Those who have been watching the F1 for a long time will certainly accept my point which is to make Ferrari look like the most competitive team ever. Almost every season is about Ferrari fighting against someone else. Renault, Mclaren, Williams in the past. I am so glad that Kimi gained the victory on Sunday and shattered the dreams and hopes of ITV1 which is seen as the most repulsive tv channel. Their nerve-affecting comments go too far and demonstrate no respect for other nations. As for Kimi, God made the right decision by letting Kimi win, all this madness regarding LH and his family shown on TV as the main target of the F1 was just enough! as proven, a huge amount of promotion and publicity did its job and made a boomerang come back.

most importantly, the title is in Europe and I`d like to encourage everyone from Europe to become aware of our power, talent and great skills.

Matthew, London,

Congratulations Lewis!!

This is your first lesson this year: To win on the track, not out.

I'm very happy that you have changed your Monaco and Hungaroring thoughs!!

BBto, AquÃ,

Hamilton is wrong to feel that the championship shouldn't be decided in court. F1 is by necessity the most regulated of sports and becomes increasingly so. That this latest test of a teams legality is in the last race,so what . Were it in the first race it would have the same effect so it is palpable nonsense to suggest the rules should not be applied because it is in the last. Alonso is disingenuine to suggest it wouldn't be right to pursue this matter and it is obvious to all that is view would be quite the opposite were it he who stood to benefit from the situation rather than his team mate.His vitreol and bile know no bounds. As for Ferrari,they have been fixing the championship for years and Alonso adds lies to hipocracy when he refers to Raikanen being the true champion because he had won 6 times when Hamilton has won only four. Everyone knows the Fins last two victories were as a result of team orders and had Alonso not run Hamilton off the track twice Hamilton might have had 6

michael forster, batley, england

Ron lies to cover Lewis' second mistake in Brazil.
"My finger slipped on the steering wheel and I accidentally pressed the button used for the starting sequence," declared Hamilton to canadian paper La presse. "The car went into neutral and I had to reinitialize the system, that is, reload the gearbox management program"
The boy was completely cracked by the pressure. Mr Dennis, please stop overprotecting and let him mature and maybe in a few years he, who is a very fast driver, will have what it takes to win a WDC.
JME - Madrid

Jose, Madrid , Spain

Actually, Martin Whitmarsh read the blogs and votes on the websites. Fans are perfectly happy that Kimi won. Most people think your appeal is a case of sour graping . When once you might have had some sympathy for getting such a big penalty, your appeal is turning people against you. Sporting fairness? Don't think so. You're deluding yourself if you think that you're doing this in the best interests of the sport. Big style.

Jenby, Manchester, UK ,

Dennis

Thanks a lot for such a lousy spectacle: Intrigues, corruption, dirty tricks and mobbing the twice world champion alonso, on behalf of a rookie.

Great job!

Mike, Seville, Spain