Mclaren theft championship Alonso, Norbording and it gave ferrari.

Hamilton is good but it is much better Alonso

xani, barcelona, spain

talking about maturity, does enybody know who's lost his driving liscense for a month? make a guess.

xeron, cardiff, uk

Juan Carlos, you should accept that Alonso is an immature man who failed. He is a cry baby who got upset when Hamilton proved to be quick. There is no shame in being beaten by a driver as talented as Hamilton, but Alonso couldn't accept this.

Insisting on number 1 status when your rookie team-mate is ahead of you in the title race? Don't make me laugh Fernando.

English mentality? Hush.

Mark, Almeria, Spain,

Alonso is finally free from the devious and manipulative English mentality of his former team McLaren. To me there is only one thing that will remain a mistery until the next campaign and that is if Fernando Alonso will have enough time to develop his car from now up until March next year. Pat his new engineering boss says the car was getting better all the time last Championship and Alonso has already started to work on the settings and there are further improvements to be made on the wind tunnel in the aerodymanics. If everithing is going O.K. he´ll be in with a chance. We can be sure of that.

Juan Carlos, Alicante, Spain

Given that motor racing in general and formula 1 in particular have a history of doing whatever it takes in order to gain a competetive advantage I am a little confused at the severity of the punishment levelled against Mclaren. I find it very difficult not to say impossible to believe that any other team who has employed a member of staff who was working for a rival team has not in some way been able to benefit from information that this individual has accumulated during their employment. This scenario has always been occurring in formula 1 ever since day one. Why is it that only now the FIA choose to get involved and only in selected cases involving movement of information from Ferrari to another competitor, but info moving from Mclaren to Renault does not seem to attract any penalty whatsoever. I am not personally a fan of either team but what factors affect these decisions? Is it that max likes Flavio and not Ron? Is it that Bernie and Ron are top mates?

Fin Magee, Plymouth, England

A friend of mine told me Lewis spent a couple of days writing a new final chapter of his autobiography after late spoil of his world championship. Guess why?

Igor, Pamplona, Spain

I have nothing against LH but getting 7th from 18th is nothing, really. Kimi has won race starting from 17th, he has started back of the grid and finished on the podium etc. Just think about Fuji this year, Raikkonen had to change (by FIA order) his tyres at lap 3, he fell back of the grid (in awfull wet conditions). He finished third. That is what makes a driver great. LH just is not there yet.

Wilhelm, London, UK

Why is there so much negative talk about Hamilton in this discussion. Yes I do agree that he was blessed with having a great car in his first season as a driver, but surely anyone with their head screwed on should be able to see that Hamilton is by far the best driver in F1 atm. I'm not trying to say that he deserved to win the championship, Kimi won fair and square, but what must not be overlooked is that in Brazil Hamilton had an engine problem that relegated him to 18th position and somehow he still managed to finish 7th despite the retards in his team that didn't put enough fuel in his tank on his 2nd pit stop.
What I'm trying to say is that had this engine problem not occured Hamilton would hav comfortably won the championship and had he won this he would hav been the first ever driver to win this in his first year. Regardless of how good his car was, it is impossible to say that anyone is better than Hamilton atm, because he is 22 and will just get better. He will win next year!

Patrick, Bournemouth, England

Kimi is the Formula One champion; and, he probably will continue to be for the next several years, with the probability to pass Michael Schumacher's Formula One championship reign...the only two other driver's that could get even close to him would be Nico or Heikki.

On of the best things that I can recall about Kimi is his complete professionalism with the 2008 season, with all the now not-so-mysterious happenings at the Monaco Grand Prix and the complete "How to Build the F2008 Ferrari" being found with Nigel Stepney...lesser men would have offered a dissertation upon being asked if there was something wrong with the whole series of events.

Now look at poor Hamilton...every time there was a microphone within 50 feet of him, he was waxing ad nauseum on everything and anything.

As I looked at Hamilton, I couldn't help but chuckle at his deliberate attempts to sound more English than the English...he was hillarious without trying to be...

Michael Hahka, Los Angeles, CA

It's nice to see the picture with the three top drivers, but it's sad to see that Raikkonen is not in the center of the picture, like a WINNER DESERVES. Instead Hamilton, the looser!

Andy from Portsmouth, there is something that you forgot to mention about Ferrari decision... When Kimi joint Ferrari, Alonso had already a contract with mcshit, even before he won his second F1 title. So Ferrari was forced to hire someone to compete against Alonso and the only one available at that time was Kimi. Second, Mr TODT hates Alonso for what happened at the time alonso was moving out from Minardi.

To Epimethean, I always want to believe that we are in a free world, so every opinion is allowed and should be respected,even yours. But, if you do not have an opinion, do not censure!

Jose, Brussels, Belgium

Funny English Phlegm. Alonso asked for equality, F-1iers

Fco Javier Iparraguirre, Madrid, Spain

When reading these comments I start at the bottom and if it's from Spain I don't read it...

Epimethean, Reigate,

Lewis Hamilton winner?????

Tom, London,

it is so important that you all relaise that alonso can set up a f1 car. thats why in a different team he was fast last year and that same team got poop this year.. mclaren did not win a gp last year. then along comes alonso and comer 2nd and third. ......hellloooooo...1st and 3rd if lewis dad just left the poor kid alone. lewis i;m sure got all alonso car data for race day..next year he will have to set the car up himself!. even previous dadta will be useless as there are no river aids this year. because of this kimi will win. hmmm wonder why ferrari got kimi..if ferrari thought alonso was the fastest driver in the world he would be in a red car. ferrari can have whoever they want apart from lewis because lewis needs to be hand held through everything. the reason why kimi drives a red car is because he's concidered in f1 circles over an entire season the fastest man alive. i'm english but facts are fact. if ferrari wantsed alonso last year it was just a phone call away like now!

andy, portsmouth,

HAM has proven to be fast with an outstanding car tuned by ALO & PLR nothing else. Anyone with common sense will admit that flogging a car set-up is dead easy. That only prevent ALO from winning his third championship.

Goiri, Bilbao, Spain

All you miserable spaniards, extracting the urine out of McLaren because your boy didn't get his own way. Why are there so many pictures of your sour faced iberian? That's because he smiles so infrequently; our boy showed him the way to go home.
You should try reading the transcripts of the WMSC/FIA witchhunt. Your boy couldn't get his own way so he went "running to sir". Problem was, it back fired on him and Ron Dennis showed him the door and quite right too! Sadly he dragged a good team down as he did so!

Dick Turpin, Oban,

Umm, so alonso was the best was he? I think that is not only a huge insult to Kimi, but its also a complete lie - if he was the best, he would have won a third title, which he didn't. A true champion would win regardless of all the nonsense that's gone on.

Alex, London, UK

agree broadly, but the constant attempts to whitewash McLaren annoy me. They were caught cheating and Dennis only came clean AFTER Alonso threatened to publicize what he knew; so why the perpetual positioning of Dennis in a good light?

And if Alonso knew, why is no British journalist asking Hamilton what he knew?

The car was illegal and should have been thrown out - Hamilton should not even have been in the last race.

Geoff SAUNDERS, Moscow, Russia

Brilliantly put Jack from Leeds! Can't agree with you more!!

gan, london,

First of all: why is Alonso sad in the picture up this report and Hamilton and Kimi are smiling and happy. Please dont try to confuse people view.
Second: What was McLAren car before Alonso get into the team: Losers or not?
Thirth: McLaren left Alonso Behind to make English boy get the tittle and even that, Alonso the best driver, as it was shown in brazil, should have won as Ferrari let Kimi overtake Massa. Dont forghet this. English sport are the real loser becouse of Ron Dennis.

Chiri, Madrid, Madrid

british bulldogs loosers. alonso is best than hamiltonto.

joe, madrid,

Yes, of course, team paid him handsomely for a chance to win his third WDC:o/...but you forgot to mention how much they tried for him to loose WDC. People in McLaren are the loosers, not Alonso. They didn´t support him because Dennis wanted Hamilton to win. They made him feel like an enemy. Does that make him a looser? He was fighting like a lion and finished with only one point behind. He should win his third title...he deserved it for everything he had to bear up this year...

Jan, Prague, Czech republic

The big questions are a) how much the information spied from Ferrari eventually helpeld McLaren to build a reliable car,and b) what was Fernando Alonso's contribution to McLaren's success? Many things can be said about the his personality (I dont' like him much either) but he is without a doubt very good in developing the perfomance of the car he is driving.
All said and done, I'm glad Kimi finally won (and I don't like his personality either). But after such poor luck in the past, he deserves it. I remember when Mika Hakkinen was driving for McLaren, and the team made so many bad errors and strategic miscalculations in his time that it is a wonder he won the World Championship twice in a row. Kimi did not have Mika's patience and after finishing 2nd two times and after the disasterous year of 2006, he went to Ferrari. Kimi is a force to be reckoned with next year, too. He will party until season starts and then show who's the MAN. And thumbs up for Heikki Kovalainen, too.

Tiina, Kuopio, Finland

have to agree with our Spanish friends. Hamilton is the main loser of 2007. I have come to dislike him intensely, but i fear this may be because of every sentence ever uttered on the ITV coverage starts with 'Lewis Hamilton' something or other and I'm frankly sick of hearing his name. They did the same with Jenson and it annoyed me then too. I'm not denying his talent - but so he should be good after all the preparation from his team since his childhood. I firmly believe that many of the drivers in lesser cars are just as good, if not better, and until he actually wins something, he's nobody; and as for his autobiography, don't make me laugh, this is just shameful money making for the tax haven loving Hamilton. And worse still, since 30% of people on the ITV website firmly believe that despite everything he deserves to be awarded the title after the hearing, it will sell.
I also think that Mclaren have disgraced the sport this year with their constant shenanigans.

Jack, Leeds, UK

Eddie,

I can see You ain´t much of Kimi fan. But come on, don´t get ridiculous. We all know that this year´s trophy would be Kimi´s third one. If he just had´n been driving in this "british" F1 team, McLarenin past. Oh, how many times we Kimi fans had to dissapoint due to his car breaking or Ron´s "tactics". This year Ron´s tactical decicions just served Kimi better than his own team. Imagine - he lifted up this rookie in early stages, rather than two-time world champion. And now, he is paying the price. For how long? Remains to be seen...

Jerry, Millwall, UK

I admire you british, but with Hamilton i've seen for all this year an incredible attention, as if he was already the strongest pilot ever. I can assure you that most of the rest of the world considers Hamilton as a good pilot, surely talented, but nothing incredible. Probably he will win a title in the future, because i got the talent and he got the car, but the way you divinized him despite to Alonso it's been embarassing. Mclaren had in the team a two times world champion, but they prefered to give all the attention to Hamilton. You could give a title, now you have nothing. I want to remember to you that even without the spy story sentence, you wouldn't have won the constructors title, "thanks" to the hungarian gran prix...
I read this article and i laugh, considering Hamilton a winner and Alonso a looser. I'm italian, so i've never seen well Alonso for his victories against Ferrari, but sincerly this year he suffered any kind of bad condition.
After all there is only one champion..

Daniele, Rome, Italy

Kimi, Fernando and Lewis are all great drivers, and that's the problem. Schumacher did in fact leave a gap behind like Senna did. Lewis is both extremely talented and severely overrated, Fernando might be an excellent driv,surely among the best of our decade, yet he behaves like a little boy. Kimi deserves his title because he just shut his mouth, got into the car and drove. But that's pretty much all he does. Hamilton's results seems to be rather astonishing at first, yet he was far too well prepared, I refuse to call this a "rookie". It's too early to rate Lewis, but I'm pretty certain that we won't see a driver as complete and as perfect as Schumacher again, at least not in the next decade. I'm still waiting for the next miracle driver.

Lennart, Paderborn, Germany

I agree with anna from wellingorough alonso is the best and english tv and webs put hamilton as a winner but he isn´t he had only had a good years because fernando was on his team the british people must know that

smaitane, bilbao, spain

Thanks for the suggestion, Laurence, but it won't change their opinion.

xeron, cardiff,

Here is a suggestion for all the Spanish comentators on here claiming British newspapers are biased - read your own.

Laurence, clifton,

I would like to assure Spanish readers of this article that not all of us English F1 fans agree with this rubbish. Fernando built himself up from Minardi to become a 2x world champion, he scored equally to Hamilton this year despite the mudslinging he received from the British media and his own team and he is the most talented driver at present! Yet Ed has the audacity to call him a loser! Whereas Lewis he calls a winner! The same Lewis who has won 0 championships, who had every opportunity to but threw it away spectacularly and who only came 2nd because he was daddied by McLaren. I am not denying Lewis' talent, but it is totally exaggerated by the British media. I wish Lewis luck, for he will never be champion without it. It is he who is responsible for the shame of this year. Fernando could have done no different in the situation Lewis created. Next season I hope F1 will be restored to its former glory and will certainly see Fernando beat Lewis. That is my view, disagree if you wish!

Anna, Wellingborough, England

Joaquin (Toronto), you say "Hamilton, MacLaren and all these sorry britons that haven't won anything since the 60's". Perhaps I could point out the names Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell to you. Free speech is a wonderful thing but if you are going to be offensive about an entire nation, try and get your facts straight!

Simon, San Francisco, USA

Andrew Longmore, in The Times today claims that this season Lewis Hamilton was driver #1. What about equity in McLaren? I thought that Ron Dennis said many times that both Alonso and Hamilton had the same opportunities!

One more question. Why do you always show pictures from Alonso with a serious face, whereas Hamilton's are always smiling? If I would not know how fair and polite you Brittons are, I would think that you make money from manipulating.

By the way, if I would be willing to bet money for the next World Champion, I would say K.Raikkonen is going to get it again. I do not trust on Lewis Hamilton's skills. It is a pitty, but I think that he will have to wait longer. Maybe in his next autobiography...

Igor, Pamplona,

Ron Dennis and Mc Laren are the clear winners for the 2007 season, not only did they put forward a competitive car to fight with Ferrari, ( the only team to do so) they hired two very fast drivers, that were equally matched, but were able to keep their team principals when it would have been easier to favour Alonso.
Mc Laren should be praised for their dedication to their management ideals, and given a great CHEER for making this season the best I can remember.
That said I have always liked Alonso as a driver, and was pleased when he joined Mc Laren, but now I am glad that he will be going elsewhere, as an avid fan of Formula one I only know what is written in the press, the spying problem that was thrown at McLaren this year was a joke, but the positive should have been the way that Ron Dennis was able to function, under this pressure.
Thank you Ron Dennis for staying the course.

Richard Evett, Newport Beach, California USA

It is false that Alonso had it on a plate this season. It has been the yellow and the not so yellow brttish press who has let him down, not himself or his caracter.
Next season will see your little novel hero cropping again around the world. Meanwhile, the fans of this cropper and the brittish press can forget Alonso for a few months, while reading the interesting biography of a 22 years old boy.
Have a nice reading.

Alf, Madrid, Spain

Hamilton had the full support of MacLaren team, Eclesstone FIA, world press, Officials ruled in his favor again and again. Alonson had all of them against him, including the TEAM not talking to him. With all of this in Hamilton's favor, Hamilton only managed to just get the same points as Alonso, imaging for a second that Alonso had that kind of treatment, he would had won by a country mile. Who are the real looser here: Hamilton, MacLaren and all these sorry britons that haven't won anything since the 60's.

Toronto, Canada

joaquin, Toronto, Canada

Mr. Gorman you must joking, I lived in England and considered your newspaper to be serious ... Hamilton a winner? don't you remember last race or last races? Influenced by nerviosism? That's very UN English ...There have been bitter, cruel attacks on Alonso from England and also to our nation. I am delighted seeing Alonso run away from Mc Laren and Ron Dennis. Only winners this year are Ferrari drivers and chiefs who took advantage from Dennis and Hamilton's inability. Take care!

Julián, Canet de Mar, Spain

Alonso is a charming individual who has let himself down with his intemperate conduct. He may pay a heavy price if he leaves and ends up in what could be an uncompetitive car at Renault.


That i remenber..Renault wins in the last decade 2 world championships...and maclaren?

humility..Mr Gorman..humility

jordi, Barcelona,

To all those from Spain who have written in all I can say is "Armada" losers. Nuff said!

John, Durban,

Problems in MCL for next season. Alsonso its free now, so next year MCL has a new powerfull opponent (apart Ferrari).

Rafa, Valencia, Spain

Whole season has been an absolute shambles based around the idea of creating a british champion, as simple as that. If Mclaren had backed Alonso they would be world champions as simple as that. Hamilton and Ron Dennis created all these problems and it is fitting what happened in Brazil. Hamilton is most definetely NOT a winner, more a whinner and a spoilt brat who together with Ron Dennis makes me ashamed to be british.

Mike, Woking,

Do you get the feeling that rest of these comments are biased?

Rory, Worcester, England

I do agree with Jonh. According to the times per lap, Fernando has been much faster. Of Course Hamilton is a very good driver, this has been his first season in F1 and he has finished second. Congratulations for that.

It isn`t fair to compare Alonso's and Hamilton`s first year in F1, because Fernando started in Minardi and fought to end the race; and Hamilton had on his hands one of the two best cars. And if he is the best driver F1 has ever had he should have been the champion. But he hasn´t.

Where was the omnipresent-manager-famous-dad when Fernando started cutting points from his adorable child?

I hope Ron Dennis, Lewis Hamlton and Fernando Alonso learn from all the error they've comitted this year. Because everyone in McLaren did things they shouldn't have.
Bye!!

Leticia, Bilbao, Spain

What happened in Brazil two weeks ago was a fantastic lesson for Hamilton and above all for Ron Dennis. He has been working for F1 for many years and he should know that this season was the first for Hamilton and if he relies on Alonso the title had been won for Maclaren in Japan. All the team has despreciated Alonso and broken his car for many weeks. Finally they have had what they needed, a very fantastic lesson with Raikkonen winner. The very big loosers have been Hamilton and of course Ron Dennis. Alonso has shown that he has achieved 1 point less than the winner with all his own team fighting against him during 7 months. Next season we will see how is Hamilton without the information given by a double world champion. ALONSO IS THE BEST PILOT TODAY AND KIMI THE SECOND, THE OTHER ONES ARE VERY FAR OF THEM INCLUDED HAMILTON
What happened with the champagne for celebrate in China the Hamilton´s championship. What a joke, they have sold the bottles for paying the FIA fine.

Roldan, Huelva, Spain

Hamilton has got talent but unfortunately he's a whiner & he doesn't handle pressure that well. I agree with Pau all the way, all he has to do was to finish fourth in Brazil but he got all clumsy when Fernando took over him. Duh?! Hamilton should just have stayed calm.

..and he can't stop whining about Fernando to the media, when the Spaniard didn't say anything bad and prefer to keep everything to himself. He is more of a man than Hamilton. I don't even understand what Hamilton is whining about when McLaren is obviously in favour of him over Fernando.

Though I don't agree that Fernando's action, impeding Hamilton in the pitstop during qualifying in Hungary, it was Hamilton who triggered all the commotion & the breaking down of their relationship.

Fernando, I just wish you have a better team to go to, since McLaren doesn't treat you that well & so bias towards Hamilton, always giving him preferential treatment. It sucks!

Cobain, Singapore,

Aw god.... watching LH spoil his already won championship has been absolutely priceless. It has defenetely paid for all the bad moments this season.

All I missed was watching Ron's and Lewis' faces, just a peak would have been enough. But the brit shadowy powers stood in my road to happiness and turned the cameras away. Such a shame...

This is what happens when you put a billion-pound-bussiness in the hands of a kid. (Dont say we didnt warn you, brits! :D)

Jorge, MADRID, SPAIN

To the Times,
this is not an unknown newspaper, the fastest driver in the whole championship this year per lap, is Fernando Alonso.We know this is England but you should tell the truth, and Hamilton wasn't close to this calculations.Have a nice day. We will see where your little guy will be next year,jajajajaja,

John, B'mth, England

Two reasons why Lewis should go to Spyker:

1. He cannot handle the pressure. All he needed to do to finish the job was to finish fourth in two races with a car that at worst can finish fourth. And HE BLEW IT!

2. He cannot remain calm if he is not ahead. He's made mistakes in Nurburgring, Turkey, China, Brazil, and was lucky with the rail in Monaco. He did a good job in Japan and Canada when he was first all the time. So if he moved to a bad team he would learn how it is to start in the back of the grid and get used to have cars ahead of him. This is how Fernando became a phenomenal driver in Minardi. And this is why Vettel will be a world champion when he gets a good car.

Pau, Barcelona, Spain

Dearest Ed,
Now this is a good F1 article and to quote the Beatles: Bye bye love Bye bye happiness Hello loneliness I think I'm gonna cry-y Bye bye love, Bye bye sweet caress..
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article2759331.ece

Alonso sticked it back to McLaren after they literally took advantage of him to advance the marketing driven golden boy.

Hamilton has not been faster than Alonso throughout the season. Alonso has been in front of Hamilton most of the season. But when he was behind he lost more points.

Again it is the ilusion you are perpetrading with this propaganda based in inferred perceptions and not in Solid data.

THE BIGGEST LOOSER OF ALL is Hamilton, who through away a championship served in a silver platter... NOT ONLY ONCE BUT TWICE LOL in the most ridiculous and unprofessional way. For all Alonso fans that Brasil race was not a loosing race.

AT LEAST ALONSO did not only had the handicap of F1 Racing, but he had to race his own team.

Rob, Essex, England

Let's face it, the driver's championship side of Formula One is a bad joke. F1 is all about technological expertise and development. F1 cars, as famously depicted on a Toyota commercial, could be better driven by remote control or on-board computers.
If you want a true test of driver skill, let all the drivers have the same car, the same engine and the same tyres. In other words give GP2, Champ Cars, World Series by Renault etc. their due as true tests of driver and team support skills and stop all this mega hype over what is probably the most boring piece of motor sport on the planet - Formula One.
Let's have more coverage of true racing and less of the F1 circus.

Truefan, Felixstowe, Suffolk

A few Hamilton false things in this page: Hamilton is the one who had it on a plate this season and could not handle the fact that he could be the world champion and waste it all in the end by pressing the wrong bottom. Alonso does never fail at critical moments and would not have lost the championship in that shaming way that Hamilton did. That is the difference between a champion and a lucky rooky. But good luck does not last for ever. Also Hamilton was quicker because he was given a better car and was helped even by FIA every time he or his father was complaining against Alonso with or without reason. Hamilton and this father are the ones with have had an intemperate conduct, including rude and provocative manners even after (that ridiculous party in a disco) having had that unnecessary fate in Brazil. Of course Alonso is a champion and would be a winner with nearly any car he drives as he has already showed twice with Renault which Hamilton has not demonstrated yet. So I recommend British next season to make sure he is a champion for sure without any help first and celebrate it later.

Paloma, Madrid, Spain

Mr. Gordon, which kind of F1 world championship have you seen? Do you really think that Lewis could have been fighting for victory with the 2006 car? Do you think that Lewis has developed the car himself? Don't you think that Vettel, Rosberg, Kovalainen or even Heidfeld should be as quick as Lewis with the same car? In ANY other team, Lewis would be out of the team by his comments after Monaco or his arguments against the team after Hungary... At last, I understand why JP Montoya left McLaren... Next year, if Alonso left McLaren, we will see how Lewis improves the car himself and realize that everybody can be fast into a fast car, but not everybody can make a car go faster (have you forgotten McLaren difficulties to reach Q3 during 2006?)

Kiriko, Madrid, Spain

denis, do you remember hungary??

If alonso had worked out first, the championship will be to mercedes, but lewis' father is a bad person, and spoke Fia and mercedes lost championship...

Lewis meet of mercedes, denis meet of mac laren

chris, london, uk

Fernando Alonso is the best!!!
Alonso have wone two championship, and he is the youngest car driver champions.
The last year Mc Claren was 3th possition, and this year with help´s Alonso would have wone the championship.

Alonsomaniaco, Spain, Granada

Remenber Hungary?

Joan, Madrid, Spain

I'm afraid you are all too blind in your opinions to see the real truth at work. This is no longer a sport in which the best man wins at the end of the day. It's a business and money talks. Strange how the Mclaren was so good, but after the spying saga it became troublesome. Strange again how unreliability suddenly struck at the last race for Hamilton, which then suddenly evaporated. Was the race as fair as it should have been? Was the outcome decided before the event? In the end, Ferrari got what they wanted, both titles and Mclaren walked away with none. F1 is no longer what it once was. No longer a sport. Lets all move on....

Jason, Newcaslte, UK

its incredible, alonso is a losers?, ja ja ja. Its the best driver now, in the future, with a normal car, the best in the history.
This english newspaper only defence hamilton because is english but everybody know that is a bad driver, with the best car loose 12 point in 2 grand prix.
Alonso win with renault, he went to mclaren and renault is a losers this year, if mclaren gave a good car to alonso he won before interlagos with many points diference. I prefer alonso in ferrari.

Frank, Liverpool, Uk

Congrat, Kimi!!

Well done, Fernando!!

Lewis.... The Times says you're a winner, so I hope next year and followings you win as this year XD, losing 12 points and being 2nd!!!!!

I don't understand why you say Button is a loser... If he had been in McLaren in his first season with the best car surely he had win something...

Asami, Tokyo, Japan

McLaren are to be blamed for Kimi winning the title. They did only one mistake in my opinion. When Fernando had some bad luck in US, Canadian & French GP's & when Lewis had a better car than the Ferrari's on those races bang,, all of a sudden they made Lewis the number 1 driver than Alonso.

Alonso has gained more experience than any other in this season & it will definitely help him to win the coming seasons championships.

Firnas, Colombo, Sri Lanka

....tipical of a british newspaper...I do not see in your list ,the only winner....the only one who make the entire car FROM THE ENGINE TO THE LAST SCREW.......the one who had his tecnology's secrets stolen by modern pirates of F1....( mc laren)...the team who saw the rules change when he was invibile....and they won again....( no rules were changed when williams was winnig all those years in rule...!
The only ..magnific drem.......FERRARI!!!!!!
For what they have done,mc laren shouldn't be able to be part of F1 anymore
P.s. I just guess .....what you would say if Ferrari would do the thing mc laren did..

Renato, Rome, Italy

You are english fanatics. Hamilton has demonstrate that is a little boy with a big car. Alonso has powered up the car and when it has been competitive the team closed all doors to the champion. Enjoy what you have win this year... NOTHING.

Oscar, Valencia, Spain

Hahahaha! Hamilton winner??, Are you people mad?? Ah ok , winner of the World´s Champion Loser of the Year. C´mon guys, let´s be serious. A superclass doesn´t make such mistakes. China, Brazil (hahaha, Lewis watch out that buttons!!). Lewis can write a book now. "How to lose a F1 championship in 2 races". And You say that Fernando Alonso is a loser??, Michael Schumacher is also a loser to you? I don´t think so.

Jesus, Zaragoza, Spain,

hmmm..hamilton winner???
why becuase he got a better treat then alonso?
becuase he never got any punishment of the fia?
And i dont understand how you can say that he is better then alonso?
Is hamilton bi champion? NOO
i would like to see if he would be his first year in minardi or spyker, like nearly all the pilots.
I think the biggest loser are hamilton and ron dennis. Hamilton becuase of the stupid mistakes he has made and ron dennis also becuase of the wrong decision he has made throughout the year, which has cost him the title.

Julian, MADRID, SPAIN

Ed, do you think that Fernando Alonso is a loser? do you think so? and Hamilton? do you know that Alonso and Hamilton have finished with the same points? and do you know that Alonso is a Formula One bi-champion? During this season Alonso has been damaged by Mc Laren many times. And in spite of this, Alonso has been third. Congratulations Alonso!!! and Hamilton, I´m sorry but I think and many people in the world think that you´re the only one loser in the Formula One 2007. I´m sorry but you have shown to be very child to ride in Formula One.

Juanjo, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

1)You forget even to name Ferrari among winners: after a decade spent with the undisputed F1 ruler Schumacher,the team managed to win both championship,producing what is actually the fastest car in F1 (even if not the most reliable), even if victim of the infamous spy story. Consider the situation of Renault. How fast McLaren developed thanks to espionage!
2)Bernie Ecclestone is economically a winner but morally loser: his plan to set British golden boy Hamilton on the throne failed miserably (THIS is really miserable,not Alonso).To the boy was permitted everything and never penalized. He was even lift up from the sand with a tow car to let him gain some points!
3)Dennis appealed in Brazil for 2° of gasoline temp. while his guy used a set of tyres more illegally on saturday and get only a fine, just 'cause he had to win the champ. Hope the next Ron's appeal we'll see will be against the decision of Modena Penal Court, sentencing him to prison for 1 to 5 years ex artt. 622 623-640 C.P

Achille Cotone, Riga, Latvia

Brazilian GP reading: Alonso clearly passed and beat Hamilton in the second turn with a used engine and 10hp less. Hamilton thinks there has to be something wrong in the setup of the Playstation game. He pushes the reset button.

Miguel, Manning, USA

Lew..ser Hamilton didn´t win . You don´t win ...you loose.
The crane driver was the real winner.

Sorry boys no rugby, no F1. You always have cricket.

Xao Vin, Madrid,

I think it's unfair for Kimi to say that he won because others had bad luck. Ok, Hamilton had bad luck in last races but only there. And in shanghai it wasn't just a bad luck... so called bad luck cost Hamilton at most 15 points in this season... (included 10 points from shanghai).
Räikkönen retired 2 times.... and that was only bad luck, which cost him about 14 points... so in the end nobody was obviously more luckier than other.

Jaakko Uotila, Turku, Finland

So you earn "The European Ombudsman
Complaint form" see you on court.

Mario De Alba , Leon, Mexico

Kimi run fast and speak low, Ferrari run as a team. Mclaren is the bonfire of the pretenses. Result is fair.

Alberto, Madrod,

Last week after the sadness and misery travelled across all England, as a consequence of the sports results in the rugby worlchampioship and specially the poor play for the national team again Russia.I am agree with Mr Gorman that Lewis Hamilton is a big winne, because he lost for himself the F1 champioship after several gift from the FIA and all the media circus care triying to ridiculaze the former champion Fernando Alonso.

Fran, london, london

Who is Hamilton?

rafa, Barcelona, SPAIN

Lets give Fernando Hungary stolen points and I would love to see what you would say . Hamilton is a good driver, but I don´t see him winning next season either if Alonso leaves Mc Laren. What strange Q3 times for FA in the last races, has anyone got a clue why this happened? Do you have an answer Ed?. Fernando a loser... Finishing with the same amount of points as Hamilton after all we have seen during the whole season, how can you say that. Ed you will end writing for The Sun.

Alex Artiles , Salt Lake City, USA

Dear sons of Great Britain: all of you should learn how to accept a disaster. Who is the guity? Dennis of course. And Hamilton, because you cannot give a Formula One car to a kid (this is not a Playstation game).
You (McLaren) had a Formula One bi-champion in your team and you did't know how to manage. Bad luck.
Next year Alonso hopefully will be in Renault or Toyota and will provide you another opportunity to accept that you'll loose the championship ... another year.
Next Sunday I'll be supporting Alonso in Oviedo. He is the only winner this year.

Pepe, Madrid, Spain

Hamilton Winner??? is that a joke??? ah ah ah ah. You are very funny.
Only Kimmi is the champion and Alonso the winner.
Dennis and Hamilton are the losers.
Alonso with a cycle is faster than Hamilton with a F1, and also better.

Fernando Alonso, ESPAÑA, ESPAÑA

Lewis wants to race, he or any other competitive driver would not just sit in forth position and win - Alonso last weekend did not try to win, he sat there because had given up.

john, clevedon,

It will be funny to read what you have to say next year when Alonson becomes world champion driving a Renault once more and Hamilton only seeing thepodium from the distance.

Get it in your head Ed, if it wasn't for Alonso McLaren wouldn't had a chance in hell to win anything.

Let's see what Hamilton does next year, probably nothing, if Kimmi being a better driver than him never managed to win, your boy will have to fight for a least score a point. He'll be racing agains Button for the last place.

Joe, London,

I am an englishman, but after many years watching formula 1 have no option but to say that I am ashamed of the way people in the UK insult a person like Fernando Alonso who obviously expected more as he arrived as champion and although maybe he shouldn't have, just because it was an englishman as team mate, it suddenly became unthinkable when it has always been the way in F1. Furthermore, the media in the UK is awful and now the times with Edward Gorman joins a long list of tabloids.
You never even gave Alonso a chance even to give his view. First when he talks( probably too much) you say he shouldn't and then when he decides to fix that then UK media do nothing but to accuse and insult him. IT IS MAINLY YOUR FAULT THE BAD NAME OF UNFAIR AND PIRATES THAT WE HAVE GOT NOW IN SOUTHERN EUROPE AND INDEED IN MUCH OF THE REST OF THE WORLD. SHAME ON YOU

John Smith, york, United Kingdom

I want to see Maclaren-Mercedes (do not forget the Germans are the main owners of the team) aspiring for the 2008 title only with the Hamiltons (I suppose that since they want Alonso out of the team they will also aspire to have a docile teammate). Good for Mercedes....they have been the real loosers (I have heard their sales in Spain have dropped dramatically later)

Miguel, Murcia, Spain

winner -n- Person who wins.
loser -n- Person who is defeated
(Oxford Dictionary)
miserable -adj- 1. Very unhappy . 2 Causing wretchedness and unhappiness. 3. Poor in quality
(Oxford Dictionary)
I am persuaded that you feel a little miserable. Don't you, Mr. Gorman?

John , Alicante,

Hamilton has been the biggest losser in this season. Nobody can lose having 12 points before 2 races to the end.

Tony, Zaragoza, Spain

We should think every journalist is unbiased, however, dear Edward you haven't been it in this article. You don't need to discredit Alonso for hidding your miseries. We realized in Spain how fast Hamilton is. We can consider is a good driver he's very fast but unavoidable he hadn't experience and for this reason it has got obvious consecuences. Hamilton a winner? Hamilton is a bad-mannered and daddy's boy, and very stupid (like you have proved in this article) because he was the only guilty for loosing the Championship. He didn't need "fight" against Raikkonen when his tires was absolutely destroyed and of course he didn't need compete against Alonso for only one position during the start when being 4th it was enough. How it is possible you say Hamilton is a Winner? Agree with you McLaren have been a huge mess this season. Everybody have been mistaken ,nevertheless in the last two races Hamilton didn't need team only driving in a standard way it had been enough to win the champ.LOOSER.

Pedro, Madrid, Spain

Miserable Iberian? That sounds bad.

A bit of respect to a double world champion please.

Juan Onate, Geneva, Switzerland

First excuse my bad english, it is not my languaje. I think that many opinions in this blog are not focusing in sport, they only see the country of birthplace of each pilot like the most fundamental thing. I think that is not what it is F1. It is about cars, about drivers, about winning races, about teams, no matter at all what colour is the flag in the podium.
Winner this year is Kimi Raikkonen, as it is Felipe Massa by his driving and his team mate support.
And winning is also Scudería Ferrari, of course. They do a wonderful job even with mistakes like everybody had in the year.
Lewis Hamilton did a fantastic work and he loses the championship because of his inexperience and it is natural. So did Giles Villeneuve many years ago. So Hamilton is a winner also, like are Rosberg, Kubica, Kovalainen, Heifeld, Sutil and few others drivers.
Alonso is a loser, not as a driver, he is a very good one but not a great one. He is a loser as person, by his attitude in the spy affair.

Jorge, San Rafael, Argentina

Hamilton was wrong, not Alonso and Alonso is'nt a loser because he was two times world champion. McLaren is two times loser because did'nt give Alonso the same chances of Hamilton. I am sorry for Alonso e happy for Ferrari. Ferrari is the winner and wins with Kimi like Schumi.

Marcello, Rome, Italy

Incredible! Now Alonso is a loser, and the golden guy who couldn't cope with the pressure and couldn't take advantage of his lead, Mr. Hamilton, is a winner!. I am feed up of that arrongant attitude in this country, but that is too much.

That very miserable man you talk, is double champion. Honest, direct, and not a double faced man, as some others. We support Alonso everywhere. I don't see that support for your guy.

Why?

Hopefully our beloved Kubica (please, "Kubitsa" is said, not "Kiubika"), will follow the steps of Fernando, not Lewis.

Best rookie? I wonder if he would be the same good in a Minardi.

Come Fernando!

Pawel Klutz, Croydon, England

Although I'm Spanish I've lived in the UK for a long time and I think I can see both sides of the argument that has been the main issue in many of the posts in this blog. Lewiss has suffered in the end a strange balancing act which somehow wiped out the huge advantage he had gained before through a number of excellent drives, some luck and some questionable decissions. I think it's funny that t the beginning of the season FA made a number of unforced errors when under pressure by his team mate, but in a really quick process LH has ended up where FA started: Thinking more about his enemy than about his driving. He couldn't do anything about some mechanical problems (or could he have pressed the right b.?) but he clearly lost his tittle through not thinking on his feet. Difficult to see whether he could end up "burnt" after such a quick rise -and fall- and whether FA will be able to be himself again. What will the new rules reveal about driving skills? Will LH become another Button? mm

carlos c., london, uk

next year, will Hamilton need de help of de FIA? I thing this year it was incredible, I only hope that next year all the pilots suffer the equal rules, this year LH has 8 or 10 extra points of a present from de FIA.

pedro, santander,

Losing Alonso and winning Hamilton indeed that necesitais a psychiatrist. Better to ask as the spoiled kid of mclaren could have won after all the helps of the FIA.

Francisco, Granada, Spain

I love this new humour section! I think this guy, Gorman, will be a serious rival in hollywood for eddie murphy and leslie nielsen.

Kindly Regards for your national LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER, Hamilton. Maybe next time, ROOKIE

Korisevich, Madrid, España

The biggest loosers in this championship has been Mr. Dennis and McLaren. Not recognising this fact is just lacking objectivity. Hamilton didn't win, despite his talent and support, because he has been far too greedy. He's an excellent pilot but lacks experience, and most of all, fair play. So far Alonso has won 2 championships, and has ended third with the same number of points that Lewis, he can't be that big of a looser as you say he is.... get over it!!!

Anna, Nice, France

How amusing it is to hear such criticism of British Journalism, given that Spain is probably the only country in Europe to out gutter-press this one.

Oh, and Davide - were you referring to Italians such as Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen? Just between you and me, UK drivers have won the F1 championship 12 times, more than anyone else, anywhere. Italy is 9th on that list with 3 wins. 9th. Just above Spain, in fact. Australians have won it more times.

Oh, and just to pre-empt your nationalistic fervour regarding the constructor's championships. France won that three times, Italy fifteen times and the UK?

Thirty-two times.

¡qué escándalo!

Dan, Hampton, UK

When will the hype stop? The fact is that Raikkonen won more races, scored more points and made less mistakes than the rest.
Mclaren and their precious Lewis have only themselves to blame. They got greedy in China and missed the first opportunity to seal the championship by racing for the win rather than points. Then they repeated the mistake in Brazil - Hamilton with his reluctance to concede a place to Alonso and McLaren with a three stop strategy that left Hamilton with too much ground to make up. Fourth places in either race would have been sufficient.
Before everyone shouts "gearbox problem", remember that McLaren's reliability was much better than the Ferrari's. Massa's season came unstuck with mechanical failures and Raikkonen would have won the championship sooner had it not been for breakdowns earlier in the season.
Raikkonen put in a great performance and is the deserving champion. Hamilton will get his chance again. And Alonso might just about have stopped laughing.

Rob Jerome, Nottingham , UK

I will never be completely surprised. There will always be some more surprising.
Do you really believe your own words?
Do you really believe Hamilton BEAT Alonso? Only for ONE point difference? INCREDIBLE.
Hamilton has exceeded expectations. I DO agree. May be is the only thing you can say it´s truth.
WInners: Hamilton. UPS. Do you really believe someone who loses 17 points in 3 last races doing STUPID acts like loose the track 2 times, and UPS "pressing the wrong button" is a winner, a champion?
Someone in McLaren should tell him the car is not controlled by MS WINDOWS and it´s not necessary to restart it, just controll the wheel and use properly acelerator and brakes.
Do you really believe hamilton "has all the qualities to be champion next year"?? Someone acting like a teenager, pressing wrong buttons when he is about to be THE WINNER. Come on. Even you DO NOT BELIEVE such words.
By the way, if you say somehting like "one very miserable Iberian" you should know .......

Kilea, Sevilla, SPAIN

Being Portuguese, and given that Portugal is a part of the Iberian Peninsula I must say that the remark that "very miserable iberian", is at the very least shocking for a newspaper of the Times' caliber... I would expect to read something like that in the Sun or a likewise stupid comment regarding Lewis Hamilton in "As" or "Marca". But i also have to understand that both british and spanish media, plus hamilton, alonso and Ron Dennis, made an excellent job in destroying all of Maclaren's chances this season. Either pilot could have been easily crowned world champion but instead they were gunned down by their own ambition. I have to say it is particularly enjoyable reading all this nonsense from both sides. But do get a grip on you geography knowledge and leave my country out of it!

all the best for Ferrari for next season

Sergio Antunes, London,

Hello everybody out there,

As other guy said in this forum, if you compare Lewis Hamilton perfomance against Jaques Vileneuve one on his first F1 season you can find that JV was a best overall rookie. The coincidence is that both have had the best car of the moment. Jaques Vileneuve has not proved with the pass of the years to be that kind of legend that he might arrive to be. Is not Hamilton the same case "10 Years After"? What is your opinion about Jenson Button? May be both were oversized by "good press" guys....

Probably the best chance would be the following: wait five years and we alltogether will be able to go on with this sterile conversation.

I can not mix sport with nationalism, I only want facts. Too much fanatism on a lot of other guys' comments.

Best regards

Giovanni di Dio

Giovanni di Dio, Las Palmas, Canary Islands- Not Europe!

"Miserable Iberian" ? How disrespectful! That shows that you guys cannot get over the fact that Hamilton did not win..... a good character lesson for all of you! Alonso could be very outspoken at time, but let's not forget that he was the one that showed Lewis how to get the max out of his car....
Again, a very good character lesson for all of you! Hope you learnt something....

C, New York City, NY, USA

Renault is not as competitive as McLaren. They have been showing it for 8 years.

hahahaha

david, Paris, France

"...and one very miserable Iberian..."
Mr. Edward Gorman, you can hide behind the title os Motor Racing Correspondent, in fact this is an unrespectful and racist comment.
KR, LH, FA ... they deserved the Championship, your comment is an insult. Shame on you!

sergi, geneva, switzerland

Edward Gorman: Your point of view is very funny.
ALonso loser and hamilton winner? ha ha ha h ah a
A world champion or a very good pilot cannot lose this oportunities. LH with the 5 place was champion and made one of the most stupid races in the history of F1. He is a talent pilot no doubt , but he is not inteligent.
All the year with all king of support (team, fia), remember hungary, germany, japan, ron dennis etc,etc, etc.
LH is only a good pilot, better perhaps if his daddy is not present, but with this demonstration I Think hw will never be champion in F1.

Aldo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hamilton should be a loser, all the english press has put hamilton as the best rookie ever, but realy come on, sebastian vettel has done how many races and was almost second on the japanese grand prix and he was fourth on the the chinese garnd prix.

No rookie has ever start in a winning car, put vettel there and he would of been just as good, and mclaren had a winning car thanks to alonso, and the team gave everything to a rookie instead of trusting alonso, if they would of trusted alonso, they would have at least one of the titles, but of course they are english and they wanted an brit to win, but of course he blew his chances because he was a rookie, and made a rookie mistake.

Carlos Artiles, Clearfield, Utah

alonso the best!!!!!!!

Sandra , Santander, Spain

I agree with most of the comments, and see that people in UK is not idiot at all, even when they read this kind of news every day

Why are you so blind to see reality? Obviously, you just want to sell your newspapers, but you sell a distorted reality to your readers

What was McLaren this past years before the arrival of Alonso, who helped them take the car to a new level? Let me tell you: they were nothing

Alonso has won 2 championships against people as Michael Shumacher, and without him, Hamilton would have 50 points. Or why does everybody want Alonso in his team? Oh, it looks like he's not so miserable at all..

On the other side we have your loved hero, Lewis, with the lack of results of Button you've putted all your hope in this kid, who has demonstrated that wasn't ready for this responsability, and has cried to the FIA, who helped him every single time. They've used rules as they want to help Lewis, and santionated Alonso with rules that didn't exist. Who is miserable?

Paul, Brighton, UK

my dear eddie,

Winners : Kimi Raikkonen ,Bernie Ecclestone
Fernando Alonso

Pirates/losers : Ron Dennis/McLaren , Lewis Hamilton

Losers : The FIA , Felipe Massa

Hamilton is the most successful rookie in history and the first one with big team: McLaren-FIA-Ecclestone-Edward Gorman-Cheat-Lucky&ferrariproblems, after that is in the second place..... ummmh Should be isn´t successful

Juan, Tenerife, Canary Islands

"Miserable iberian" , Mr Gorman ? miserable is one of the worst words you can use against a man, I didn´t expect such language from you. Your behaviour is a hooligan´s one. There´s a war inside McLaren, but you´re suppose just to tell us, not to take part. I´m an iberian as well and I feel you´re speaking about me too.

Javier , Seville , Spain

Edward Gorman don´t know what he writes, Alonso is the best and JAJAmilton is a learner. McLaren is a bad team!

Alonso --> Renault, Madrid, Spain

No Doubt – “Ron Speak” Lyrics

You and me
We used to be together
Everyday together always
I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end
It looks as though you're letting go
And if it's real
Well I don't want to know

RON SPEAK
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts
RON SPEAK
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause it hurts

Our memories
Well, they can be inviting
But some are altogether
Mighty frightening
As we die, both you and I
With my head in my hands
I sit and cry

RON SPEAK
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts (no, no, no)
RON SPEAK
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause it hurts

It's all ending
I gotta stop pretending who we are...
You and me I can see us dying...are we?

RON SPEAK
I know just what you're saying
So please stop explaining
Don't tell me cause it hurts (no, no, no)
RON SPEAK
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me cause it hurts
Don't tell me cause it hurts!
I know what you're saying
So please stop explaining

RON SPEAK,
RON SPEAK,
RON SPEAK,
oh I know what you're thinking
And I don't need your reasons
I know you're good,
I know you're good,
I know you're real good
Oh, la la la la la la La la la la la la
RON, RON, uh-huh Hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush darlin' Hush, hush
don't tell me tell me cause it hurts
Hush, hush darlin' Hush, hush darlin'
Hush, hush don't tell me tell me cause it hurt

Joaquin, A Coruña, Spain

How the hell can a F1 Team spend over 90 milion pounds in a champion and then just give the 100% of support to a rookie how the hell anyone can be that stupid, i´m glad that mc laren lost the championship, Denis face should be priceless, just to note that renault is not a uncompetitive Team (they won the chamionship, drivers and constructors the last 2 years) mc laren should learn, also without the the adjusts of Alonso in the car mc laren will be in the the same position next year, the losers one. and i bet Alonso will become a winner again in renault. Oh yes about Hamilton just a big laugh to see how handle the pression. Not a Winner just a terrible brainless loser.

Xino, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Fernando a loser...are you kidding? He's he best pilot any team could have, he should have received much more respect from McLaren. And moreover, why the hell do they sign the best pilot? To treat him as a newcomer...that's something difficult to understand. I wish he could find a real team, not a bunch of radical british pushing for his local hero...

José Francisco Zapata Cortado, Alicante, Spain

Let's go Alonso!!!

José, Madrid,

When Hamilton any other pilot win two championships in a row with a team like Renault, we can talk.
Hamilton has had the best car this year, all the support from his team, the set up for the races has been done by Alonso and he has has telemetry data from his team mate for qualifications, and he hasn't even won the championship.
If Alonso had had the same treatment and support he 'd be champion again.
McLaren has been become in a circus with too many clowns, Dennis, Hamilton, Anthony Hamilton, Haug, Witemarsh,...
McLaren doesn't deserve the best pilot; Fernando Alonso.
When was the last time Dennis won any title???? As soon as Kimi left that circus (McLaren) he won the title.

Carlos, Miami, EEUU

Obviously, you British haven't got over the Hamilton fiasco.

You've been waiting so many years to get a world champion. First you tried with Button, who resulted to be a completely let down. Now another disappointment with Hamilton.

I believe that Alonso represents all you want. That's the reason you hate him so bitterly.

Nevertheless, you didn't get what you desired, and you will have to wait another year.

Meanwhile keep sighing.

Ulon, Zurich, Switzerland

Hamilon lost and it is sooooooo good !

philippe, paris, france

Dear Eddi,

the only miserable person here was Ron Dennis: he could have chosen the winner/experienced pilot and would be champion now. Instead, he has only a big NOTHING. As father in law: 10 points. As F1 Team Leader: 0 points.

And what about Kimi? He may be the winner-but-not-champion, but nobody will remember in 20 years that hamilton almost-won-a-title...

At last, but not least, don´t forget: Dennis tried it with Montoya and Kimi a couple of years ago, and didn´t got the championship either. To build a winning car you need not only the best engineers, but also an experience pilot like Alonso. Let´s see if Rosberg/whoever can do the same next year... ´cause one is for sure: McLaren won´t have a champion on his team the next season.

PS:Btw, using words like "miserable" as an adjective for a person, could be good enough for The Sun, not for The Times.

Peter, Vienna, Austria

Alonso Loser??? HAHAHAHA.. What a laught . No one belive that. He finist in same points and triumphs that Lewis and he gets no help from his own team. No ones remember now what Ron sais in China... "Battles was agains Alonso, not Kimi" HAHAHAHA C'MON !!
Alonso was very happy in Brasil.. The world nows he is the real winner and Hamilton the real Loser.

Frank, London, London

Do you really think that Hamilton is a winner in this competition?...to finish second, with the two last errors, only confirms what we have been telling all the season. He's a good rookie and a bad player. Game over Lewis.

Nobody says that he is a bad pilot , but from our point of view, he don't need any class of favors or external help to gain the world championship. He will win, and provably in a short time, but the impression you have transmitted to the Spaniards, is that MacLaren has done pitfalls, have played dirtily, and has manipulated the information, and above all, they have blamed of everything happened to Fernando. Can you tell me if is this the English Seniority?...Yeah?...we thought that was another thing…Lord Ron..

Last comment Ed, when you say “miserable iberian”, you are insulting Fernando, my mother, my family, and me. Be careful with these words, amigo, your comment can be very bad interpreted.

Ric, Barcelona, Spain

Alonso can be considered as a looser is because he is 3rd this year, after having winning 2 world championships.
But before consider Hamilton as a winner, check first Alonso's job: he took an uncompetitive car, which did not finished all races, very hard to drive and to keep into the runway, and after correcting it with the engineers, McLaren got a realible and competitive car. This is not but, I guess. Anothe fact is how did Hamilton help to achive that?, He had no experience, had he?
Both pilots have shown to be fast, but Hamilton has shown his lack of experience and self control at the key moments of the season. But he is not a looser, 2nd in his first year, poles, winnings, podiums. The only looser is Dennis. He did not manage some situations correctly: The affair with Ferrari, the fact that he could decide to have a world champion in September, the fact that Hamilton should only had 2 pit stops at Brasil, the comunication: "we run against Alonso". Did he burn Hamilton in Brasil?

Felipe Ramos, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

Hamilton a winner???
The way he has trown away the title, that's great, yeah.
He's a part of F1 History now, as the guy who needed 3 points out of 20 to win title, and didn't score it.
Also as the first driver who makes a right at 20mph while entering pit-lane.
Could have been the biggest winner, but at the end he's just "the great loser".

Serge, Jaen, Spain

Blimey, don't you lot get excited about F1, possibly the most boring 'racing' (and I use that in the loosest sense of the word) in the world!

Get rid of pit stops & have one long race, then we'll see who's the best racer & maybe, just maybe, some overtaking other than in the pits!

Also I'd just like to say Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. ;-)

Neil, London, UK

Alonso is the number 1, and Hamilton is only a good rookie. If you fight with a great bullfighter like Alonso, you must to learn with him, and Lewis is an impulsive and silly f1.

Anthony, Oviedo, Spain

Is really Alonso a loser? I guess he is the happiest person in Mclaren, because his teammate didn't win meanwhile he defends himself saying that his car was biased, so he couldn't win. He argues a lack of equality in the team, so in that case he have lost the championship, but the team have lost everything too. Is Alonso a loser? I don't think so.
Is it Hamilton? obviously not, he was in his first season and could show all his potential in the fututre. Th real loser? Mclaren and Dennis who made all they could to get a brithish winner at any cost, but time puts things on order, luckyly.

Josh Evans, Athens, GA

"Miserable iberian"

Just a quick note to fellow Spaniards. I think the term "miserable" in this context means unhappy rather than the meaning it has in Spanish (more like despicable). There's been some misleading translations in Spanish papers that make it sound like an offensive statement. Any native please comment

Ignasi, Barcelona, Spain

A pair of things, i do not know what you understand by loser, but Alonso has gained more last year than if he had gained the world title of the way that Hamilton would have done it, the weeping one. The second, and within the ignorance in which the English delight themselves, say you that Alonso is not iberan, but from an origin ceitic territory, as it is Asturias. And another thing, safe that you had been able to choose another word for miserable.

Daniel, Oviedo, Asturias

You can say whatever you want even 'miserable spaniard' or loser but as I could see previously, only Räikkönen, Todt and Alonso were happy in Brazil (and obviously the rest of team Ferrari), so keep on saying Lewis is also a winner. So there in England, you celebrate the 2nd place of Hamilton and here in Spain however, we celebrate the 'victory' of Hamilton. Congratulations everybody!!!!!

JC, Aviles,

For me, as a Spaniard, is interesting to see that Hamilton is considered "a winner" in the British press. This would have been our approach in Spain 5 or 10 years ago. Not any longer. FA has not won, the Spanish Basketball team that came 2nd in the European championship have not won...In Spain, now, and after many many years, winning is coming 1st. Not second. No excuses. And that's how we are getting champs in most of the sports. My honest recommendation is to you change your approach or mediocracy will be the result.

ipod, Madrid, Spain

As, Pau, I think this is so stupid.

If Fernando Alonso decides to go out from McLaren, then, we'll see if Hamilton can make a car to win the championship. And next year, we'll see if Hamilton is really a great driver, as I think, but without a World Championn as partner, who gave him all for make a competitive car.

Antonio, Sevilla, Spain

Alonso is a professional, nothing more, which also does not need outside help to win races, nor his father back to defend him.
Hamilton has shown exactly what applies in the latter two races. What you have is envy

Noah, Madrid, Spain

Good grief! Such bile from Spain.

You may be losing something in the translation. The article is pointing out who has gained from this season and who has lost.

It is not a pro british, flag waving article. If you actually read it it agrees with a lot of your own points.

And for those of you with your small minded xenophobic comments, you should have a long look at yourselves in the mirror and grow up. This is a sport we're talking about!

The majority of you have completely missed the point.

Chris Phipps, Worthing,

I think that Spanish sponsors ( Banco de Santander and Mutua Madrileña above all ) should think twice keeping investing money on a team where the pilot, his father and his tutor have made life impossible for a Spanish pilot. It is not that Alonso has more opportunities for being world champion twice( that it should be ) but at least both pilots should have had the same opportunities.
On the other hand, if Alonso leaves Mclaren , as everybody expects ( specially Spanish supporters )it is commented that Nico Rosberg would take his place. Well, Nico said in Interlagos that he was going to miss Alex Wurz´s experience when making the set up of the car ; so poor Hamilton next year , who´s going to make the set up for him ? Nico Rosberg ? I doubt it much.

antonio, vigo, españa

When I read the comments, I scroll down to skip the ones from Spanish people (I already know what I'm going to read, it gets pathetic at times) and the ones written by the British (to avoid reading embarrasing biased and often racist remarks). What people from out of these 2 countries write is often more interesting.

I'd say Hamilton's been a loser this season too. That's my opinion. Because despite of being a rookie, everything was favourable for him. And he screwed up. Simple as that. He and MClaren screwed up. Britons are blinded by the fact this has been his first season in F1. In the same situation, with the same car and team, it's impossible to say the likes of Kubica, Rosberg or Vettel would have done it worse than him. Perhaps they would have won the Championship. Why not?

And please LH didnt outclass FA. Wihout the Hungary incident (to say just one) FA would have probably finished with more points at the end of the season.

Michal fom Poland, Madrid,

Fernando is the best

John, London, England

Fernando has improved your car, now Alonso goes away of MClaren. That will happen? "British ungrateful"

Pedro, Badajoz, España

First of all, congratulationsKIMI!!!!!!
Secondly, Congratulations FERNANDO, hoping this is your first and last year in McClaren. You are the best mainly after saying that Kimi had been a deserved winner.
Thirdly, HAMILTON U R A LOSER!!!!!!!!
Finally, We are still waiting for Hamilton´s congratulation to Kimi, Pride is not a good adviser darling!

Brittons try memorizing this: FERNANDO ERES EL MEJOR, PUXA FERNANDO!!!!

delhi, Oviedo, Spain

I can't stop having fun seeing what happenned with your English RooKOie, ha ha ha.
Don't be afraid Edward Gorman, next year Miserable Alonso will be World Champion another time.
And Ron Dennis? Will see him in next Lost chapter?
Ha ha ha
Congratulations for your void and 'objective' review of 2007 F1 Championship

Carlos, Barcelona Spain, Spain

The loser was Hamilton, because he was the only who has the championship in his hand, and he losed it.

Fran, Barcelona, spain

Ed: "miserable iberian".I'm sure you could have said "unhappy" or something like that. Oh,Yes,unhappy at McLaren,where he was cheated and sabotaged along the season. .It's obvious that they already had a rider(LH),and a good one though rookie,they only needed another pilot to implement the car as Alonso really did.
Do you think Hamilton is a winner?He won nothing at all.
He was too ambitious to wait another season and learning a lot from Alonso,an experienced, not a rookie.Driving a F1 car on the track is quite different to the simulator or the play.He is not alone and must master the situation.Now,if Alonso leaves
McLaren,we shall see next season how McLaren's car performs and Hamilton's place.
Alonso found an uncompetitive car at Renault and made it competitive(as he did with McLaren's),winning TWO consecutive championships fighting against SHUMACHER.
"...paid him handsomely..."Toyota offered him 165M euros
for three seasons.,what McLaren paid has been a real bargain.
.

RAFAEL, Oviedo, Spain

Leaving aside the witty use of "miserable" there, was Alonso feeling miserable? You bet! If you believe him (and, at times, RD also), he was racing against his own team and against questionable FIA decissions (such as in Hungary). Should we factor in just on-track results (that is, a more than likely win by FA in Hungary, had he not been outrageously penalized) it would have been extremely difficult to describe Alonso as a loser this past season, don't you think?

Apples with apples. Hamilton has been a very succesful rookie. No doubt about it. Now, how many rookies had these many advantages (grooming ad nauseam, most competitive car, a world champion as a teammate , a country--not mentioning its raucous media--behind him...) in their debut? Can you imagine Hamilton racing for Toyota, Toro Rosso, Spyker or the like? Would had he been equally successful? I seriously doubt it.

Cincinnati Kid, Cincinnati, OH, USA

Loser is the one who lose something. And who has lost most this year?

Ron: Two championship , then he is the biggest looser
Hamilton: A championship with 17 point advantage with 20 left, them he is another big looser
Alonso: Previous world champion. He has lost the title. Loser, but nobody expected him to win at the biggining. so , he should no be that desappointed. ( A small loser)

Whatever else you want to argue is pointless.

Guillermo Vicente, Dublin, Ireland

Lewis the best rookie? He started in one of the best teams and he had as a teammate a champion, and this champion taught hamilton all the things that th rookie knows. But, who is the youngest champion? Who ended with the Shumacher's age? Who had the same points that lewis had, with his team and the FIA (remember the race in hungary, without this penalty the winner would be alonso) aginst him? Hamilton a winner? a driver who pressed the "pit lane speed contolled" because he was too nervous? This is a champion? Alonso is a champion, and Kimi too, but Hamilton thougth that he was a champion but no. And please, now don´t say that he is the champion because he is a rookie, no , he has too many things for learn, one of them is humbleness. And, before Alonso Mclaren was trying to end 5th, Fernando made Mclaren a chmpion team, but they wasted this for gave the title to Lewis, but Oh! surprise! he wasn´t able to bear it.

Mathew, Santiago, Spain

eddie eddie, you has just cover yourself with your own words.

pablo, Barreda-Cantabria, Spain

"and one very miserable Iberian". This journalist definitely shows his true colors for writing this controversial article, and for sure this article has been posted all around Spain and South America. I belive in freedom of speech but always with moderation and respect to the others.

Alejandro, Miami Beach, USA

This "miserable iberian" has won twice the world whampionship, how many times winned it any other Mclaren driver in last 10 years?
Is really a pilot problem, why Kimmi hadn't won any with McLaren?
I hope Alonso will race next year in other team, Renault or even spaiker, if it's needed.

Where is the honor in lost both champioship?

Juan, Pucela, SPAIN

Oh my god!. The best race for Fernando will be running far away, so so far away from all those "miserable losers".

fernando, Alcoy,

Is Hamilton a winner? It is a pathetic loser and weeping. A child who has taken advantage of the expertise of Alonso at the time of making the adjustments of the cars and believed to be the king of the world until it has demonstrated what it is, a complete novice when everything depends on him, fails miserably . Because that's you dont't say, the sorry spectacle that gave in Brazil.

And, frankly, how you love that Alonso was British?

Ana, Barcelona,

This is so silly. Any driver who is told, "listen, would you like to be in a position where you have to finish fourth in the last two races to become world champion, with a car that at worst can finish fourth" would say "yes" without hesitation. Hamilton became greedy, wanted to win everything, and ended up in the gravel pushing the worng buttons. That sounds like a big loser to me.

I do admit he is very good and might win the WDC at some point, but he simply lacked experience. That experience that you get driving a Minardi or a Sauber and starting in the bottom of the grid.

Pau, Barcelona,

Don't you just love that "drink and drive" image?

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano

Yous guys are incredible, you believe your own fables. Youe precious new comer will be nothing without the edge that Alonso brought to the team this year. But please, let´s recall, wasn´t it Ron Dennis who said "the race was against Alonso and not Kimi", very well managed Ron! as for your hero (with no titles) remind mclaren to take the buttons out of sight next year. It´s OK you can still kidd yourselves, Alonso is a hirrible driver and a very bad team mate, we see how competive is your car next year...without alonso.

Alex, Las Palmas, Spain

These comments are generally more entertaining than the articles they're tagged to so thank you for all involved with the flag waving and nation bashing this season as it has kept the quiet moments between races anything but.
I have to say that on the whole I agree with this article but rather than "winners" and "losers" it should be "who gained the most" and "who lost more than expected"
LH became a household name so there should be no denying he has gained a huge amount regardless of whether you love him or love to hate him and his rapid rise to fame. FA produced so much for MC but before the season started few would have thought he would have to battle so much with the team. He didn't do this with the poise of a two times champion so his image has been tarnished by his own hubris.
KR was focused throughout the year but was overshadowed by all the controversy unfortunately
The only winners were the fans - we had the most entertaining F1 season in years both on and off the track

CB, Tokyo, Japan

Fernando Alonso emerges as a loser because he was unable to make up for the 5-place grid penalty imposed by the FIA, who take advantage of every excuse they can make up to nail the Spanish driver.

However, the 'unhappy Spaniard' has the inner satisfaction of having prompted Lewis Hamilton's final SJ (ask Mark Webber for the meaning), with the invaluable assistance of the many hours spent practising on the PlayStation, hitting the "Reset" button whenever he didn't like the way a race was going (Interlagos, of course).

If Alonso remains at McLaren, I would surely expect Ron Dennis to again make the mistake of 'racing Fernando'. Mr. Equality does not seem to be the type to learn from his errors.

Hamilton, on the other hand, steps forward every time he goofs off and has the honesty to admit his mistakes. This mark of character saves him from being a full loser despite having been the FIA's Designated One and having failed to take the title earmarked for him by Uncle Bernie.

Michel Angstadt, Serranillos del Valle, (Madrid) Spain

Alonso 2 - Hamilton+Ron+Father :)+FIA (Hungary, safety car, tyres..... ) 0

Hamilton winner? hahahahahaha :)
Alonso loser ? hahahahaha (remember Hungary?) hahahaha

Congratulations Hamilton
Congratulations Ron Dennis
Congratulations McLaren

Spain is a feast

El Justo, Santander, Spain

Hamilton in the winners group?
This guy has lost the title in the most stupid way in the last 25 years at least.
Gorman, you are a poor guy. It looks like the one you support needs to do very little to make you happy.
Its OK you enjoy being the first of the losers

Peter, Madrid,

go Hamilton!
denis mistake taken alonso to mclaren
mclaren th best!

gabriel, madrid, españa

Briatore is quoted in The Sun saying that: “In the last races they (Mclaren) should have left Alonso out.......If they had put a reserve in his place, Hamilton would have won without any problem.”

Well stated. Ron might have had the idea in mind but dare not put it in practice, for fear of reprisal and possibly reprimand from Mosely. In an ordinary workplace, Alonso would have had to go. Plain & simple.

lbt, stockholm, sweden

Kimi is the true champ!!! And Hamilton certainly had a fantastic season and is supremely talented, but how can anyone say he beat Fernando? They finished with the same amount of wins and points!!!

Mikko, Helsinki, Finland

Ed,

It's fine to read your obviously pro-Halmilton season summary. However, don't you think that is unnecessary to write how well Hamilton will do next year and how bad will Fernando end up? I'd rather wait your article in 12 months time.
The point is that Mercedes, Vodafone and Santander want Fernando to stay in McLaren and following your strategic thinking you could deduct that Fernando wants to win next year championship. I'm afarid uncle Ron will disappoint you in a couple of weeks.

Alberto Sabate, Barcelona, Catalonia

Sure Lewis has won something this year: lots of enemies among the F1 drivers' comunity. He has had to show his true face to steal the title, and now he is exposed; alone with the british press and a loser team.
Enjoy it.

Pedro, Pamplona, Spain

Definitively I was wrong about the english sportmanship. The whole year backing hamilton and at least the bad guy is Alonso just when the "great champion of all over the centuries and for ever and ever" press the wrong button (This word remember me the name of a "great english champion" too). I'm afraid that without the spaniard in the team your virtual champion will be not so fast. Better buy Hamilton the championship and you will finish before and everybody will rest in peace.

jose manuel, madrid, españa

FIA should give Hamilton the fifth race position! Mercedes are the best F1 engine (and not only in F1). When Mercedes copied the Ferrari there was no real malice in this, it was obviously just a simple prank.

Sigfried Kugelfringen, Oberpfaffenhoffen, Germany

The really big issue for Mclaren is whether Lewis Hamilton will be able to provide the car development skills that Alonso is said to have. Its difficult to believe that Mclaren would have performed so well this season without Alonso's input - they didn't do at all well the previous season when Raikkonen was clearly the number 1 driver.
For all his undoubted racing skills, can Hamilton (or whoever replaces Alonso) plug that very important gap? Let us hope so.
Difficult place for Ron Dennis to be in. He needs a driver with the 'tweaking' instinct which Alonso has in spades but who won't mind playing second fiddle to LH which will be the perception of anyone going to Mclaren.
Its actually a very great shame that Alonso's time at Mclaren is going to end so soon and in such a fashion. RD may yet rue the days he chose to favour young Lewis over Fernando - and it seems he did in small but significant ways (I'm saying this as a British fan).

oscar, reading, uk

Hamilton has done well for himself, however his greatest ability has been to build a huge relationship with the McLaren team before even stepping into an F1 car. Therefore when he starts his rookie season he is already a top of the field team. How many other drivers have had that chance?
Nico Rosberg proved himself well in his first race, however his team quickly fell behind. This is where Hamilton has the advantage of a team in which Alonso has been developing a car.
Neither must we forget the hours which Hamilton has spend on the simulator. This will be why his driving is so good but will also account for his inability to cope with real pressure. He can win races but has not yet the experience to win the championship.

John Jowitt, Uxbridge, England

2 chances to win it and both chances blown. Hamilton, and us believed the hype from the likes of Sterling Moss (who?), and that now retired paragon of impartial F1 reporting, Murray Walker - who couldn't bring himself to use Schumaker's first name, mostly referring to him as the 'German' when he was commentating and wetting his pants with excitement when Damen or some other English mediocrity did anything approaching the level of F1 driving skills.

Ferrari and Kimi Raikonnan are the deserverd winners.

The biggest loser is Mclaren and through his management of Alonso, Alonso himself

melaragni, London, UK

Sure Ed,

LH feels like a winner... best rooky ever!! what a title!

I believe that your real opinion is that the only winners this year have been Ferrari and Kimi (and maybe FM as he has extended his contract with Ferrari which means more future opportunities to become a champion).

No member of McLaren team has won this year. RD, LH and FA... obviously no the best combination in a team... all of them wanted the whole cake for themselves... and at the end none of them received even a little peace. we will see whether, now that the championship is finished, they are able to add a bit of rationality to their relationship and just separate. that´s the best can happen.

Anton , donosti, spain

le's see how hamilton manage next year. I hope it will be without alonso's telemetrics and expertice.

i'll bet hamilton wiil not be even fourth

PACO, huelva, spain

Anyone who thinks that Hamilton is not the only one and final responsible to loose the title, please, raise your hand...
Anyone who thinks that McLaren (or Dennis) can win a title without knowing how to handle a team, please, raise your hand...
Anyone who thinks that the real blame or responsible for McLaren disaster is Alonso, raise your hand...
Anyone???? really???

Carlos, Madrid, Spain

I am sorry dear Brits.. Ferrari wins also this time.
This proves the fact that you guys can compete with italians in a lot of matters, but not on Formula 1 and certainly not on football. Forgot, say ciao to your EU 2008 qualification...
Next time you can spy Marcello Lippi, and maybe you'll actually win something :)

Davide, London, UK

I never liked Alonso until this year. Thanks to the british tabloids like "The Times" I am Alonso's fan #1.
Thanks!

Next year's Mclaren drivers:
#1 Lewis Hamilton
#2 his father

Jose, San Francisco, USA

Hahahahaha, Hamilton winner? hahahahaha. Alonso is a world champion (twice), who is Hamilton? hahahahaha. Good joke Ed, congratulations to you and the whole GB for your great sportsmen (sic) Hamilton and Dennis: True winners of the season.

P.D. Hahahaha, sorry, I just can't stop laughing, hahaha. Lewis DON'T PUSH THE BUTTON, HAHAHAHAHA...

Perico, La Felguera, Asturias

You must be kidding!!

Winner: Raikkonen & Ferrari

Looser: McLaren (the whole team)

That's a fact, not an opinion.

Salva, Valencia,

If we agree that F-1 is nowadays based on business standards more than in sport rules then I must say that from Mercedes point of view there is a man who has done a very poor job: Ron Dennis. He has been able to damage the image of Mercedes as a company around the world. What will sponsors think of his performance?:
- He is head of a team who has been fined 100.000.000 after cheating.
- He is head of a "team" in which the drivers have argued between themselves all along the season.
- He decided to support his "rookie" driver over Alonso, and Hamilton lost a 26 point advantage and finally the championship after being unable to stand the pressure.
- His decisions during races have worked against the team interests (remember China).
EVERYTHING HAS GONE WRONG, SHOULDN'T HE BE FIRED???

Lothar, München, Deutscheland

you should have listed ferrari as a winner; or do you think that the perennial favouritism shown towards them means that it's not even worth mentioning? in a fair world, ferrari and mcclaren would both have been excluded from the championship (and I mean prevented from racing, not just deprived of any points).

and ron dennis is somewhere in between. his strategy of equality was commendable, although his tactics (and man-management) were often suspect. keeping hamilton out too long on those tyres in china was the killer, not hamilton's butterfingers in the finale. it's a constructors' championship and mcclaren would have been champion.

f1 itself has lost out because it's so obviously not a real sporting venture, but rather a battle of finances and politics. it's one (short) step from wrestling.

the biggest losers, though, were surely the whining spaniards who have contributed their drivel to the times over the season. :0)

jem, london, uk

Nice Spanish British war going on here in the comments, perhaps everyone should agree that this year the sport was a loser as a whole given the spy row. tarnished a whole season.....I don't think the Alonso versus Hamilton argument matters this year, two great drivers, give lewis a couple of seasons and he will be same as Alonso in terms of behavior, they all turn once they believe their own press.

Tony, London, UK

Unbelievable!!! Hamilton, a winner? you must be all mad....

Javier Roland, Pamplona,

"He may pay a heavy price if he leaves and ends up in what could be an uncompetitive car at Renault."???? Is that what you really think? as competitive as the car McLaren has given him lately so he couldn't be faster that his team mate in the Q3? Have you seen any of the races this year?
With a car not as fast as the Ferraris (of course not sabotaged by his team either) Alonso won two championships. Hamilton made mistakes in the last two races that cost him the title. Again, have you seen any F1 this last three years?

F1 fans in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

As many events in history, only time will tell who is who. Alonso already has a place in F1 history, Hamilton still has a lot to prove; he has a great year, but thanks to a great car. Had he been driving Renault this year, would he have done any better than Kovalanien? Alonso went to Renault and made them x2 World champions, he left and they completely disappeared (Why do you think Briatore wants him back so badly?). Alonso went to Mclaren and after they had not won a single race the previous year, they "should" have occupied 1st & 2nd position and been constructor champions for 2007. What will happen when Alonso leaves? What I am trying to say is that F1 is more and more about the car and not so much about the drivers. Alonso seems to have a natural talent for transmitting to his engineers necessary modifications to improve the car, just like Schumacher did, that is probably his best quality and he seems to take that to his new teams (and takes it away when he leaves)....

Miguel, Madrid, Spain

...Remember most pilots driving next to Schumacher seemed to be just as good as him (i.e.-Barichello), but once they left his team, they suddenly became irrelevant and had difficulty even reaching top 5 positions. How fast and how reliable will Mclaren´s car be next year without Alonso´s input? If it is anything like 2006 we will rapidly stop talking about Hamilton and probably still continue talking about Alonso VS (Raikkonen, Schumacher, Hamilton, next?)....only time will tell.

Miguel, Madrid, Spain

1) Raikonnen 110 p
2-3)Alonso and Hamilton 109 p
4) Massa 94 p

All the first 4 pilots drive a Ferrari.
So Ferrari is the real winner.

Sara, Milano,

"But Hamilton is the most successful rookie in history by a country mile" Why? He only won four races, the same number as Jacques Villeneuve during his rookie season. And Villeneuve took the title down to the final race too.

Andrew, Milton Keynes,

This article expresses pretty well the Eccleston´s official view. Congratulations to the authors for his high sense of independence!!!

gon, Oaxaca, Mexico

Dear Spanish fellows, the word "miserable" in english means mainly "Sad, unhappy". Nothing to do with the spanish word "miserable" ("despicable", "miser", "scoundrel"). This is a clear case of "lost in translation", I'm afraid.

Joseote, Sevilla, Spain

Hamilton is the wiinner because he started the season with nothing - and ended it with a far improved reputation and massive credibility (ie race wins)..
Alonso is the loser because he started the season with everything inclusing the reputation of a world champion and the expection that he would retain that title - yet he has lost both of those.

Richard, Berkhamsted, Herts

I believe there is just one winner: Ferrari as a team and one looser: McLaren as a team.
Raikkonen and Massa were absolutely fantastic, specially in the way they dealt with each other. Credit to both of them but also to Ferrari for creating the right atmosphere in the team.
Hamilton has been fantastic apart for the last two races; he made errors then like the rookie he is...if he had done the same at the beginning noone would have noticed; give the kid some time, he will get there eventually.
To say that Alonso is a looser is unfair; he helped develop an unperforming McLaren and put it back to the top...the english need to give him at least some credit. He then raced a few good races but the atmosphere in Ron Dennis team probably would have depressed even Schumacker. I hope he recovers next year, specially because he is not such a bad person.
McLaren and Ron Dennis have got verything wrong; if they had decided on one driver at the end, the result would be different; sad but true

Andrea, Genova, Italy

I agree wiht Brian:
Winner: Raikonen (2 years in Mclaren 0 titles, 1 year in Ferrari 1 title)
Looser Dennis (great car, 2 times world champion FA, best rookie in history LH= 0 Titles)

Antonio, Segovia, España

Ed,

I think you are wrong with Fernando.

Last year, when Fernando won the WDC, fighting with M.Schumacher, there was no McLaren victory in all the year.

This year, Fernando has helped McLaren to win races and fight by W.Championship, and he has developed McLaren's car, yes Hamilton's car, too.

I didn't see McLaren helping Alonso to win.

"We were racing Fernando" said Dennis, ok, you all (Mclaren) have won Fernando but you all have lost the WDC and the WCC, maybe, if Dennis raced Kimi, there was another result.

Alonso has won Mclaren, that's it.

VICTOR, BARCELONA,

Nothing like the british to turn things around... can you really say Alonso and Hamilton were given equal chances? the same treatment? what about the car for last race with 10 more hp? what about Ron Dennis leadership, did he really give the same support for both of them? I think not.
Hamilton is proving he's a great pilot and his rivalry with Alonso will be one to follow and we all hope, the stuff of legends. But the only real winner this year has to the underdog Raikonen and the one true big loser is Ron Dennis.

Nuno Reigoto, Porto, Portugal

Loosing a 17pts gap in two races = winner
Racing against your own team, finishing 1 pt from the title and having 2 WDC already earned = looser

Best rookie in history? maybe. Jacques Villeneuve finished 2nd, won 4 races, had 11 podiums in 16 races
Lewis Hamilton had the same in 18 races. Obviously, new points system benefits Hamilton (Villeneuve would have finished with 90pts in 16 races)
SO (stats comparaison) :
wins:
LH 22.2% / JV 25%
podiums :
LH : 66.6% / JV 68.8%
points per race (2007 pts system) :
LH : 6.05 / JV 5.66
points per race (old points system) :
LH : 4.72 / JV 4.88
1st race :
Lewis 4th on the grid, finishes 3rd
JV pole position, finishes 2nd (due to an oil pressure failure when he was leading the race)

We could argue that he´s the best rookie ever, as JV is the only one who can be compared to Hamilton as they are the 2 only drivers in history who started their carrer with the best car of the paddock.

Javier, Madrid,

In Brasil, I only saw happy ( with smile) to Kimi, Alonso and Ferrari team.
Is Lewis a winner? Are you sure? You don't believe it but We understand then your readers are Lewis fans.
I agrre with you about Ron. In my country He would be a unemployed person.

Angel Lago Villar, Sevilla, Spain

WINNER -> Kimi Raikkonen
1st LOSER -> Lewis Hamilton
2nd LOSER -> Fernando Alonso
3rd LOSER -> Felipe Massa
...
kinda easy, isn't it?

19334528th LOSER :(, Seville, Spain

You spanish dont take losing very well do you? try accepting defeat graciously and congratulate kimi.

John, London,

Sorry Brits, the game is over! Italy wins

Comments will not give you back the World Championship

Alex, Torino, Spain

British press why you keep defending Hamilton at all cost (are you serious saying that he is a winner after giving away 26 points from Raikonen?) and why you need to be harmering Alonso?...you should be proud that a world class was driving your car (50% of it)...

Hamilton is a fantastic driver, and perhaps the best rookie driver ever of F1 car.

McLaren was batlling many races on the 8th and 9th position just last year...perhaps Alonse has helped your AngloGerman team to develop a competitive car?...or was Dennis himself,..."the battle today was not against Kimi but against Alonso"...that s a great flavour of impartiality and only happened few weeks ago in China!. If Alonso was an English driver and Dennis a Spanish manager...what would the English press will say?

Kimi has just eaten the pieces of glory that was left by Dennis and company.

Alonso you are a great champion!!

A. Blasco, Maynooth, Ireland

You are very funny: Hamilton winner and Alonso loser. Have you seen the race? It is incredible. You should critize the performance of both drivers in the same way, but the behaviour of Hamilton in the most important races wasn't too good.
Please, more impartiality and less sensationalism. The main loser is Ron Dennis.
Bye.

PCL, Vigo, Spain

Ed,

Hamilton failed to score four points in two races (and therefore, the championship) in a car that could have arrived third on auto pilot. I would hardly classify that as a winning outcome. And I believe that most sports fans will agree that winning is about FINISHING first.

You believe that Hamilton can only perform better next year. Well, as you say, it depends on the car being up to it. And this is where Alonso comes in. It has been argued that Alonso's expertise in tunning the car is what made the difference for McClaren. That's a fair claim that no journalist seems to be willing to discuss. Perhaps you could start that debate. In any case, it seems to me that BMW, Toyota, Renault, Red Bull and even Honda can only do better next year too.

I believe we haven't seen the real Hamilton yet. And I believe the real one is not that good. It's more like Shanghai or Interlagos Hamilton.

And, oh, Ferrari won it all. It must be a winner then.

Ernst, Zurich.

Ernst, Zurich, Switzerland

Winner:
+ Kimi Raikkonen

Loser:
- McLaren-Mercedes
- Ron Dennis
- Norbert Haug
- Ed Gorman and all other Fanatics that are unable to accept things as they are.

Neutral:
For Fernando Alonso it could have come harder, but at the end, a lot of experts have said what all but the english media know before: Mr Ron Dennis had bet on the wrong horse.

Summarizing:
If he wants to remain credible in some way, Ron Dennis should accept the result of his dissatrous management and resign and/or retire from F1.
He was the THE OVERALL LOSER OF F1-Season 2007

DisasterArea, Madrid, Spain

Well James from milan-
Here is one Brit who is delighted that Kimi won - I have been a long time fan and deplore the British media's one- sided coverage this season. No-one can take Hamilton's achievments away, but Maclaren seem to be falling apart-
I thought at the start of the season that perhaps Kimi had made a mistake moving to Ferrari, and perhaps if they had got the car right earlier, Lewis would not have had such a blinding start- but they came right eventually with the results we have seen.
To give Lewis his due he has said that he doesnot want the championship due to some technical infringement, but only far and square on the race track.

Lily, Truro,

"But he could not handle the fact that Hamilton was often quicker than him and being given an equal chance"
Where was that "equal chance"? Because if the team don't let you to choose the strategy, you're lost.

"No drivers’ title, no constructors’ title..."
And 50.000 pounds to pay, don't forget.

"... and one very miserable Iberian"
Insults help to explain things better, of course.

Carlos, Madrid,

Has ever a rookie had such a competitive car as Hamilton did in his first year? It's not quite the same to start the season in a McClaren than in a Minardi, don't you think?

Andy, Brighton, UK

I'm sorry but there is only one winner... Kimi Raikkonen.

Every other argument regarding the Drivers' Championship is moot. Kimi won and second place is just a nice way of saying first loser...

Brian, Los Angeles, USA/CA

It is amazing how britons can't take it: Alonso, with a clearly partial team, has won exactly SAME points that Hamilton. Alonso a loser???. Let's see how Hamilton works ALONE in the 2008 car. Then we will see WHO is the loser.
And, yes, Spaniards were happy because Hamilton was unable to end his title steal. Button is tens of times a better pilot in all respects.

JVG, Valencia, SPAIN

From my point of view:
Looser:
Alonso, Hamilton, Dennis(McLaren) and Massa
winner:
Raikkonen
Ferrari

It is very heavy said "miserable" to British´s hope Button. What are you going to say next about Hamilton it he doesn´t win the championship?

Jose P., Leicester, UK

Hamilton drive thinking about his pocket, he don´t drive with heart like Senna or Alonso. Cause of this, he will never be world champion, sorry. now he is sad cause he has lost millions.

martin, la coruna, Spain

This season has been a complete farce . There are no winners ! Any sane bystander could tell you as much .
My congratulations go to Mr M Schumacher ... for leaving the sport before it became such a waste of time and money .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

It is pure bliss to see you spaniards driven insane by the fact that HAMILTON IS THE VERY BEST, THE TRUE STAR, while your pathetic, moaning-fernando is simply HISTORY!
Hopefully moaning-fernando will be Kimi's spare wheel next year. What a lark.
Please, write more of the same rubbish! Keep on showing your pain! It is ever so entertaining!

Anna, Visby, Sweden

Fernando Alonso is a WINNER. After been treated in a complete irregular way by Ron Dennis / McLaren all the championship he has shown everybody that, even when his own team was against him he could finish thechampionship in third place. Hamilton is a LOSER as it has been shown in the last few steps of the championship. He might be a fast driver but he does not have what is necessary for being a champion. Whenever he feels under pression he makes stupid and amateur mistakes which have led his team to the doom they are now. Ron Dennis is a LOSER. He did not know where to trust in a two world championship because e wanted to show all the world that his 'son' could beat him. The result Hamilton has paid him losing the title in two last races.

Patricia, Dublin, Ireland

hahahahahaha,HAmilton winner!!!??

romario, madrid, spain

If Hamilton is a loser, God help the rest of us.

ian dale, london, uk

pure and distilled British impartiality

surely another miserable spaniard, madrid, spain

If you stood in a field of sheep you'd hear less bleating than has come from Spain since Sunday.

J.Wilkes, Gloucester,

hamilton is a LOSER!!!

javier, london,

How can you consider Hamilton as a winner this season?

I would change places, Hamilton loser, Alonso winner. Why? Alonso has had everything and everybody against him in his team. Everybody wishing him to lose the championship not showing him any respect and helping as much they can Hamilton, and when he was about to get it the rookie failed not once but twice. Who do you think is happier at the end of this season with all this facts?

Sandra, Valencia, Spain

I understand beeing patriotic but does any British give some credit to Ferrari? Bla bla bla about the rules...if rules would have been applied McLren would have been banned for 2 championship, so please mates stop finding pathetic excuses. Next year without Alonso'car development and Ferrari industrial secrets let see how McLaren will perform, maybe like it did for the past sesons being unreliable and forcing Kimi to be the LOOSER!
Best regards.

James, Milan, Italy

British Press (not Great Britain) is the real loser of this championship, you can imaging the big smile of everybody in Spain after the conclusion of this crazy championship. Alonso 2-Britis Press 0. Who is the loser then?

hamilton made a huge mistake pressing the bottom for the pit lane and reducin the speed to 80 Km/H, YOU CAN READ THAT in the Spanish newspapers

jesus, granada, spain

alonso and lewis the same chance?? clearly not. Who's car was it that was lift up by a crane and put back on track, Lewis' (German GP, something clearly illegal). Not to mention Lewis' strange manouvers in the rain, the use of extra tyres and more obvious the team's reaction when Fernando won a race and when Lewis got a pole position.
not to forget Ron's words "we are not racing against kimi, we are racing against ALonso".
dear Ed you clearly have a very selective memory,

jorge, madrid, spain

Hamilton a winner !!??? LOL LOL LOL

It is THE BEST JOKE I have ever heard !!! xD

The winner who lose it all with a rookie mistake pushing the Pit Lane Speed limitation bottom.

I agree that HE IS the WINNER OF THE LOSERS, as there isn't a worst loser than him this season.

Mike, Seville, Spain

How about this for a brilliant result for alonso. He goes to Ferrari as number 2 to Kimi. After all, he should expect and accept that a world champion deserves preferential treatment - that's his own philosophy. Or should we expect more double standards from him? Ferrari had better prepare theselves for all his carping if he is to go there but it would be great to see alonso in the slipstream of the world champion. In the same car. Or would he (and the rest of Spain) suddenly accept equality and fairness amongst drivers?

Nimbus, Hong Kong,

Spanish fans are really stupid to think that Alonso made no mistakes this year. He has arguably won the title of the most hated driver of 2007. I agree that McLaren and Ron Dennis screwed up, but crybaby Alonso is to blame too.

Ashwin, Bristol, England

You're kidding. Lewis Hamilton ruined everything and you say he is a winner and you're praising him, when he has proved that still hasn't got what is needed to be a champion. He is a very fast driver, thank you very much. If he would have been more humble and would have set himself to learn from the world champion instead of poisoning everything, McLaren would now have the world champion, the second classified and would be constructors world champion too. And probably they would have 50 million pounds more at the bank as well.

Think about it, Ed.

Gabriel Alonso, Alcorcón. Madrid, Spain

Ed, i really do not understand your view. If Alonso is a loser, what is Hamilton? Let me remind you that Hamilton had a 17 point lead over Raikonnen and 12 over Alonso before the China Gran Prix. And he has lost the Championship. You can say that he is a rookie, that he is only 22 or that he is going to be a champion... You can say whatever you want... But the numbers don`t lie. The first loser of this season is Hamilton, then Alonso and McLaren.

Jorge, Madrid, Spain

Hello! I don´t agree with Fernando Alonso is a loser: I think that he knew that he couldn´t win.
Do you really think than Hamilton is a winner?

Charo, A Coruña, Spain

Let's all agree that F1 racing has become boring especially with the cars equipped with so much electronics that even a 'monkey' can drive these cars. The only interest F1 has these days are the intrigues, vendettas amogst the governing body and the teams.
Lets throw out all the electronics and get back to a car that a 'monkey' cannot drive.

Louis Blanc, Liverpool, UK

Hamilton a winner????!!!!!...What has he won??? Nothing. He´s been given the best opportunities and the result has been: "nothing". If Mclaren had not considered Alonso the enemy to defeat he would have won the championship for McLaren weeks ago. Alonso and Hamilton are both this year lossers, and we have to be greatful for this to Ron Denis. Sometimes a little bit of self-criticism works.

Patricia, Madrid,

Remember boys:CHINA,CHINA,CHINA!!! Who is a loser? If I do that in my job, They throw me to the street immediately. Mr Hamilton, Are you a W-I-N-N-E-R? Smile, bye bye.

Scot_Somoughty, london, england

Ed Gorman, how come that you got this job?, you just don't want to see the truth.
Alonso is the winner, for the whole season Ron Dannis and the whole team sabotaged him, "they were trying to invent a English champion".
Don't complain now.....!

Alberto, Miami, Florida, U.S.A.

Fernando Alonso can be an intemperate conducted pilot or whatever. But if He would have been #1 pilot of McLaren, the Championship would be on McLren hands right now. He would be the Champion anyway if LH wouldn´t have played dirty in Hungaroring, where an extra lap was given to FA, cause LH have had this asset in previous circuits. Without this unfair sanction against his own team provided by LH, McLaren would have the Championship. But, and this is the shaming side, they wouldn´t be happy at all, because they wanted a Championship by LH, and not by FA. So, in the end, everyone got what they deserve. LH got too much pressure than he could stand (He said, he pressed the start button in the wheel by error when his car went slow, so Dennis can say whatever he wants); Dennis got no Championship, nor constructor, nor pilot one; And FA... well, I hope He will get a new wheel next season, and if it is a Renault, He will improve the new car as well as he did with McLaren this season. Be sure.

Dany, Palencia, Spain

I think we had to admit (much as I like KR) that 2 of those wins were essentially gifted to him from Massa.

Nick Ambrose, Los Angeles, USA

I definitely do not agree that Alonso and Hamilton were given the same opportuinities: while they were both running for championship Ron Dennis choose Hamilton: he protected him in any way (you can see it also in the last race , after Hamilton amitted he touched the wrong button and sent his car into neutral)
He justified him many times and has come to say "we will work to make Lewin win , not Alonso"..
But he forgot Alonso was the two times world champion , while Hamilton is just a promising kid, nothing more as of today.
Dennis obsession to win with an english driver led him to disaster.

Frank, Milan, Italy

Hamilton a winner? For God´s sake... get a gri`on reality. The chump blew it twice when he had the title.... given to him on a platter with favouritisms all year around.

Mosfetus Xixonencus, Bicester, UK

"Raikkonnen pick pocketed the prize". I think not. Whatever the merits of a stunning debut season by Hamilton, aided by the very fast and mostly ultra reliable McLaren, no-one can argue with the stats: KR won 6 grand prix, Hamilton and Alonso, 4 each. History shows it's usually, but not always, the most successful TEAM that wins the drivers championship, not just the most successful driver. Something all those at Ferrari seem to have remembered but Ron Dennis seems to have overlooked.

Colin Whwell, Brisbane, Australia

I suggest Ron Dennis has emerged from the tumult well; affording us an example of integrity and dignity. I suggest he has led well and by principled example. It would have been all too easy for him to become shrill and personal - but he has maintained a steady and poised composure.

Richard Adams, Canberra, Australia

Remove Max Mosley and the favouritism handed to Ferrari year after year and F1 might once more mean Formula 1 instead of Ferrari 1.

Michael Schumacher together with Ferrari was given cart blanche to interpret the regulations how they saw fit, now Ferrari simply cannot get out of the habit of expecting to run everything their way.

Funny how quickly it was ensured that the bending of the rules by Ferrari in the first race of the season was conveniently forgotten about. Where was Mr. Mosley then? Yet as always, Ferrari screamed the loudest when any other team tried anything similar.

F1 is not a sport, it is an advertising campaign.

Ken.H, Harrow,

There are 18 other drivers, up and down pitlane, who could have won the drivers title this year. The only problem they had, was that they weren't driving the McClaren. I truly believe that any one of the 18 could have done as good a job as Hamilton and Alonso, given their equipment and the time to familiarise themselves with it.

In taking nothing away from Hamilton, I would say that he was very fortunate to be driving the best car, by far, in pitlane in 2007. In recent years the McClaren has not always been the best and most reliable car, it was this year.

Ferrari had the advantage that their 2007 car was built around the Bridgestone tyres. A well hidden detail was the fact that the tyres used by every team were in fact 2006 design. Thus, Ferrari had been able to build their car specifically to suit the tyre design, which they knew was going to be a constant. Bridgestone cited cost as the main reason for using 2006 designed tyres. Was an advantage gained? You bet.

R. P. Dixon., London,