F1 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix

[Bartek S.]

Hamilton: I don't want title on appeal

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton said he wanted to win the Formula One title on the track, not weeks later on appeal.
"It would be wrong," said the 22-year-old Briton, still suffering the effects of a heavy night out after letting the title slip from his grasp by one point in Sunday's season-ending race in Brazil.
"For me, I want to win it on the track," he said. "You want to do it in style, you want to win the race, you want to win battling it out for the lead or something in the race.
"Being promoted after some people have been thrown out is not the way I want to do it."
The rookie and title favourite before Sunday's race, lost out to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen after finishing seventh on a nightmare afternoon at Interlagos.
Raikkonen won the race but the Finn's first title was overshadowed by a stewards' enquiry into the three cars that finished ahead of Hamilton.
McLaren have said they intend to appeal against the stewards' subsequent decision not to penalise Williams' Nico Rosberg and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica for fuel temperature irregularities.
The aim would be to lift Hamilton above them in the classification, securing the points he needs to become champion instead.
The Briton, winner of four races in a sensational debut season, said he would feel uncomfortable with that.
"It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in the last two races," he said.
"He won yesterday and to have it taken away is a bit cruel and probably not good for the sport."
Hamilton, who had led team-mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso by four points and Raikkonen by seven before Interlagos, paid tribute to his team and supporters.
"Last night was good and (team boss) Ron (Dennis) did a speech and we had a great evening and just sort of rounded up the whole year," he said.
"It has been a phenomenal year and the support from the team makes it just a real pleasure for me to be a part of the team.
"I'm extremely proud of them and extremely proud of my family and everyone that's just supported me to get me where I am today.
"Later on in the evening yesterday I felt it (the defeat) more for sure, it's tough on everyone but there's always another year," said Hamilton.
"I'm only 22, there's going to be plenty more opportunities for me to win the world championship and I have no doubt that we can do that in the future."
Reuters

 

[Centurion]

Well said by Hamilton.

 

[Monster]

Hamilton accidentally turned off his car

If this is true.......

Lewis Hamilton has allegedly confessed to accidentally shutting down his MP4-22 during the Brazilian GP, which McLaren later claimed was a gearbox failure.


Going into the eighth lap of the grand prix, Hamilton's McLaren lost power for roughly 30 seconds dropping him down from fourth to 18th place.


The team later reported that the rookie had suffered a temporary gearbox failure.


Hamilton, though, has now allegedly confessed that it wasn't a failure but he had in fact accidentally turned off his car.


"My finger slipped on the steering wheel and I accidentally pressed the button used for the starting sequence," he reportedly told French-language daily newspaper La Presse.


"The car went into neutral and I had to reinitialise the system, that is, reload the gearbox management program."


McLaren have offered no comment on the story. But it is worth reminding readers that only yesterday Ron Dennis spoke out angrily about the amount of inaccurate reports appearing on the internet...

'Hamilton accidentally turned off his car' - Planet-F1 News - from planet-f1.com

 

[Centurion]

^^
Bummer

 

[Remy Zero]

got this from a friend of mine from another forum

http://www.blick.ch/sport/formel1/we...ort-mass-74178

Am Ende war die ganze Angelegenheit ein Sturm im Wasserglas, denn das Benzin muss gar nicht in den Tankanlagen gemessen werden, wo der Sprit logischerweise um einige Grade kälter ist.

Halten Sie sich fest: Die FIA müsste – so das Reglement – den Sprit am Auto messen! Dass heisst am Einfüllstutzen. Doch dort hat es gar keine Sensoren…

Unglaublich, da haben die FIA-Kontrolleure also das ganze Jahr am falschen Ort gemessen!

Und nach dem Rapport des Technischen Delegierten Jo Bauer wiesen die drei FIA-Rennkommissäre unter dem Vorsitz des oft umstrittenen Briten Tony Scott Andrews in ihrer Urteilsbegründung darauf hin, dass «genügend Zweifel über einen Regelverstoss bestehen!»

Und weiter: «Die Sache wird dadurch kompliziert, dass zwischen den von der Formel 1 (FOM) und Meteo France gemessenen Aussentemperaturen eine beträchtliche Diskrepanz besteht.» BLICK sagt welche: Die Formel-1-Messung zeigte 37 Grad, die von Meteo France 33 Grad an…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not translating it verbatim, just repeating the key points:
- the rules say that the temperature has to be measured at the nozzle, but there are no sensors
- the temps were measured at the tank, but that is always chilled
- the FIA basically measured the temps at the wrong place all year long
- FOM measured ambient temperature of 37 degrees, whereas Meteo France indicated 33 degrees

Bottom line: Too many inconsistencies to make a verdict. McLaren's appeal is hopeless.
__________________

 

[coolraoul]

Yeah, I also read that these sensors were unreliable and often gave wrong numbers...

 

[bmer]

Bottom line: Too many inconsistencies to make a verdict.

Plus the benefit they could have got from this is at max. about one second in the whole race.

 

[Sunny]

Sunny, of course it is not impossible that stewards are incompetent or biased. I'd like to see professional stewards, like Luca di Montezemolo said. However, I don't see how the bias or incompetence possibility relates to the question/furor over flexi-floors, unless you are sure that some steward really screwed up the inspection after the Aussie GP.



If a car passes scrutineering, one reasonable assumption is that it is legal according to the rules and regulations in place at the time of the race. I think the integrity of all race results is based on that assumption. If it passed scrutineers meeting, one possibility and the most likely possibility is that the car is legal! It doesn't mean the car is 100% legal 100% of the time, but ask a neutral GCF member who does not follow F1 about it

In your mind, Sunny, passing scrutineering still might not make a car legal because the possibility exists that a steward might be incompetent or biased. Fine, but you have to prove that! Unless someone has proof that the scrutineering procedure was actually biased or incompetent, you're really opening up a can of worms about whether a car is legal.

I guess in this case it was proven later that Ferrari had an illegal floor.

Anyway it is all water under the bridge and I don't feel too passionately about F1 like I used to or care enough about any teams/drivers to spend too much energy discussing FIA's follies.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

Hamilton: I don't want title on appeal

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton said he wanted to win the Formula One title on the track, not weeks later on appeal.
"It would be wrong," said the 22-year-old Briton, still suffering the effects of a heavy night out after letting the title slip from his grasp by one point in Sunday's season-ending race in Brazil.
"For me, I want to win it on the track," he said. "You want to do it in style, you want to win the race, you want to win battling it out for the lead or something in the race.
"Being promoted after some people have been thrown out is not the way I want to do it."
The rookie and title favourite before Sunday's race, lost out to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen after finishing seventh on a nightmare afternoon at Interlagos.
Raikkonen won the race but the Finn's first title was overshadowed by a stewards' enquiry into the three cars that finished ahead of Hamilton.
McLaren have said they intend to appeal against the stewards' subsequent decision not to penalise Williams' Nico Rosberg and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica for fuel temperature irregularities.
The aim would be to lift Hamilton above them in the classification, securing the points he needs to become champion instead.
The Briton, winner of four races in a sensational debut season, said he would feel uncomfortable with that.
"It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in the last two races," he said.
"He won yesterday and to have it taken away is a bit cruel and probably not good for the sport."
Hamilton, who had led team-mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso by four points and Raikkonen by seven before Interlagos, paid tribute to his team and supporters.
"Last night was good and (team boss) Ron (Dennis) did a speech and we had a great evening and just sort of rounded up the whole year," he said.
"It has been a phenomenal year and the support from the team makes it just a real pleasure for me to be a part of the team.
"I'm extremely proud of them and extremely proud of my family and everyone that's just supported me to get me where I am today.
"Later on in the evening yesterday I felt it (the defeat) more for sure, it's tough on everyone but there's always another year," said Hamilton.
"I'm only 22, there's going to be plenty more opportunities for me to win the world championship and I have no doubt that we can do that in the future."
Reuters

he appears to be a little TOO confident that if they would appeal it, they would win, like Mclaren is being BIG here by not appealing and giving the title to Kimi and Ferrari.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Whether McLaren appeals or not, I would like to commend Hamilton on being a man and good sport by saying that he'd rather win on track then in court. There is more honor on winningon track than winning in court.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

Whether McLaren appeals or not, I would like to commend Hamilton on being a man and good sport by saying that he'd rather win on track then in court. There is more honor on winningon track than winning in court.

yes, but there is a difference between like what Alonso said and what Hamilton said. Hamilton is making it sound like Mclaren is giving this away because they want to win on the court.

Alonso is saying they shouldn't appeal because the right man won and it would be very shameful. Sense the difference.

 

[NarutoRamen]

It's all how you take it man. I don't think Hamilton has the balls to come out against all of McLaren and say that they shouldn't appeal. Alonso doesn't give a crap because he might be moving to another team and doesn't get along with dennis anyways.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

true, still, don't like Hamilton that much anymore. Very arrogant side to him.

 

[NarutoRamen]

true, still, don't like Hamilton that much anymore. Very arrogant side to him.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of Hamilton or Alonso, but I can't deny their driving. Though I still believe that Alonso is better than Hamilton when it comes to driving.

The reason I like kimi is because he doesn't bitch at all and never loses his cool. Plus, Kimi is a party animal like me so we have the same interests.

 

[450SEL6.9]

I don't think Hamilton has the balls to come out against all of McLaren and say that they shouldn't appeal.

According to some reports, he allegedly had big enough balls to tell his boss to "f**ken swivel", but the team now claims there was no swearing, but you get the point.

I never liked Hamilton because I don't think he is genuine. We were told from day one by the PR people and former British F1 champs that he is a really, really nice guy.

 

[Centurion]

He seem like a cool guy but the F1 industry is tough, especially if you reach the top quickly and want to win. There will be controversies, anti-fans will hate you and you will be forced to defend yourself. Alonso, Shumi and Senna have all been through the same turbulence. F1 is ugly business and forces you to create a hard shell around your personality in order to make it. If you want FIA to rule against you in every incident then hey, go ahead but you won't win the championship.

Nice guys finish last.

It's similar to what I experienced in the USA. On the streets people are very open, approachable and very friendly but as soon as they jump into a car they transform into demons. People there are ruthless and have absolutely no manners on the road. Very big contrast compared to how sincere they are on the streets.

 

[Remy Zero]

true, still, don't like Hamilton that much anymore. Very arrogant side to him.

IMHO, Hammi is not the same humble person who started the 2007 season. by mid season, he's already showing the arrogant side of him. he doesn't show Alonso the respect a 2 time WDC deserves ( i'm no Alonso fan here ).

he screwed up and triggered the Hungarian Quali session for Mclaren. he let the team down. in contrast, Fred moved over as he was told so for Hammi at the British GP Quali.

he's also been talking too much, most notably of how 'much more cooler i am than Raikkonen'.

i think he's arrogance costed him the WDC here. it was his arrogance to make up for that lost place at Brazil, when Fred beat him, and Hammi went on the grass.

it was also his arrogance, that costed him a proper points finishing position and the WDC at China. he was just supposed to finish the race in a proper position, not race wheel to wheel and possible hurt his tyres much further.

havin said all that, he was gentleman enough to admit that he wants to win the title on the track and not in the courts. credit to him.

but then again, this arrogance and cockiness is all part of growing up.

 

[Bartek S.]

McLaren lodge formal title appeal

McLaren formally lodged an appeal against the decision not to penalise three drivers in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix because of fuel irregularities.
McLaren have appealed to the sport's governing body, the FIA, after Williams driver Nico Rosberg and the BMW Sauber pairing of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were not punished under rules relating to fuel temperatures.
Should the three drivers have their results in Sunday's race at Sao Paolo nullified then McLaren's Lewis Hamilton would win enough points to be crowned world champion instead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, the winner of the last race of the season.
"The significance of this matter and its timing is, of course, regrettable," McLaren said.
"The team wishes to win races and Championships on the track. However, if there has been an irregularity, which is not the fault of the team, we feel that the matter must be properly examined to ensure that the rules are applied.
"This is something that we believe the FIA would fully support and would wish to be seen to have done."
Raikkonen won the race to take the Formula One crown by a single point from McLaren's 22-year-old British driver Hamilton and his Spanish double world champion team mate Fernando Alonso.
McLaren are appealing the stewards's decision to take no action against Williams and BMW Sauber, whose fuel was found by checks after the race to have broken technical regulations because it was more than 10 degrees Celsius below the ambient temperature.
Fuel performs better at cooler temperatures, giving a potentially significant performance advantage.
Stewards found that there was a 'considerable discrepancy' between ambient temperatures recorded by Formula One Management's monitors and the FIA-contracted meteorologists Meteo France.
They ruled that there was therefore 'sufficient doubt' as to render a penalty inappropriate.
McLaren said it did not question the integrity of BMW Sauber or Williams.
"Neither team would have sought to gain an advantage by such an irregularity and the situation could only have arisen as the consequence of an operational error within the team on the day," said McLaren.
"Ultimately we feel that the FIA should determine whether an irregularity occured or not, and the team will fully respect the process and any decision that is ultimately given."
Reuters

 

[Bartek S.]

Hamilton takes Gold Star award

Lewis Hamilton may have missed out on the Formula One world title, for now at least, but he has got his hands on one prize after he won the BRDC Gold Star.
The star, which was first awarded in 1929, is the most prestigious prize in British Motorsport and is awarded by Silverstone's owners the British Racing Drivers' Club to the driver that has done best in international motorsport over the season.
The 22-year-old McLaren driver's four wins and six pole positions in Formula One saw him win the award with 266 points. He joins a list of famous past winners, who include Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart and Nigel Mansell.
IRL IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti came second while sportscar hero Allan McNish was third after winning his third American Le Mans Series title.
Also awarded was the BRDC Silver Star award, presented to the best British performer competing nationally.
It went, for a record third time, to Jason Plato, who finished as runner-up in the British Touring Car Championship. Fellow BTCC drivers Matt Neal and Colin Turkington were second and third.
Both Hamilton and Plato will receive their prizes at the BRDC awards dinner in London in December.
Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport

 

[bmer]

Räikkönen receives DHL Fastest Lap Trophy
View attachment bb99e030ebb0f9683318e161144d3b36.jpg

The Finn is the first driver in the history of Formula 1 to win the trophy for the highest number of fastest laps in one season.
The battle for the DHL Fastest Lap Trophy was exciting, the winning margin exceptionally tight. Before the last race, and with five of the fastest laps, Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen was still one point behind his teammate Felipe Massa. Literally in the final second, Räikkönen managed to secure the trophy for the fastest of the fast. At the Grand Prix in Brazil, the season's final race, the Finn drove the fastest lap and won the award for the first time in the history of Formula 1.

Although Räikkönen and Massa had achieved the same number of fastest laps and even second fastest laps at the end of the season, the Finn is leading in terms of third-fastest laps and according to the rules of the award is therefore the winner in the battle for the DHL Fastest Lap Trophy.

Kimi Räikkönen also still holds the season's record for fastest laps. In 2005 he drove ten of the fastest laps in 19 races. The greatest number of fastest laps in the history of Formula 1 so far was achieved by Michael Schumacher with 76 laps.

This year DHL is awarding the DHL Fastest Lap Trophy for the first time to the fastest of the fast. DHL has for a long time been official logistics partner of Formula 1 and since the beginning of the current season has also officially lent its name to the fastest lap - the DHL Fastest Lap.

DHL Fastest Lap Award - 2007 Results: The Official Formula 1 Website