F1: Hamilton down to earth with a bump

May 25 2007 Western Mail

LEWIS HAMILTON suffered his first crash of a grand prix weekend as the young Briton slammed into Monte Carlo’s tyre barriers.

Hamilton’s run of good fortune on his debut season in Formula One has clearly come to an end around the streets of the principality.

In yesterday’s first practice session for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, the starter-motor on his previously untroubled McLaren failed.

To compound matters, a piece of the machinery broke off and flew into the gearbox, which led to mechanics removing the floor of the McLaren to gain access and make repairs.

The 22-year-old managed only 14 laps in the 90-minute morning run, but was still second quickest behind team-mate Fernando Alonso.

The championship leader was back on track yesterday afternoon, and he again only had Alonso ahead of him when he ran into trouble 56 minutes in.

Emerging out of the start/finish straight, Hamilton’s attempt to turn the car through Sainte Devote and up the hill ended with him smashing into the tyre barrier.

He was quickly out of his car and clearly unharmed, if just a little shaken, and was later seen waving to fans as he made his way back down the pit lane.

One poignant camera shot, though, showed Hamilton’s new ‘bling’ helmet perched on the front of the stricken McLaren after it had been lifted by crane off the track.

Sporting the words ‘Monaco 2007’ in diamonds on each side as a gift from famed jewellers Steinmetz, it was proof that not all glitters in Monaco.

The rest day today, unique in the Formula One calendar, will at least allow the McLaren mechanics ample time to make the car as good as new in preparation for tomorrow’s qualifying session.

Sainte Devote also caught out Anthony Davidson as he spun in his Super Aguri and nudged the tyre wall prior to Hamilton’s shunt, as Alonso was quickest in the afternoon as well.