Hamilton - What were they thinking ? OMG

[DavidT]

It's not like the team had to be agressive with the strategy, is it ?

[W8PMC]

TBH Dave, i think yesterdays Hamilton result was a total shamble.

Odd how LH can ignore certain Team Orders when the mood takes him, but when his car was so obviously fcuked on it's tyres (Hak all over him) why he did not just radio in, demand new tyres & enter the pits very slowly.

Kinda showed his Rookie side yesterday & deserved to come a cropper. The team IIRC were so confused, they had both drivers tyres in the pitlane as they had no idea what was happening.

Will make Brazil fun, but i feel yesterdays farce was some kind of turning point & i think Hak may nab the title.

[Dippy]

IMO it was Hamilton's decision to stay out, and just like his pointless battle with Raikonnen to avoid being overtaken, a screw-up due to his inexperience and ego.

I agree with Paul (apart from confusing Kakkinen with Raikonnen). Although it actually doesn't really matter does it? This season has, unlike previous ones, had mostly enjoyable races. The championship, both drivers and constructors, is a total farce.

It will be best if Hamilton does not win the championship. It will teach him some humility and make him a better driver.

[tanoga]

Looks like it wasn't Hamilton's decision to stay out, McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh said the team were responsible for Lewis Hamilton's premature exit at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
IMO the mistake Hamilton made was trying to pass the back marker, should have just left him alone.

[derdle]

I feel it was a combination - poor decision making and organising in the pits and LH entering the pits too fast. Dunno whether I can bear watching the last race...it could be too tense. I am still flying the flag for LH ... I'll not get on the topic of Alonso (tehre is anotehr posting about him somewhere!).

[tartan_rob]

I am sorry but I just don;t buy it being McLarens decision. The rear tyres had been de-lamminating for a few laps and he was going backwards. The team should have pulled him on beforehand - or did they try that and did not want further questions being asked about them having lack of control over their drivers...?

He was sandbagging all weekend until the final lap of Q3, which is fine. But for me, if he wins the championship he will be unbareable. I also heard a rumour that if he wins, he is going to pack it all in as he can;t face the hassle and media?

[Dippy]

I know what Whitmarsh said but I don't believe it.

[DavidT]

Hamilton said he knew the fronts were borderline but could not see the rears as his mirrors were fogged. I tend to believe this as you could see they were fooked from 200m away. So for me, the bulk of the blame lies with the team.

Why he attempted to race Raikkonen is a mystery though ?

[MarkB]

It will make the last race of the season all the more interesting but I did hope he'd have it sown up last weekend.

I really hope he wins it, Good Luck to him!

[tartan_rob]

So going back to my original point David, did they call him in but he refused to give up the position? They covered themselves by saying it was there fault - they did not want more of a media frenzy around them not having full control over their drivers?

Drivers are normally very good at coming in if they feel a problem. His back end was all over the place and he was at points several seconds off the pace, surely even if the team did not tell him to come in, he would have gone in to get them to check what was causing him to become several seconds a lap slower with a car that looked like it was running on ice on the rims only...?

[DavidT]

Dunno, seems a bit complex to say he disobeyed orders but its possible.

I'm pretty sure the team wants Hamilton to win the drivers championship and not the younger Spanish fella, so there inability to make a basic decision seems odd, especially when they had the luxury of his points lead to work within.

I can't see Hamilton retiring or leaving McLaren, can anyone else?

[derdle]

Hamilton won't leave the McLaren fold...he's been nurtured from a very young age...and I believe he has been offered a decent package by McLaren for next year (justifiable in my mind).

He doesn't show any of the arrogance of many of the other drivers so 9to me) he seems a decent bloke and well deserving of the championship.

Paul

[DavidT]

Hamilton won't leave the McLaren fold...he's been nurtured from a very young age...and I believe he has been offered a decent package by McLaren for next year (justifiable in my mind).

He doesn't show any of the arrogance of many of the other drivers so 9to me) he seems a decent bloke and well deserving of the championship.

Paul

Well said that man

[jeffw]

Having meet him on three occasions during his rise through the ranks I have to say his is the only modest racing driver I've every spoken too. His is certainly a talent and having seen him race in Karts, F3 & GP2 you can't argue with people like Stirling Moss saying he is possible the greatest ever. I think he will win in Brazil but even if he doesn't it's still been an amazing season for a rookie.

[s4woody]

and if the dolmio man wins he will take great pride in taking that no1 status to another team..along with those eyebrows...