From this Planet-F1.com article comes this: apparently is has been 43 YEARS since the last Formula 1 driver has been able to claim two podium finishes in his first two Grands Prix. That would take us back to 1964, I believe. Who was the driver?
Lewis says his next step? To win.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Hamilton says he "tricked" Massa...!
Here's a funny story. Lewis claims he tricked Felipe Massa into outbraking early in the Malaysian Grand Prix. And he then apologizes!
If I were Lewis, I might not have admitted something like that to the press, but just joked about it in the paddock with my team. No need to get Massa all riled up and seeking revenge...!
If I were Lewis, I might not have admitted something like that to the press, but just joked about it in the paddock with my team. No need to get Massa all riled up and seeking revenge...!
Second Place in his second race!
Wow. Just finished watching the live lap times from the Malaysian Grand Prix, courtesy "The Official Formula 1 Website", Formula1.com.
I missed the start, but apparently Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were able to get into first and second pretty quickly. Felipe Massa tried to make a move on Lewis early on, but couldn't make the pass stick. Alonso and Hamilton ran 1-2 until it was time for the first pit stops. Alonso pitted first, leaving Lewis in the lead, albeit briefly.
On lap 20, Lewis pitted, took on fuel, another set of softs and made a front wing adjustment. He rejoined the race in third and promptly set fast lap of the race.
Lewis took his second stop on lap 39, while running in second, about 8 seconds adrift of his teammate Alonso. He took on the hard tires and rejoined in 5th.
Alonso pitted on lap 40, Massa on 41, Raikkonen on 41.
In any case, after a flurry of pitstops by all the top teams, Alonso and Hamilton regained their 1-2 placings. However, either the hard compounds favored the Ferrari, or Raikkonen was particularly motivated... either way, he steadily closed on Hamilton. By lap 50, Kimi was only 3 seconds behind Lewis.
By the end of the race, Raikkonen closed to less than a second, but Hamilton held on for second place. Second place in only his second race!
How long since the last McLaren 1-2? Good job, guys!
I missed the start, but apparently Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were able to get into first and second pretty quickly. Felipe Massa tried to make a move on Lewis early on, but couldn't make the pass stick. Alonso and Hamilton ran 1-2 until it was time for the first pit stops. Alonso pitted first, leaving Lewis in the lead, albeit briefly.
On lap 20, Lewis pitted, took on fuel, another set of softs and made a front wing adjustment. He rejoined the race in third and promptly set fast lap of the race.
Lewis took his second stop on lap 39, while running in second, about 8 seconds adrift of his teammate Alonso. He took on the hard tires and rejoined in 5th.
Alonso pitted on lap 40, Massa on 41, Raikkonen on 41.
In any case, after a flurry of pitstops by all the top teams, Alonso and Hamilton regained their 1-2 placings. However, either the hard compounds favored the Ferrari, or Raikkonen was particularly motivated... either way, he steadily closed on Hamilton. By lap 50, Kimi was only 3 seconds behind Lewis.
By the end of the race, Raikkonen closed to less than a second, but Hamilton held on for second place. Second place in only his second race!
How long since the last McLaren 1-2? Good job, guys!
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Hamilton qualifies 4th at Sepang
After setting fastest time in the third and final practice session, Lewis Hamilton clocked a 1:36.045 lap to notch 4th position on the grid for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix.
Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Mercedes-McLaren) and Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), respectively, filled the top three slots on the grid.
Massa set a time slightly more than a full second faster than Hamilton, at 1:35.043. Yikes. But Hamilton mentioned during the post-qualifying press conference that he could have gone even faster:
"The car is working well and I think we could have had two cars on the front row. However when I came to Turn Seven it had started spitting with rain a little bit. I had experienced this at the test last week and knew it could be slippery, so I eased off a small amount. Apart from that everything went smoothly, and I’m confident for the race tomorrow. I’m on the clean side on the track and will aim to make a good start." (from Formula1.com)
Smart move to lift a little and still maintain a great qualifying position.
Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (Mercedes-McLaren) and Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), respectively, filled the top three slots on the grid.
Massa set a time slightly more than a full second faster than Hamilton, at 1:35.043. Yikes. But Hamilton mentioned during the post-qualifying press conference that he could have gone even faster:
"The car is working well and I think we could have had two cars on the front row. However when I came to Turn Seven it had started spitting with rain a little bit. I had experienced this at the test last week and knew it could be slippery, so I eased off a small amount. Apart from that everything went smoothly, and I’m confident for the race tomorrow. I’m on the clean side on the track and will aim to make a good start." (from Formula1.com)
Smart move to lift a little and still maintain a great qualifying position.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Hamilton 3rd fastest in Malaysia practice...
Lewis clocked a fast lap of 1:35.712 to record third fastest time in the first practice session on Friday at the Sepang circuit. Hamilton ranked right behind teammate Fernando Alonso and two places behind the Ferrari of Felipe Massa.
Interestingly, Lewis was a smidge quicker than the Australian Grand Prix winner, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Here's Lewis' quote from the post-practice press conference, taken from Formula1.com : "This is my first Malaysian Grand Prix, but I got to know the circuit well during last week’s test. The heat and humidity are as I expected and have trained for. The practice today was pretty straight forward, and we made further steps. The circuit conditions are constantly changing which makes it challenging to find the right balance. I’m looking forward to qualifying tomorrow.”
The Mercedes-McLarens bookended by the Ferraris. It's gonna be a great race!
Interestingly, Lewis was a smidge quicker than the Australian Grand Prix winner, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Here's Lewis' quote from the post-practice press conference, taken from Formula1.com : "This is my first Malaysian Grand Prix, but I got to know the circuit well during last week’s test. The heat and humidity are as I expected and have trained for. The practice today was pretty straight forward, and we made further steps. The circuit conditions are constantly changing which makes it challenging to find the right balance. I’m looking forward to qualifying tomorrow.”
The Mercedes-McLarens bookended by the Ferraris. It's gonna be a great race!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Hamilton: Starstruck by... Eddie Murphy??
This is a great (but old... 2006) interview of Lewis by Grandprix.com, in which one of the things he says is that he was never fazed by the great racing stars of the day but, "If I met Eddie Murphy or a movie star it would be like 'Wow!' but when it comes to motor racing I don't think like that."
I think that's hilarious.
I think that's hilarious.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Mansell: "No Doubt..." Lewis will win a Title
If I were Lewis... I'd DEFINITELY listen to Nigel Mansell.
Mansell, one of Britain's great motor racing heroes, was recently quoted in this article I found over at Sporting Life. Said Mansell, "He's already with one of the best teams in Formula One. If he stays at McLaren and the team stay as competitive as they are, I have no doubt he will win a World Championship."
Has Nigel been reading my mind or what?
And Mansell offered some words of advice for the young driver... and they had nothing to do with driving technique: "The only thing I would tell him publicly is try not to get caught up in the razzmatazz of F1 and get side-tracked from your objectives of getting podium finishes and winning races."
Solid advice.
Mansell, one of Britain's great motor racing heroes, was recently quoted in this article I found over at Sporting Life. Said Mansell, "He's already with one of the best teams in Formula One. If he stays at McLaren and the team stay as competitive as they are, I have no doubt he will win a World Championship."
Has Nigel been reading my mind or what?
And Mansell offered some words of advice for the young driver... and they had nothing to do with driving technique: "The only thing I would tell him publicly is try not to get caught up in the razzmatazz of F1 and get side-tracked from your objectives of getting podium finishes and winning races."
Solid advice.
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