Lewis Hamilton says bitter Malaysian chapter closed, looking to win Chinese GP – Formula 1
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, has put behind the Malaysian Grand Prix incident and is looking to the Chinese Grand Prix as a winning opportunity. Talking about the 20 seconds penalty, Hamilton commented that it did not dent an already disastrous weekend.
Hamilton was head-to-head with the race leader Sebastian Vettel when his tyre selection strategy hindered his chase. Hamilton put on the hard compound of Pirelli in the second pit-stop and was eyeing to finish the race distance of about 30 laps on that.
The strategy could have worked and Vettel would not have been able to come first as the German was on a softer compound and had a pit-stop due. However things did not go well for Hamilton, as his tyres did not last long.
Hamilton’s first position was compromised, but he was going for the two lower steps of the podium when Fernando Alonso of Ferrari hit his car from the back. Hamilton describes the incident as, “When Fernando [Alonso] hit me, and the floor (of the car) was
damaged at the rear so I probably lost some down force.” After this accident not only Hamilton lost his podium opportunity but had to do another pit-stop which compromised his place to seventh.
That is not all, as the race stewards found out that Hamilton moved twice in an overtaking manoeuvre which is not allowed according to the rules and hence he was penalised. Both Hamilton and Alonso had 20 seconds added to their total times. Alonso’s position
was not compromised as he still sits in sixth position behind his team-mate Felipe Massa but Hamilton drops down one place to eighth.
“He [Alonso] got a 20-second penalty, but it didn't really do anything for him. It doesn't exactly work out as a penalty. As for me, I only lost one spot,” said Hamilton. The Brit added that Malaysian Grand Prix is over and his total concentration is to
perform well in the Chinese Grand Prix.
“This is one of those days you have to take on the chin, and so I now go to China aiming to win. I'm only looking forwards,” added 2008 world champion.
The Chinese Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on 17 April. It will be interesting to see how Hamilton is able to put the nightmare of the Malaysian Grand Prix behind him and battle it out for top honours.
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