CHINA GP: Friday's Driver's Briefing To Scruntinize Hamilton's On-Track Behavior | FerrariChat

CHINA GP: Friday's Driver's Briefing To Scruntinize Hamilton's On-Track Behavior

Discussion in 'F1' started by RP, Oct 16, 2008.

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  1. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
    17,667
    Bocahuahua, Florxico
    Full Name:
    Tone Def
    (from autosport)

    Lewis Hamilton will face fresh scrutiny from his rivals in Friday's drivers' briefing in China about his on-track behaviour, although fellow racers deny they are ganging up on the world championship leader.

    Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) director Mark Webber and Jarno Trulli have both said they will raise Hamilton's conduct with F1 race director Charlie Whiting when they gather for their meeting on Friday evening.

    But amid an increased focus on Hamilton's driving etiquette following a controversial Japanese Grand Prix, both deny there is any specific campaign against the Briton.

    Trulli is upset about the way Hamilton behaved when the Italian tried to lap him during the Fuji race - claiming he lost valuable seconds that cost him the chance of beating Nelson Piquet's Renault for fourth place.

    "I am definitely unhappy," Trulli told autosport.com about his views on Hamilton's driving in Japan. "I was leading the race, he was lapped and for two laps he held me up. This cost me 1.5 seconds, which if we are going to put it back on my second pitstop could have given me the chance to stay ahead of Renault after the stop.

    "I am not saying I would have finished in front, but sometimes thing like this can change a lot. Lewis did not even watch the mirrors because he came back on the track right in front of me and he held me up for two laps. And probably he should have paid more attention because he was more or less out of the race. He was dead last and I don't understand why."

    Webber has said he wants to raise with Whiting the way that Hamilton approached the first corner in Fuji - even though the Briton was already handed a drive-through penalty for forcing Kimi Raikkonen off the track.

    "The braking areas is an issue because you cannot move around in the braking areas like that," said Webber. "We lost a marshal at Monza (in 2000) when there were guys moving around in the braking areas and it is very hard to change your line if you don't know what is going to come. That is the only thing that we need to look at."

    Despite their feelings about aspects of Hamilton's driving, both drivers denied that rivals were picking on the Briton amid his challenge for the world championship.

    Trulli said: "I don't comment on Lewis' driving because honestly I can comment only on what happened to me. In the end I don't want to get involved in any speculation or discussions. He has done some good things and some bad things, as has every driver. It is difficult to judge.

    "I would feel it is unfair to talk about him. It is better to discuss it with him and tell him, as I will do tomorrow.

    "I will go in the drivers' briefing and I will say to Charlie, this is what happened and I believe Lewis could have handled it in a different way because it was not fair. But I am not going against anyone.

    "I am not the kind of person who, if I don't get on with them, I make it a war of words. I just want an easy life without fighting; I just want to make the sport fair for everyone. I don't care if you are driving a top team car or the last car, I expect everyone to be treated the same."

    Webber conceded that there were times when Hamilton's driving had caused him concern but said that such a situation was no different from how he felt about other drivers.

    "He is a phenomenal talent," explained Webber. "Everyone has got strengths and weaknesses, and I haven't seen what he did with Jarno in terms of backmarkers.

    "Monza was a tough race for him in terms of what he did to me, what he did to (Timo) Glock at the Curva Grande, what he did to Fernando, so in his eyes it is fine.

    "And he didn't get a penalty in Monza, so he didn't do anything wrong in Monza in anyone's eyes, so that was fine. But his respected colleagues are sometimes saying, 'mate it doesn't need to be like that all the time'."

    Webber added: "The first corner in Fuji was pretty wild. He was having a crack but if someone was sitting on his right rear when he pulled out there then that was a crash.

    "There was also no way he was going to make the first corner. But that is not illegal to outbrake yourself. We want to have a bit of a chat about moving around in the braking areas. I am not smashing Hamilton but it is about how you move on. Tiger Woods learns. Roger Federer learns. And Lewis is going through that."

    When asked by autosport.com if there were similarities between how rivals viewed Hamilton and how they often focused on Michael Schumacher's driving tactics, Webber said: "Yeah, could be.

    "I think he is always going to be under the spotlight, that is the problem with Lewis. He is always under this light, which he would not necessarily want – he just wants to win his first world title. Being under this spotlight for various other reasons – whether they are the politics of the sport, his skin, or whatever it is I don't know.

    "I think there have been a few occasions where he has learned. Michael was doing this stuff when he had all this experience under his belt, Lewis is still in only his second year of F1. You go back to Fuji last year in terms of how he handled the safety car, it was ridiculous."

    Jenson Button also denied that drivers were specifically targetting Hamilton – and reckoned Fernando Alonso's claims he wants to see Felipe Massa win the title were just a bit of fun.

    "If somebody has a problem with someone then they voice their opinion, but no one has targetted another driver," said Button. "There's never any arguments between drivers. There's never really any bad banter.

    "Alonso is only saying what he has said because he just wants a reaction from everyone. He is not in the championship, so he just wants a bit of action. It's quite comical really."
     
  2. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2005
    23,478
    KL, Malaysia
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    MC Cool Breeze
    it's pretty clear now most of the drivers have an issue with Hammi's antics.
     
  3. jk0001

    jk0001 F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2005
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    Jim
    Hambone drives like he is the only person on the track. Its only a matter of time before he has a big shunt and sends someone to the hospital or grave yard.
     
  4. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 12, 2007
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    Steve
    Oh dear jim your slipping, you missed out on this LH bashing report, being his biggest stalker.

    I'll have a word with him when I see him and let him know of your concern...;)
     
  5. jk0001

    jk0001 F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2005
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    Jim
    There is so much info on Hambone out there, its like walking across a cow pasture, you can't walk two paces and your standing in a pile of Hambone. Also I can just imagine what you will say to Hambone, bring your knee pads.
    :)
     
  6. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 12, 2007
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    Carefull pal..:mad:
     
  7. wheredidtheygo

    wheredidtheygo Karting

    Jan 23, 2006
    181
    Canada
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    Michael C.
    He has loads of talent and no fear it seems. All the LH "bashing" has been by us, arm chair quarterbacks, or couch racers. Now you begin to see that the ones that are on track with him are becoming a touched annoyed by his driving then it is time to call it like it is. LH is a massive talent great for F1, I just hope his talent does not get him into a room with no exit but a wall. We need guys like him in our sport but when most of the other drivers are voicing a opinion that is not 100% LH then maybe he should take notice. Before he ends up a big white elephant. IMO..
     
  8. tactical

    tactical Guest

    Jan 23, 2008
    857
    F1 driver today are not made of the same stuff. IMO Lewis a throwback to the 70s and 80s.
    But hey thats what you get when health and safety get involved these days.
     
  9. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
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    What a bunch of whining little b!tche$. I mean really!


    Webber wants to raise the issue of Hamilton's first corner move? Frickkin Webber?!?!?!? This is the same Webber that squeezed Massa down the front straight and pushed him over the pit-exit lines?

    Kubica thinks Hamilton did wrong when he squeezed Glock at Monza? What about when Kubica did the *exact* same thing, was it at the Canadian GP?

    How many times did many many many of the other drivers lock up going into turn 1? Alonso, M. Schumacher, Kimi and all the others have done exactly the same thing. There isn't a driver among them that hasn't overcooked it into turn 1 and locked up.

    Speaking of dangerous, how dangerous was Massas move on Hamilton, turning him around in the middle of the track right into a pack of cars moving at race speed?


    I don't know - it just comes across as sour grapes to me. Hamilton is leading the WDC. Hamilton is an aggressive driver. Hamilton isn't a member of the GPDA. Put them all together and what do you get? Whiny little b!tche$, it seems.
     
  10. tactical

    tactical Guest

    Jan 23, 2008
    857
    Nicely put:)
     
  11. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ

    Nov 11, 2003
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    Anthony T
    Trulli really is a whinging little beeyotch, Mr. Don't Pass Me as I have a heavier car, complaining about Hamilton. What a fckng joke. And Mark Webber same mentality. Bunch of Beeyotch's..........

    Mike your spot on as usual.
     
  12. maxorido

    maxorido Formula 3

    Jul 6, 2006
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    Jim
    Indeed, spot on.
     
  13. cig1

    cig1 F1 Rookie

    May 3, 2005
    2,914
    In front of you
    Thank You Sir !!!

    G
     
  14. orange

    orange Karting

    Sep 25, 2008
    74
    I like that LH really pushes the limit and race like a racer. But it will be a race uphill with everyone against him.

    Other drivers probably envy what he's got at such an early age, but his on-track and off-track antics certainly won't help him being WDC anytime soon. Now he has to earn it twice as hard.
     
  15. rmani

    rmani F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2003
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    +1
     
  16. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    IMO the powers that be are just reeling in LH cuz they know the guy's here to stay and will see his day but in the meantime they have to make things more interesting. LH's peeps probably know this and have to just play the game.
     
  17. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 12, 2007
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    #17 kraftwerk, Oct 16, 2008
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2008
    Well yes, but why make it so damn obvious, do they think F1 fans are brain-less muppets that will keep paying to watch a farce.

    When MS had the WDC wrapped up halfway through the season, I didn't feel like turning off the TV or stop going to races, apart from the US tyre farce, I admit I wanted to see him beaten, but I had loads of respect for his skill, but this blatant complete utter lunacy of giving penalty's after the race, and the inconsistant calls, and no consideration given to the gravity of the offences is going to stop me, and already I know alot of folk that have just turned it off, true race fans!, will Bernie and are resident fiendish pervert Max care ..........NO!
     
  18. 1_can_dream

    1_can_dream F1 Veteran

    Jan 7, 2006
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    Kyle
    +1

    I'd much rather watch the remaining races with the championship already won rather than watch a race see the finish and then wait to few hours to see who the FIA wanted to win.
     
  19. tactical

    tactical Guest

    Jan 23, 2008
    857
    There is a side of me that hopes (unrealistically maybe) Lewis wins this years Drivers championship. Then quits the sport telling a few home truths about the FIA. That controversial move would be good and send shock waves through the sport i believe. Doubling up that the F1 world would never know how great he might have been or not even.
    If he did win he could then retire knowing that he has achieved his dream, although the hard way.
     
  20. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    I think MS was too good to stop and he pretty much proved that. LH is young and aggressive to the point where he makes a few mistakes here and there that they can nail him for to clip his wings a bit.
     
  21. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
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    It may be sacreligious to say it on here, but I remember another driver who was constantly getting $h!t on by his fellow drivers - a fellow by the name of Michael Schumacher. Do you guys recall the fallout from his maneuver in Monaco at Rascasse? All the other drivers piled on him. Remember when he got pushed out of the gravel at one race in 05 or so? He was strung up and flambe'd by his fellow drivers. Remember when the car was crap, was it 04? or 05? And MS had to really drive at 10/10ths every moment to even finish mid-field? He was super aggressive then too... I remember him putting up a HUGE fight not to get lapped by Webber in a Jaguar. Webber had a lot of words to say about that too.

    So I am loving that Hamilton reminds me of my all-time favorite driver - MS. I also fully realize that drivers of lesser talent love to whine and complain about the top guys. Think about it - how can Webber NOT be jealous? He's approaching the twilight of his F1 career, he's had varying levels of opportunity in some fast and not-so-fast cars, he's never really been talked about, he's never been considered a top guy, he's never been offered the really big bucks. And he's on the decline in F1. Then along comes Hamilton... way younger, and in his 1st year, he's on his way to winning the WDC, is the darling of the international F1 press, and it's being said how he will easily earn a billion dollars during his career. And he doesn't want to subject himself to group-rule by the GPDA.

    Yeah, of COURSE Webber has a bug up his ass about Hamilton. Just like Webber (and many of the others - notably Alonso, Trulli and some of the others) had about Schumacher.
     
  22. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Jun 23, 2003
    100,524
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    Peter
    i was thinking the same thing (but without the bs)

    the driver who's the most in the spotlight will cop the most crap being thrown at them.

    someone further back down the grid might do all the same things, but who'd notice?
     
  23. FERRARI-TECH

    FERRARI-TECH Formula 3

    Nov 9, 2006
    1,677
    Los Angeles
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    Ferrari-tech
    Very well put. Even though I never liked MS, and would not piss on him if he was on fire, I have a huge amount of respect for his talent and commitment. It was win at all costs and when you are racing for wins thats what it takes. These modern F1 drivers seem to be a bunch skirt wearing "pay check" drivers, then along comes LH, he does not tow the company line and actually races, and is not afraid to try a move, DC, YT and Friends have been to happy to trail around in 12th, cash the checks and go home safe and sound. Lets get back to the days when Ayrton punched EI for the way he drove in Japan one year. These tarts need to sack up, ( try racing a motorcycle before you complain that F1 is dangerous) if they have a problem with LH, take him out back and figure it out, otherwise keep quiet. They are all totally jealous and envious of his talent and opportunity.
    I would much rather KR wins but with all the *****ing I have to look out for LH
     
  24. maxorido

    maxorido Formula 3

    Jul 6, 2006
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    Jim
    +10000
     
  25. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ

    Nov 11, 2003
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    Anthony T
    Mike, correct as usual, Senna also got the samething, all the greats did............
     

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