F1: Hamilton in the clear to secure world title

Oct 6 2007 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

LEWIS HAMILTON’S bid to become the first rookie driver to win the Formula One world championship was firmly back on track yesterday after he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the accident involving Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel at the Japanese Grand Prix.

But the 22-year-old has revealed he is becoming disillusioned and hinted he could walk away from the sport if distractions off the circuit continue to overshadow his achievements on it.

He said the incidents away from the track were “a shame for the sport” and if they continue “it’s probably not somewhere I really want to be”.

The McLaren star had been under investigation by the FIA for erratic driving behind the safety car as new footage had come to light regarding the incident on lap 45 of the 67-lap race.

The footage was a video said to have been recorded by a fan in the grandstand at the Fuji Speedway and posted on YouTube.

It appeared to show Hamilton veering off to the right of the track and braking excessively in the last part of the circuit, in turn causing Webber to slow down and Vettel to run into the back of the Australian’s Red Bull.

It was brought to the attention of the stewards by Vettel’s team Toro Rosso in a bid to have the German’s 10-place starting grid penalty for tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix thrown out.

However, it led to closer scrutiny by the authorities of Hamilton’s behaviour behind the safety car in what were appalling conditions.

If found guilty Hamilton was, at the very least, likely to have been hit with the same penalty as Vettel but could also have had the 10 championship points he picked up after taking the chequered flag at Fuji in impressive style annulled.

But after a meeting involving all three drivers and representatives from each team yesterday, it was decided no further action was to be taken against the Briton, while Vettel also had his penalty reduced.

Hamilton will warmly welcome the stewards’ decision after he had earlier hinted he could walk away from Formula One if politics continued to overshadow his performances.

“It’s just a shame for the sport and if this is the way it’s going to keep going then it’s probably not somewhere I really want to be,” he said.

“Formula One is supposed to be about hard competition, fair and that’s what I’ve tried to do this year, just be fair.

“If I’ve been in the wrong, I’ve been the first to put my hand up, or apologise at least, and I don’t mind being given a penalty but there’s been some real strange situations this year.”

Hamilton holds a 12-point lead over closest challenger Fernando Alonso and will also become the youngest driver to win the world championship if he drops no more than one point to Alonso in tomorrow’s race, which is expected to again take place in wet conditions due to a typhoon hovering menacingly off the coast of China.