(from autosport) Lewis Hamilton has not learned anything from last year and will throw away the Formula One title again, according to Renault boss Flavio Briatore. Last year, the McLaren driver lost out to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by one point despite having a 17-point gap with just two races to go. Hamilton leads Ferrari rival Felipe Massa by five points with two races left, including this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai, where the McLaren driver made a costly mistake last year and ended up stuck in the gravel. Briatore is convinced Hamilton will not win the title this year either. "In my opinion Hamilton will try again to throw away the title," Briatore was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "He and McLaren were good last year already: to lose it with a 17-point advantage with two races to go is worthy of the Guinness World Records. "If someone gets in the Guinness like that, he can really repeat himself with just five points of advantage. In my opinion Massa will win the title." He added: "Hamilton hasn't learned anything: we saw that in Japan. He should be told he is an F1 driver, not a martian. He is no Muhammad Ali. He is a youngster who still has to show his worth. "He's a good driver, but the good drivers are also the ones that bring the results home. There are good forwards in football who always hit the post or the crossbar, and they just can't score. Then there are those who can throw it inside the net, and he is not one of them, for now. "It's logical for me to root for Ferrari, as an Italian, as Flavio Briatore, and as Renault, for the relationship we have with Ferrari. McLaren, by contrast, accused us of espionage: we went on for four months for a silly thing that didn't exist."
what's the relationship with Ferrari? That Alonso will be driving for them next year, perhaps? (after buying out kimi's contract, of course)
Both Renault and FIAT are mass producers of popular automobiles. Their concerns, as far as rules and regulations go, are certainly more closely related than with BMW or Mercedes, who are in a different market. It would make sense their respective F1 outfit - Renault Sport and Ferrari - would be have a closer relationship, particularly as Briatore is Italian, and Todt was French.
Briatore is right that Hamilton will not win the title this year. But it won't be because of his mistakes, but because the FIA takes away his points and hands them to Massa. Current tally: 9 points
Fact is that based on race results as the checkered flags fell this year, the gap between Hamilton and Massa is not 5, but 14 points. Fact is that people who know the sport darn well questioned the stewards ruling and find it a disgrace and unexplicable. People like Nikki Lauda or the Speed commentators. To name just a few. So you can find my comments ridiculous (couldn't care less), but the fact remains that people whose opinion actually matters because they have lived the sport, see the manipulation and the gifting of points that is going on.
I'm not trying to, they will always believe what they want. Merely putting it out there for the swing voters. If Massa wins the title with less than a 10 point margin, he will become the most undeserving champion in the history of F1. Something that will make at least Keke Rosberg happy.
What about Kimi by 1 point last year,and only got that win by Massa sacrificing a home win.BTW no Rosberg jokes,his career-in-a year stats dont reflect his greatness.
Yes, Kimi got lucky and Massa "gifted" him some points, true. But there is a difference whether drivers do that to each other or whether the sports authority does it at the green table. Also Kimi got close several times to the title and it was finally his. Similar to Mansell: When he won the title, it wasn't that impressive because a lot of driver would have won in that car. But it was karma's payback for all the times he got so close (e.g. exploding tire in Australia). That's the difference to Massa: He never was really close to the title. As far as Rosberg is concerned: He did a lot of great drives, but that 82 title ended up in his lap by default. Still he had to drive for it, but it wasn't really impressive. Particularly since it was his only real shot at the title.
About Kimi yes,03 and 05 were those close years.But in those afformentioned years you know I was rootin Schumster till the death,still am just in a different way.In 05 when those stupid "1 set of tires per races(aimed just at us)" took us out of contention rather earlier than usual,I was rooting Kimi over Alonso.Strange considering my pure hatred for McLaren.As for Mr Mansell,he stated in a recent interview that his one of worse "almost there" years was 87.He hated Piquet.Mansell battling the McLarens and the "street-fighter" pipped all of them to the title.He hated Piquet almost as much as I hate McLaren.That's crazy considering a quarter of my hatred can have you formulating a Ron Dennis assasination.LOL
Felipe will have been doomed via an engine failure at Hungary and the disaster in Singapore. With 2 victories there he is ok for the title. Id love to see your bravado and personally address him if he wins that he doesnt deserve it. I will make it plain as another poster has before - Felipe has completely beaten the reigning WDC in equal machinery this year. Period. He deserves it if LH throws it away again. Felipe is Ferrari this year, it certainly isnt Kimi. Felipe has met the challenge of LH, who is not above mistakes and extremely poor tactical judgement. Fact - Ferrari have damaged Felipe's title more than the FIA have helped it. Fact - the drivers themselves have had no problem with the Spa incident and said they would keep on racing. They keep on showing up. That says it all and to boot alot of them prefer Felipe for the title. Good for Felipe. I find it laughable to see the lack of support for the driver that has kept Ferrari in the chase this year. Amazing. I have no illusions about the FIA and its mistakes and lack of consistent oversight by the way. That is beyond even the drivers control. I dont think Felipe has the Stewards on his speed dial. MS has Felipe on his. That says alot. I hope for 2 good races and that Felipe gets the title. To say he is undeserving is just a bit ridiculous. Make sure Kimi is on the phone when you let Felipe know he is not worthy because he wins by less than 10. Kimi fits your criteria as well along with alot of FIA influence last year. Its just racing and life goes on.
If I ever had the good fortune of meeting Felipe in person of course I would congratulate him on his title and his victories. I would never be so tactless to offend a driver in person. As much as I critizice them on here, they're all my heroes. The "mediocre midfielder" included. He isn't so mediocre this season, otherwise he wouldn't be so far up in the ranking. Without the FIA's help, right now he'd be 3rd, well ahead of his team mate (as you pointed out). It is not Massa's fault that the FIA is playing favorites. Good for him, bad for the sport. But not his problem.
Well put Andreas, very well put. And if Alonso or MS where in that car, they would not need the FIA's help.
+1 True, so if Max and Bernie want a good show, they can insist on, FA in a Ferrari, and Bernie can then disappear up Porno Max's backside, and keep out of it!! ,Job done.
Considering how often Massa and Kimi for that matter have been let down by the team, Massa deserves every bit of the WDC. He has fought hard and yet remained humble in the face of success. Hamilton doesn't appear to have any humility and certainly no tact at all.
+1 I would like to see a Ferrari 1-2 with LH third, then a win in Brazil for FM to wrap it up....Hungary and Singapore were horror shows for FM and none were his fault. People on this site seem to have forgotten the brilliant start and drive FM had in Hungary where LH was clueless despite sitting on the pole in the car that was supposed to be better suited to that circuit.
