AUTO RACING

Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix

Sunday 19th October, 11:29 PM JST

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9 Comments

northlondon at 11:11 AM JST - 20th October

Team orders prohibit a driver deliberately giving up track position to a teammate, but Raikkonen dropped his lap time from the 1-minute, 38-second range to 1-minute, 40-second range for two laps as Massa caught and overtook, before stepping up his pace again.

“I am not in a position to challenge for the championship,” Raikkonen said. “I know what the team expects and I am happy to try to achieve the maximum points for the team. For my season it does not make any difference.”

But team orders are illegal in Formula 1. If Formula 1 do nothing about this then it proves that Ferrari have used underhand tactics to try and take the title away from Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has had the book thrown at him when he has made mistakes this season, yet Ferrari constantly get away with irregularities and discrepancies without punishment. Hamilton has even proved that he is a much better sportsman by making nothing of the blatant team orders, whilst other drivers (Alonso/ Kubica/ Webber) and teams (Ferrari/ Briatore) bitch and moan about Hamilton all the time. He is class above the rest of them in technique and in his manners.
romulus3 at 12:17 PM JST - 20th October

I agree and in the post match interview Massa was choking as he tried to explain how he managed to take 2nd place. At least Kimi just came out with it. For those who missed it, here it is http://f1video2008.blogspot.com/

Never mind, Hamilton just needs to place inside the top 5 to win. I hope Kimi does not throw his Ferrari at him on the first corner.
Quirinus3 at 12:22 PM JST - 20th October

Quirinus agress with romulus.

kimi will probably try to stop Hamilton taking the title by using dirty tactics.
northlondon at 12:31 PM JST - 20th October

Personally I would keep well away from Alonso, Kubica and Webber. Webber, after slagging off Hamilton after the Japan Grand Prix, drove like a maniac out of control yesterday. Alonso I just do not trust and he also backed off from Massa yesterday and refused to challenge him when he was faster than Massa. I don't think Raikkonen would do such a thing, as I believe he is a straightforward decent driver.
romulus3 at 01:35 PM JST - 20th October

Good thinking North, I would keep well away from Alonso. He is still bitter.
kenchan at 09:03 PM JST - 20th October

you have to wonder about these "stewards" and their lack of consistency or fairness this year...they apply the rules when they want to....its like they are part of a betting ring or something! Massa should be demoted to his third and ferrari docked all points from the Chinese race in terms of the constructor's league.

I probably will not bother watching F1 again for awhile...this season has been a joke...any racing excitement has always been trampled upon by the stewards.
northlondon at 09:25 PM JST - 20th October

In true Italian fashion (note Italian soccer and it's constant bribery), Ferrari like a 'comfortable agreement' whilst they stay in Formula 1. Unfortunately F1 needs Ferrari for financial and promotional reasons (Ferrari are the most recognised and admired constructer around the world), so every now and then Ferrari release press stories about their 'possible' withdrawal from the following seasons Formula 1. Therefore F1 pines to Ferrari's threats to leave and allows them to get away with infringements. The rules are clear about no team orders in Formula 1 and Raikkonen clearly admitted to it after the race.
flammenwerfer at 12:07 PM JST - 21st October

Raikkonen said he did it on his own volition and I believe him, he is smart enough to who butters his bread. You could never prove that ferrari gave team orders, anyone in a team knows that sometimes you have to "take one for the team" without anything ever been said about it. The whole team orders came from the Barrichello/Schu incident where Barrichello was forced against his will to hand the lead to his teammate. So the team dont say anything, the drivers themselves know what has to be done. I wonder how big a deal this would be if the lead had been surrendered rather than second place? It was too blatant though, they could have done it better, like a "botched pitstop" too add a couple of seconds to Kimi.

Anyway back to the race which was oh so boring! a dull race track and a very duull race, lets hope the final race is a cracker.
cracaphat at 01:43 AM JST - 25th October

Hamilton knows what happened last season and will do what he has to do to prevent it. Someone has to show England how to step up under pressure.