From BBC Lewis Hamilton has not given up on retaining his Formula 1 title but admits his McLaren car is a long way behind Jenson Button's Brawn. Going into next weekend's Monaco GP Hamilton is seventh in the standings, 32 points behind Button. He said: "Brawn have a championship winning car. It is going to be tough but the ambition is always to win. "If we've still not scored many points by the time we get to mid-season, we may have to knock it on the head." Button has won the four of the first five races, and lapped Hamilton in the last outing, in Barcelona. Hamilton added: "We hope that something clicks with our car and it gives us the downforce that we need. Then, we will be right back up there. "But Jenson is doing a great job. I have known him since I was nine-years-old and I wish him all the best." Hamilton holds out some hope of a better finish on the slower and highly technical Monaco GP course. "It is not really a high speed circuit so the gap between ourselves and Brawn will be a lot less than it was in Barcelona," said Hamilton. "We can take a step closer to them and be challenging for a top five place." There is a video and a debate about Mclaren cost cutting http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8050697.stm Don't know if it works across the waters though..
I'am going to stick my neck out and say LH will finish in the top 5, if he doesn't hit anything or likewise nothing hits him.. Ok a bit lame I know.
Ferrari should be thinking the same way. They have a vastly better car than the McLaren yet we already hear the team throwing in the towel on this season. Hamilton is thinking the way a champion should...that it's NEVER over until it's over. EDIT: Still, I like Jensen's chances a LOT.
What's wrong with it Jim!! seems a honest account of where he is at to me. And he wishes JB YOUR FAVORITE DRIVER! well.
I like Hamilton's thinking: "I'm the champion, until proven otherwise" I did not like him last year, because he wasn't in a red car. But from what I've seen of him lately, the man has my respect.
+1 [I'm not saying it's going to happen, but 32 points as this stage isn't a lot.] Source please? I certainly haven't heard anything (from any credible sources) about 'em quitting and working on the 2010 car. Sure, there's plenty of naysayers here who who have already given up, but there's a long way to go. Cheers, Ian
I wonder if Max will intervene when Button is about to wrap up the title halfway the season. Maybe a three race ban for his racesuit being too white?
Glad you asked...this is from Felipe Massa's post-race comments: Q. With the speed of the Brawns and the points' advantage Jenson has, do you realistically think you can catch him? FM: In the championship? No, I don't think so. We need to be realistic. After five races they won four. Even if we improve massively and we are three or four tenths if front of them they will still score points. So forget it. I didn't say anything about working on the 2010 car...there may not even be one (of course, that's all posturing imo), but I don't like these "the WDC is already over" What if JB's car fails the next 2 races? Then it's WIDE open.
True, but it can be just as quick the other way....it is strange the big 2 have taken such a big hit in performance this year. However I'am not complaining..
My bad. Sorry, I thought you meant the team quitting. FM's comments are, as he says, realistic but not a "quit" IMHO. He's not going to say "well, if JB's car breaks for the next 8 races we've got a chance".
I know Andreas believes Ferrari and Mclaren haven't got a shout this year, he is probably right, however LH has some points and so does Massa and Kimi, Ferrari's car is now alot better.. so we shall see, I just wonder what the outcome of all this mither will have on team moral though. Maybe none and they both still push hard, but if Ferrari really do quit next year, I doubt they will, but do the workers know that. Yes I like russian roulette.. Kimi's WDC not alot saw that one coming so late on.
I'm waiting for the tech and stat crew on FC to inform us of the teams with torque and low speed cornering superiorities. As McHam mentioned, Monaco's uniqueness might be an equalizer of sorts, perfect for an upset from the frequently erratic, routinely rattled and rueful Italians. Or not.
Had 3 drivers very close in points then. 5th race in and Ham got lapped...not looking like he's going to pull a Kimi this year.
