Hamilton Disqualified – Trulli Retain Third Place

This was the story: (All these happened under the safety car period)

The Toyota driven by Jarno Trulli went wide at the second corner Lewis Hamilton overtook him.  The McLaren Team gave an order to Hamilton to allow the Toyota through.

Hamilton obey the team order, allow Trulli to pass.  Hamilton was confused and realized that he need not let him past he should be able to take that position back, if Trulli made a mistake.

The team ask him to hold position and get ready to overtake when the safety car light if off as the KERS is fully charge at that point.

 

When the race end, the FIA steward penalized Trulli for overtaking under the safety car.  They question both the drivers and teams. 
Trulli mentioned: “Lewis slow down and allow me to pass, I have not choice but to pass him”.

 

During the hearing, held approximately one hour after the end of the race, the Stewards and the Race Director questioned Lewis Hamilton and his Team Manager David Ryan specifically about whether there had been an instruction given to Hamilton to allow Trulli to overtake. Both the driver and the Team Manager stated that no such instruction had been given. The Race Director specifically asked Hamilton whether he had consciously allowed Trulli to overtake. Hamilton insisted that he had not done so. 

 

Trulli telling the truth, McLaren and Lewis Hamilton are lying.  They shouldn’t have done that, Hamilton could be at the podium or in worse case a forth place. After all these lies, he and the team were disqualified.

 

"Nonetheless, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team now regrets that it did not do so, accepts the Stewards' decision and will not appeal."

 

The new results (Full Australia GP Result):

1. Jenson Button
2. Rubens Barrichello
3. Jarno Trulli
4. Timo Glock
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Nico Rosberg
7. Sebastien Buemi
8. Sebastien Bourdais

Albert Park – Penalty Causing Race Result Changed

Updates: Trulli retain third place, Hamilton and McLaren disqualified

 

The celebration lasted less than a day.

Jarno Trulli was penalized by the steward due to the overtaking under the safety car.

I saw it on the television, before the safety car came out, Lewis Hamilton was third.  After that Hamilton and Trulli’s position switched, I was wondering for awhile.  But this is how Jarno Trulli quoted:

"I can't say how disappointed I am to finish third but have the result questioned," he said. "When the safety car came out towards the end of the race Lewis passed me but soon after he suddenly slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. I thought he had a problem so I overtook him as there was nothing else I could do."

This is very disappointing for Toyota, and Jarno Trulli.  He drove a fantastic race despite starting from the pit.

After applying the penalty of 10 seconds 25 seconds (as it happened within the last five laps), third place stripped from Trulli and dropped to 12th place, the final podium slot was passed down to Lewis Hamilton who starting grid was 18. 

 
Apart from that, Sebastian Vettel was penalized as well for the collision with Robert Kubica.  The clumsy move cause Robert Kubica third place, cause himself a second place and 10-place grid penalty on Malaysia Grand Prix, which will be held on 5th April.

Touched - Robert Kubica on the left, Sebastian Vettel on the right

All decided on the last corner of the last lap of the last race

Lewis Hamilton is the champion!

 

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton is the 30th - and youngest-ever - world champion. Lady Luck was on his side after title rival Felipe Massa dominated at Interlagos. The Brazilian crossed the line first after a pluperfect performance - and seemed to have achieved the impossible - as Hamilton trailed in sixth.

Rain in the closing stages had prompted the first five - Massa, Renault’s Fernando Alonso, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, Hamilton and Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel - to pit for wet tyres. Crucially, Timo Glock, running sixth for Toyota, did not.

Massa, Alonso and Raikkonen resumed in first to third places, but Hamilton and Vettel fell behind Glock. That was still good enough for Hamilton. But then, under pressure on the 70th lap, he made a crucial mistake and slid wide. It was all Vettel needed and the Toro Rosso driver pushed through to snatch away the fifth place that Hamilton needed to become champion.

 

More...

Hamilton, Heidfeld, Barrichello dominant in Silverstone

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton gave his adoring fans exactly what they came to see at a sodden Silverstone on Sunday. A brilliant British Grand Prix victory in often treacherous conditions lifted him right back into contention for the world championship, on a day when Kimi Raikkonen failed to shine and Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica were the ones who came home pointless.

The race started on a damp track, with the promise of more rain to come. Hamilton touched wheels with pole-sitting team mate Heikki Kovalainen on lap one at Copse after making a terrific start, and edged ahead of him at Becketts on the fifth lap. Thereafter it was his race to lose, and the most crucial point came when both he and Raikkonen, an apparent threat at this stage, pitted on the 21st lap. But where McLaren gave their man another set of standard wet-weather Bridgestones, Ferrari kept theirs on the same set. Hamilton rocketed away from the red car, and Raikkonen slipped steadily down the order as strong mid-race performances from Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica put BMW Sauber into the frame for podium finishes.

Heavy rain in the middle of the race created further havoc, however, as driver after driver slipped and slid off the road. This was where clever strategic thinking by Ross Brawn at Honda saw the team risk bringing in both Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button for extreme wet tyres on the 35th lap. The Brazilian made great use of them and was able to push up into second place until a late switch back to intermediates. As Heidfeld clung on to a good second place, after making the right call for fresh intermediates at his first stop, Barrichello recovered to a podium finish that was a great boost to the Japanese team.

Behind them, Raikkonen finally fought his way out of a late-race battle with Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Kovalainen to finish fourth.

 

Full report: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/7/8058.html

Hamilton wins the Melbourne race

Source: http://www.formula1.com/

Lewis Hamilton’s win for McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix almost went unnoticed in Albert Park this afternoon - and that tells you just what sort of race it was. The 23 year-old Briton dominated an event characterised by safety car interventions following a series of dramatic incidents that all happened behind him.

Hamilton would build a lead, lose it behind the safety car, build it again, lose it again. You get the picture. But if he was impressive here a year ago, he was even better on Sunday, never losing his composure as he took the lead of the world championship with almost insouciant ease.

If it was a great day for McLaren, it was a disaster for Ferrari. Felipe Massa spun on the first lap and was then involved in an incident with Red Bull’s David Coulthard before retiring, and Kimi Raikkonen, having benefited from the second safety car intervention, slid off the road trying to pass McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen and undid all that work. Then his Ferrari let him down when he was running seventh with three laps to go.

Indeed, McLaren should have had a one-two, but a third safety car intervention following a heavy accident for Toyota’s Timo Glock badly hurt Kovalainen’s chances as he had to pit when everyone had closed up. He dropped way back, was passed by Raikkonen, repassed him, then found himself overtaken by Renault’s Fernando Alonso as the Spaniard overtook both of his rivals in a wonderful move.

More: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/3/7494.html

Melbourne Race Result:

Lewis Hamilton - 2008 season will be easier!

Contrast: Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton expects to have an easier time fighting for the Formula One title this season than in his extraordinary 2007 rookie year.

“Perhaps there is more pressure but I feel there is less,“ the 23-year-old told British reporters during a training workout in the gym at McLaren’s Wokingfactory, 90km south-west of London yesterday.

“Last year I had so much to prove. There was the press asking ‘can he do it or not?’ I’m sure even people in the team were wondering. I was quick in testing but racing is a different thing. People wait for you to fail.

“I think this year is slightly easier. People know how well I can drive. I’m not going into an unknown world.

“I don’t have any doubts that I will do a job this year but that means somethingdifferent now. It means I want to win the world championship.

“Last year Ferrari were ahead by maybe three or four tenths of a second,“he said. “They have a very good car again but now we are in equal cars.

“I thought it was strange that they were not at some of the tests with the other teams and I think Barcelona is a very accurate measure. It will be a lot closer than last time.“ – Reuters

Source: The Sun - 05 March 2008

Interview - Lewis Hamilton

Re-writing history in your rookie year is not the average start to a driver’s Formula One career. And when your first year has been so startlingly good, as the second season looms there are likely to be higher than average expectations.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, however, shrugs off the pressure with a knowing wink. With a year of intense learning under his belt and a car that already looks like a frontrunner at his disposal, Hamilton is looking as confident and unfazed as ever…

Q: Last year you went into the season with the prevailing sentiment of ‘wow, I am in Formula One’. Then you turned into a championship contender. How do you feel ahead of your second season?
Lewis Hamilton: I would say it looks pretty much the same. I still feel like ‘wow, I am a Formula One driver’. It’s still hard to believe that I am going into my second season but I feel more confident than this time last year. The knowledge I gained throughout last year as a Formula One driver has given me greater confidence for the 2008 season.

Q: You lived the ‘zero to hero’ dream last year. How has your life changed? What have been the ups and downs and how do you feel about everyone’s high-flying expectations?
LH: I have always had high expectations in all championships. Obviously, Formula One is on another level and you are in front of millions of people and have a huge team and important sponsors behind you, but from a personal perspective my own goals and expectations of myself are the biggest challenge.

Q: The tests have so far given the impression that the MP4-23 is as strong as its predecessor and that you’ll be starting the season at the front. What are your thoughts on the MP4-23?
LH:Yes, I would agree, we have a good car. We are in a similar position to where we were last year, where we also had very good pace. In testing everybody is doing something different so it’s only when we get to the first race where we will see the real pace of ourselves and our competitors, but I’m confident we will be ready.

Q: Looking at Heikki Kovalainen’s test results over the winter, the situation seems pretty even between the pair of you. How are you getting on with him, now you have worked more closely together?
LH: Heikki and I get on really well. We have known each other for a few years. We are both in our second year of Formula One and both of us want to win races and be world champion and do the best job we can for ourselves and for the team. The chemistry is good and we have a laugh, but at end of day we are competitors as well so we will be fighting hard.

Q: Unless BMW Sauber, Renault and Williams make massive strides, it’s likely we’ll see McLaren and Ferrari fighting for victory in Melbourne. Team strategy could make all the difference. Can you draw any conclusions from your experiences last year?
LH: No. We will have to wait and see.

Q: You have signed a five-year contract with the team. It’s a strong commitment from both sides, so what enticed you to sign for so long?
LH: I think it was just an extension of the longevity we have already got. McLaren has been my home for many years so I was just happy that they wanted me to stay. I am committed to McLaren-Mercedes and I want to repay them for their support and belief in me by delivering a world championship - or two - and so it seemed natural to sign a long-term deal. I strongly believe this is where I need to be to be world champion.

Q: Knowing the strengths - and weaknesses - of your team, and having observed your opponents over the last few weeks, how do you believe the first three flyaway races will unfold?
LH: I am extremely comfortable with our 2008 package and look forward to the first three races. Naturally, we will have further developments throughout the season but I think we have a great car, a great team and a great will to win so it will be interesting to see what develops.

Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/3/7415.html

Hamilton outpace three world champions

Despite a damp start to the day’s running, Hamilton covered 78 laps in the MP4-23

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, and clocking 1m 22.276s beat all three world champions, Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.

Michael Schumacher manage to clock third fastest time 1:22.428, 1 tenth behind Kimi Raikonen second place.

Williams continued to impress, with Kazuki Nakajima taking fourth slot and Nico Rosberg finishing in sixth. The duo covered over 150 laps as they continued to carry out set-up work and engine system checks.

Nick Heidfeld led the BMW Sauber line-up in eighth, with team tester Christian Klien 14th. It was the first time Klien had driven the squad’s F1.08 in dry conditions and he covered 42 laps as he carried out system checks and basic set-up work. Heidfeld, who completed 75 laps, will be joined by team mate Robert Kubica on Tuesday.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso just missed out on making it under the 1m 23s mark and ended the session seventh. Team mate Nelson Piquet Jr, meanwhile, took up 15th spot. The French team ran through a race simulation in the morning before switching to pit-stop practice in the afternoon.

Unofficial Monday times from Barcelona:
1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:22.276
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:22.319
3. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 1:22.428
4. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:22.724
5. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:22.852
6. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.974
7. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:23.021
8. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:23.075
9. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:23.091
10. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:23.115
11. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:23.188
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:23.239
13. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:23.270
14. Christian Klien, BMW Sauber, 1:23.442
15. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:23.609
16. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 1:23.880
17. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:24.660
18. Alexander Wurz, Honda, 1:24.667
19. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:24.826

Detailed report: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7390.html

Hamilton subjected to racist abuse by Spanish fans

MADRID: British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton suffered racist abuse from Spanish fans during testing at the Montmelo circuit in Barcelona, Spanish media reported yesterday.

Reports in a number of papers said the McLaren driver was booed and insulted whenever he made his way from the team motorhome and into the pits on Saturday.

“It is not right the way he is being treated,” McLaren test team manager Indy Lull was quoted as saying.

Marca said that the circuit director asked for fences to be put up around the McLaren paddock and ordered the removal of banners that had been put up opposite the team's base.

Daily La Vanguardia also said the circuit director had reminded fans of their obligations at the venue.

“We would like to make a plea to the fans to behave correctly, no type of offensive behaviour can be tolerated,” circuit director Ramon Pradera was quoted as saying in the newspaper.
Hamilton, who finished runner-up in last year's championship, has become a hate figure in Spain because of his rivalry with former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso who now drives for Renault.

“McLaren have raced and tested on Spanish circuits for many years and everyone connected with the team regards Spain and the Spanish people with great affection, Lewis included,” said a McLaren spokeswoman. – Reuters

Source: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/2/4/sports/20229059

Super License, Super Price Tag

LONDON: Lewis Hamilton will have to pay 228,000 euros (US$335,700) for his licence to race in Formula One this year after forking out just 1,725 euros (US$2,551) in his 2007 rookie season.

Only Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn who beat the McLaren driver to the title by a single
point in the final race, will pay more.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley confirmed on Monday that the governing body had decided to make F1 super-licences far more expensive than in the past.
“We spend a fortune on safety and most of it is for the benefit of the drivers,” Mosley told reporters at a lunch.

Upbeat mood: Rubens Barrichello (right) and Jenson Button posing at the launch of the F1 Honda 2008 car, the RA108, at Brackley, England, yesterday. – AFP“A lot of the people who have otherwise been meeting the bill said ‘Hang on a minute, these drivers are all earning megabucks and we are spending a fortune to try and make sure they are safe.’
“So hence the increase.”

The FIA said the mandatory super-licence, which cost a basic fee of 1,725 euros last year with 456 added on for each point scored in the previous year’s championship, would go up to 10,000 euros with 2,000 extra per point scored.

Hamilton won four races and scored 109 points last season to Raikkonen’s 110.
The cost of his super-licence is likely to be less than a week’s wages however for the 23-year-old Briton who this month agreed a revised five-year contract keeping him at McLaren to the end of 2012.

Newspapers have estimated that F1’s first black driver, who recently moved to Switzerland for tax reasons, will earn at least £10mil a year with significant additional sums in bonuses and from sponsorship.

Mosley said some drivers had written to him pointing out that they, and not the teams, paid for their licences. His response was that he had never imagined anyone else had picked up the tab.
“The thing is, if someone is earning US$30mil or whatever some of them earn, it’s not so bad,” he said.

“If you are down the back end, if you haven’t got a point, it’s 10,000 euros.
“To people earning their kind of money, it’s not a drama. I’d settle for that, if someone said you can have US$20mil if you pay US$250,000 for a licence.”

Mosley said the extra money raised would go “into the FIA coffers” but the governing body would also be spending far more on safety than in the past.

He also moved to reassure Hamilton after the youngster suggested last year, when he was chasing the title with a team already fined US$100mil for a spying controversy, that he might be driven out of the sport by all of the “politics”.

“I think Lewis and everybody else has to recognise that it is a complex sport,” he said.
“We do our best but ... there’s probably between 50 and 100 modifications to each car between each pair of races and we are trying to keep on top of this and make sure nobody does something unfair.

“My advice to Lewis would be put your money in the bank, don’t worry too much about it.

“As long as he keeps driving quick, he’ll be all right.” – Reuters

Hamilton to stay with McLaren until end of 2012 season

McLaren have announced a five-year extension to their contract with star driver Lewis Hamilton. The new agreement, which starts for 2008, will run up to and including the 2012 season.

The announcement takes the length of McLaren’s relationship with Hamilton to a total of 15 years (including the earlier carting days), believed to be among the longest running associations between a sportsman and a team in motorsport history.

Detail report: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/1/7276.html

McLaren launch MP4-23 in Stuttgart

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23

McLaren revealed their 2008 challenger on Monday, as the wraps came off the MP4-23 in a special ceremony at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. The car will be raced by Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen this season, and both were present to witness the car’s unveiling.

The car was only completed on Sunday evening and left the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK at around 18:00 GMT, arriving at its destination at around 10:00 on Monday morning - just in time for Hamilton’s 23rd birthday."

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 is the coolest birthday present you can get, well it is for me anyway!” said Hamilton. “To see the car for the first time at such a great place as the Mercedes-Benz museum makes it an even more memorable day.

“I have had the past three weeks off and spent the time training and relaxing with family and friends. I know how much work has been going on in Woking, Brixworth and here in Stuttgart and it is a great looking car.”

More report: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/1/7231.html