Lewis Hamilton could actually become world champion on Sunday at the Chinese GP, which is pretty amazing for British fans, when you think we’ve not had a world champion since Damon Hill back in 1996. The chances are pretty slim that he’ll do it mind, but it’s definitely possible.
To find himself as world champion come the end of the afternoon, one of the following three outcomes needs to occur:
Lewis finishes 1st with Felipe Massa in 5th, or worse.
Lewis comes 2nd with Massa 7th or worse.
Lewis arrives home in 3rd with Massa failing to score at all, and Robert Kubica not winning the race.
And if this morning’s practice form is anything to go by, then Lewis is certainly showing that he means business, after he gapped second place man Fernando Alonso by nearly 0.3s, with his first session’s quickest time remaining unbeaten all day.
Alonso’s Renault looked good and even his teammate Nelson Piquet ran well, quick enough for third spot.
Toyota’s Jarno Trulli had a difficult time in session one, but drove to fourth quickest in the afternoon.
The Ferrari’s were curiously off the pace, with Felipe Massa in sixth and Kimi Raikkonen in eigth, but they were both concentrating on long runs. A very intriguing amount of under the radar activity!
There was also a large amount of spins and offs, with Sebastien Bourdais having several off-track excursions. Raikkonen, Hamilton, Webber and Piquet also had a few moments between them.
So, are you up to making any predictions?
I’m guessing Kov going Kamikazee into Massa would be a little too obvious…
Shame
Massa, please finish the last 2 races of the season as you began in the first 2 – numerous spins and a broken car…
I don’t fancy his chances of sorting the title by Sunday – but it would be great if he did, but it would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first British driver winning the world championship – Mike Hawthorn.
But the McLaren looks quick and has run well on the harder compound tyres so he should at least take two points of Massa, which would make life hard for Massa at Interlagos.
Worth remembering as well Ferrari can win their 16th constructors’ championship this weekend if they leave Shanghai with 18 points more than McLaren and BMW.
Ferrari….Sandbagging….Sur ely Not?
I hope someone jams a banana in massas exhaust before the race.
I only hope that Hamilton keeps clear in his mind that the F1 is not a kart race, stopping make dangerous things ’round the track like in Japan and other races.
be patient everyone.lewis has no patience and he thinks he is god.
Hamilton has to lose or his ego could engulf the world. I also don’t believe he conducts himself as a gentleman and sport has lost enough respect through this already.
If he manages to win this weekend it would mean nothing by Monday morning as the FiA would have come up with yet another ludicrous reason for penalising or disqualifying him.
I don’t want Ferrari to win, I think they clearly don’t deserve it. However, I somehow don’t think Hamilton will get the title, I can see him throwing it away once again, due to his stupid amount of impatience and willingness to win every single race! All I really hope is BMW win it with Kubica!!!
i can see it being too close for hamilton to clinch the title this weekend so its gonna go down to the wire in brazil, i hope hamilton pisses on massa’s doorstep! anyone heard the verbal diarrhoea coming from jaques villenuve mouth about kubica should win the title because he has been more consistant and hamilton is in the fastest car? wasnt he in the fastest car at the time he won his one and only title? he should get back singing, more verbal diarrhoea !!
Lewis is going to do it, would be great if he could tie it up this weekend. But even still, to win the world championship in the homeground of his idol Aryton Senner would be an even bigger climax I feel.
I hope to see Lewis on the new series of Top Gear after he’s crowned world champion to see if he can finally nail The Stigs time on the lap board!!!
Wow! It’s only a motor race, guys – calm down. Who really gives a sh#t who wins? At least F1 is now exciting to watch these days.
hamilton should win this if he gets his act together, and not beach himself.
im sure massa will end up getting help from the FIA- i mean ferrari international assistance
Check out the top post here on Sniff Petrol: http://www.sniffpetrol.co m/category/random-cack/
He he.
If Hamiliton wins it this weekend or in two weeks there can be no doubt he deserves it, if Massa takes it in two weeks he’ll deserve it, both drivers have had ups and downs, driven brilliantly and woefully and made stupid mistakes, although I think Hamilton will have more chances and championships over the next few years than Massa.
Hamilton does not deserve to win this championship, despite some good drivers and some very lucky wins and points scored. Hamilton fails to deserve this championship purely based on his performance on his off days, his mentality, his maturerity, his driving manouvers and hi shorrid attidude.
Massa for champion!!!
Doesn’t matter who crosses the line first, if they’re not in a red car then they’ll get some sort of penalty!
Massa gives no room to a car exiting the pit, hits him, and the other guy gets the penalty! WTF.
Hamilton “maybe” got an advantage by crossing the chickane, then has a 25 secs penalty. Massa crosses the chickane, causes and accident that just happens to destroy his championship rivals race, and ends up with effectively a 10 second penalty…..hmmm, fair.
Time to switch to touring cars and GT methinks.
Why most brits are hamilton fanboys?
I hope another incident like Singapore happens to Massa so that Hamilton wins the title
I hope that mr Cocky Hamilton fails again under the pressure, you Brits want to see a German car win ?
Lewis : World Champ? ….. The most prejudiced title ever on a “serious” site…. All year long the same prejudiced opinions..
So here is a equally nice title.
Felippe Massa : World Champ?
For gods shake be objective…
Come on man! i cant believe Hamilton is going to try and win every race! this is not a karting championship man! u cant just make such moves on people with oit get the book thrown at you!i hope he wins but im starting to support the redbull, torro rossa an force india now, kubica doin very well also.
Dim, we’re cheering on Lewis because he’s a rising British sportstar.
I mean come on, after the suckiness of British sport last year, wouldn’t you want something good to shout about a sportsman? (I mean yeah, he’s got a bit big-headed, but he’s the best we’ve got right now.)
Unless you’re not British, in which case never mind.
Hamilton and Massa get involved in a race incident. Kubica wins the race. Alonso second…And in Brazil we have ourselves a proper race winner takes all between Ham, Mas & Kub….
I simply wish
I hope Hamilton keeps a cool head, and doesn’t attempt to gain first place at the first corner like in Japan!!! Wouldn’t it be great if Masa’s engine blew up again!!
OMG LWEIS HAZ MADE MISTAKEZ LOL!
Seriously people, chill out. How long did it take for Massa to lose his wild unpredictability? This is only Lewis’ second season for pete sake, give the man a chance to learn from his mistakes.
kubica can still win if massa nd hamilton screw up in china..
Lewis needs to get a result here as Massa is likely to win in Sao Paulo.
HowardMoon has a point. Remember Massa with Sauber in 2004? He couldn’t have on lap without a mistake. And, at that time, he was the same age as Lewis is now. Let’s hope that Kubica shows everyone what consistency brings.
YAWN WHATEVER!!!
I think the folks at Mclaren should pay Sutil and Fisichella of Force India to take out (crash into) Kimi and Massa during the race. Force India might actually make some money and no harm done to the drivers as they usually end up crashing their cars anyway.
Pressure on Hamilton is much harder than on Massa… We must wait and see… Hope to see Massa ahead, of course !!
Hamilton deserves to win because the stewards have given him so many penalties and Massa has always benefitted from it but Hamiton has kept it together and now he could still win it, unless he gets another penalty for going faster than the Ferarri’s or something completely stupid like that
John said…
“Hamilton and Massa get involved in a race incident. Kubica wins the race. Alonso second…And in Brazil we have ourselves a proper race winner takes all between Ham, Mas & Kub….
I simply wish”
x2
I reckon Lewis is going to cock it up on Sunday and then win in Brazil. And because I said it, it’s going to happen.
Calm down guys it’s still Friday. The performance today isn’t indicative of how the cars will perform during race and qualifying. Today is usually reserved for testing different setups for the race.
@Anonymous: Since when exactly did Mclaren get taken over by germans? Mercedes is only the main sponsor, but the entire F1 car is made in and by English people from Mclaren…
I hope that Hamilton will show us a race like Singapore again, where he drove really well and safe… ok it’s boring as hell, but at this point in the championship I wouldn’t blame him…
So Lewis if you read this (:p) play it safe, don’t give the FIA any excuse to penalise you and for god sake don’t break the car
clif, you can tell that. Massa, Raikkonen and Kovaleinen were off the pace so they are yet to enter the equation.
“chances are slim”???
he’s 5 points clear and, whilst making mistakes, he’s shown himself to be a bloody awesome driver… maybe even the best, and a little more mature than last year/early this year. He’s also fastest in practice… by quite a considerable margin.
“slim” is robert kubica’s chances… i’d say hamilton’s chances are at least ‘good’
all he needs is ferrari’s pit traffic lights
i want hamilton to win everyelse is rubbish apart from button
it would be nice if hamilton won it,
not nice
FANTASTIC
now all we need is Williams to win a Constructrs and England will be all powerful again – even though half the williams credit wll have to go to toyota as its their engine….and some to a german for helping tat happen….and some tothe japanese for one of their drivers
Williams-Aston-Martin with Button and Hmilton as a team….England wuld be proud (in my dream)
I hope he wins, Massa, if you are reading this, pleeeeease crash!
lets jus hope that massas fezza breaks down on his last lap and that alonso or any of the torro rosso drivers dont fluke a podium finish. hamilton all the way!!! also lets hope the FIA dont start dealin penalties like a blackjack dealer, crashes make racing interestin… turn a blind eye for once lol
Dont reckon Lewser Hamilton will do it this weekend or in Brazil…
My highlights of the Japanese GP =
Firstly Lewser facing the wrong way watching the whole grid pass him after his nudge from Massa, Quality.
Secondly Boy Blunder at the back of the pack, not making up any places at all, not like the pros would have, oh yeah apparently his car was broken, well Lewser you are in F1 not rally cross, you are meant to stay on the track at the first corner !!!
Thirdly, Alonso taking a well deserved win and points away from Lewser!!
Cannot stand the arrogant, big headed t***, sick of seeing his Dad there every race, TEAM HAMILTON !!! What is that about???
Alonso to win on sunday again, in fact anyone but Lewis, Please !!!
you brits are loony….shame, shame….
Lets face it Hamilton has made F1 exciting again, who wants to watch 18 precessions a season, at points during this year I have been jumping out of my chair at some of his passing moves which is more than can be said for the effect our football team has had on me. Look at the excitement the plainly favoured red cars impart on the sport – NONE. Although mine is a biased view Lewis is the future and the more drivers with his ability and attitude the better the sport will be!
I’m rooting for Hamilton. Always will. I really hope he can keep his head clear, he’s a fantastic driver (:
Go Hamilton! *cheers*
“Gleno said…
Although mine is a biased view Lewis is the future and the more drivers with his ability and attitude the better the sport will be!”
Too true. Well said.
Hopefully, Alonso goes by what he has said earlier this week, and slows hamilton up, so Massa can win the race, allowing both Massa to take the lead in the world championship, and then Massa can win in Brazil (home territory).
It’s lovely to read so much pro-Hamilton support…
Is Lewis the ONLY F1 driver?….Certainly seems like it…
Massa for the win………Well actually I’d quite like Alonso to win this race, he’s been of abit of a dark horse this season. I’d also like to see Kubica be a little closer to the top, he had a great fight with Kimi in Japan, that was quality, from the both of them, hope we see that again this race.
ive followed f1 since i was 10 and i always supported juan pable montoya but when he left he was netral iheard all the hype about hamilton before the season i choose to suport him because he is british. Hopefully he will win it sunday and hav his gearboxs mess up in brazil and doing a stunning drive to the front last years race was very exciting to watch but a shae when he missed out go hamilton !!!. ps why is button so slow since he won his first race is he going to move to a gd team any times soon???
Wouldn’t it be great if Alonso just when straight up the backside of Massa, because he desperately wants to be at the front and imagine he is racing for the title.
I want the result to read:
1)Lewis
2)Hekki
3)Kubica
4)Vettel
5)Heidfield
6)Massa – just so he gets close, but yet so far.
LEWIS FOR THE TITLE!
massa deserves it, hamilton’s attitude is like a 12 year old. his ego drives the car, not his heart.
as much as i’d love him to win, i’m dubious that it’ll happen. lewis mucked up in fuji last week and in shanghai last year.
i see a pattern emerging..
Lewis is incredible, he mucked up at the first corner but shouldn’t have been penalised, it was heikki that pushed raikonen off, not lewis
And does no body else think that massa in the chicane look at least a little bit intentional?
His car control is awe inspiring… lewis for champion (even if as a person he ain’t that great, god his book was awful, but does anybody think massa is a bag of laughs!)
If kov took out massa and let hamilton to fly away it would be a dream
but if hamilton has a purfected race it is in da bag and the stwards are really biessed with , look spa japan its a huge list
and like if ur british u have to be stupid to wont massa to win, hamilton it the best
Hamilton is a good driver but is inexperienced whatever anyone says. I still think he can only drive to win. He cannot manage a race and finish in a place to get points to preserve his lead. I actually believe that he ahs the best chance to win it although i would like Kubica to do it.
Also please do not say that Hamilton made F1 exciting as this is an insult to guys like Alonso (the best driver for me) Kubica and Vettel. Hamilton has so far won races in the best car on the grid. When he can win like these three with a lesser car then he would be a great. Think Michael Schumacher
This whole episode of F1 further proves to me that the vast majority of F1 drivers are very immature as they can’t separate their previous karting careers, most bring their parents to every race, and when things arent going too well for them, they feel the need to gang up on the strongest driver for no other reason that he is one of the bravest (aka dangerous tocrap drivers like Webber) and most sucessful on track at the moment.
It is pathetic.
Lewis Hamilton is the best
he wont win massa is wayy better
Yes Hamilton needs to learn the lesson of patience.
However he has been unfairly penalised both in this years and last seasons races.
Yes his ‘win at all cost’ attitude does draw adverse attention, but who can complain? This attitude has got him into the top flight of motor sport and I’m sure it will keep him there for a long time.
He has a special skill and linked with patience he will no doubt be the best racing driver, in his class, in the world.
GO HAMILTON!!!!Bring it home for Britain!
Bring the rain on sunday.
Another quality race like Silverstone and Monaco is what Hamilton needs to end all this petty criticism.
It will save F1 too as the title can be won on track and not in an office.
why does everyone here like lewis that much in my opinion he is just too arrogant. i hop he he goes in the gravel trap in the pits like last year which shows that he suck hahah
why does everyone here like lewis that much in my opinion he is just too arrogant. i hop he he goes in the gravel trap in the pits like last year which shows that he suck hahah
He won’t win, because he really is too arrogant, and thinks he already won it. He’ll probably screw everything up in China, and end up last in the Brazil race..
GO KUBICA
as much as I’m a Ferrari fan, as much as i want Massa to win it, it would be more amazing if Kubica won the world championship and it is almost not possible. he is in a similar position to Kimi last season, except he is not racing a car up to the standards of the McMercedes and the Ferrari, there fore, GO KUBICA
Who be this fool who says ‘it’s only a motor race’? Do you turn up at Arsenal Spurs matches to say, ‘calm down, it’s only football’? By Thor, if you did that I’d throw faeces at you. My own.
Lewis to win. He’s just talent, pure and simple. And quite frankly, he’s bloody British.
It’s really pointless to say that ‘Lewis ran fastest in practise’, if he makes still makes blunders in the REAL race, practice won’t matter at all.
I’m sure Lewis will do something stupid, crash or cop a penalty, then Ronny D will moan about a conspiracy. same ole….
In reply to R A’s comment:
“I’m guessing Kov going Kamikazee into Massa would be a little too obvious…
Shame”
I was actually thinking exactly this last night while watching the live timing boards on the F1 site.
We haven’t seen something like that happen for a few years now.
From now to the end of the season, I’m going to root for Kubica. In a less than ideal car he’s managed to silently climb to just 12points behind Hamilton. That’s just amazing.
I’m guessing Hamilton can win, but the possibilities are really slim, so I shall not make any predictions yet. And maybe if you make a prediction you can destroy Hamilton’s luck, and maybe he’ll come last. I know by experience that when journalist predict something it almost never happens. So I will just read your blog pointlessly and for mere curiosity, because I will not believe any prediction that journalists make, as it almost always doesn’t come true. Good luck Lewis, though, but, most importantly, for Massa. I want him to be the world champion. Finally, a possible Latin American champion!!. Cheers for Massa. We haven’t had that in a long time…
Lewis all the way !!! watch for FA.
hahaha! Alonso’s going to play bumper cars.
massa is world champion…DREAM ON LEWIS!!!
Hamilton is going to be champion
Lewis Pole… not bad ehh so guy mass thrid no chance Hamilton all the way but thinking about the FIA we need to win the race by over 25 second because we ge pinalized for coughing
so the cup is coming home !! oh yes it is !!!
Suck that massa ( oh yea liverpool all the way)
Update:
Hamilton:Pole
Massa:3rd
Kubica:11th
Haha, Hamilton Pole.
Now, to all those people who said Lewis is melting under the pressure and wont get pole, what do you think now?
Qualifying Results
1st:Hamilton
2nd:Raikkonen
3rd:Massa
4th:Alonso
5th:Kovalainen
6th:Heidfeld
7th:Vettel
8th:Trulli
9th:Bourdais
10th:Piquet
11th:Kubica
12th:Glock
13th:Barrichello
14th:Rosberg
15th:Coulthard
16th:Webber
17th:Nakajima
18th:Button
19th:Sutil
20th:Fisichella
Shame About Button & Coulthard & Kovalainen