Hamilton seeks last hurrah in Sepang
KUALA LUMPUR: Lewis Hamilton says he is “loving” his world championship battle with Sebastian Vettel so much that he has banished any thoughts of retirement as he heads into Sunday’s last- ever Malaysian Grand Prix.
At Sepang a year ago Hamilton thought the world was against him, spouting conspiracy theories when his Mercedes engine exploded while leading, which handed a 23-point championship cushion to team-mate and eventual champion Nico Rosberg. It left the three-time world champion at such a low ebb that there were rumours he could retire.
But a rejuvenated Hamilton this season broke Michael Schumacher’s record for career pole positions, and even spoke about attempting to match the German great’s record 91 race victories after his 60th win – and third in a row – in Singapore.
“I definitely have thought about (retirement),” the Mercedes driver admitted on a British TV chat show at the weekend.
“But then we’re in the heat of this battle right now and I’m loving it more than ever. It’s the greatest feeling ever so I’m going to keep going for as long as I can
But then we’re in the heat of this battle right now and I’m loving it more than ever. It’s the greatest feeling ever so I’m going to keep going for as long as I can and see what I can do. Lewis Hamilton, three-time world champion
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
and see what I can do.”
Hamilton’s calamitous luck of last season has turned full circle, epitomised by his win in Singapore 10 days ago after polesitter Vettel’s Ferrari was shunted by Max Verstappen and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen on a rain-sodden first lap. Hamilton, who started fifth on the grid, avoided the carnage and emerged victorious to extend his championship lead over Vettel from three to 28 points with six races to go, starting with Malaysia’s swansong. Wolff warning But Mercedes chief Toto Wolff warned Hamilton to stay focused as the championship is far from over.
“We will need to be on top of our game at every track to maintain our lead,” said Wolff. “The last race was a strong reminder that sport always has the power to surprise. We have been on the receiving end of those bad memories before.”
Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene vowed to keep the pressure on Mercedes. “Singapore doesn’t mean the battle is over,” he said. “Just that it has become more difficult.”
Vettel will look to strike back on a track where alongside Schumacher he has the best record of any driver, with four victories. Hamilton’s lone Malaysian success came in 2014.
A year ago Red Bull, who this week announced Aston Martin as title sponsor from 2018, benefited from Hamilton’s meltdown as they completed a one-two and they have been getting steadily stronger.
Daniel Ricciardo 12 months ago shared a “shoey” – champagne from his driving boot – with Max Verstappen after his surprise win. But a group of over- exuberant Aussie fans were arrested for celebrating by stripping down to their underwear, a huge no-no in conservative Malaysia.
“My victory last year was def initely unexpected,” said Ricciardo this week. “It just goes to show you never know what can happen.”
One certainty is that the drivers wil l not return next year to experience the heat, humidity and unpredictable weather of steamy Sepang that have made the race a classic since it joined the calendar in 1999. Chequered flag for Sepang In April Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced this year’s race would be the last. The vast stands at the Sepang circuit, which can accommodate 120,000, drew just 45,000 in 2016 and TV ratings were poor.
“Last year, the numbers were really bad,” Datuk Razlan Razali, the chief executive of the government- owned circuit, told AFP.
The government, he said, was forking out US$ 67 million annually to stage the race. “Two numbers we looked at, spectators going to the track and TV ratings,” said Razali.
“At the end of the day, hosting
- 2001: Schumacher the rain man -
A THIRD- LAP cloudburst made the track almost undriveable, but despite a spin on to the grass and a minute-long pit stop to clear debris from his damaged car, the peerless Michael Schumacher proved king of the wet by managing to lap five seconds quicker on intermediate tyres than the other drivers tip-toeing around on full wets. The German surged from 11th to the lead leaving his Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who finished second, almost 24 seconds adrift.
- 2003: Young Raikkonen’s first victory -
A 23-YEAR- OLD Kimi Raikkonen took full advantage of an uncharacteristic and spectacular first-lap blunder by Michael Schumacher to claim his first Formula One victory in his McLaren. The flashpoint of a frenzied race came at the second turn as Ferrari’s Schumacher, who had started third on the grid, attempted to beat Jarno Trulli’s Renault on the inside and smashed the Italian off the track, damaging his own front wing. Schumacher, who eventually finished sixth, admitted he was to blame. The race saw the emergence of another future world champion, Fernando Alonso, who claimed his maiden pole position and his first podium finish when he placed third for Renault behind Barrichello’s Ferrari.
- 2009: Button storms to half- a-win -
BRAWN’S Jenson Button was deemed the winner with Nick Heidfeld’s Sauber second and Timo Glock’s Toyota third after the race was red-flagged and then abandoned after just 31 laps of 56 when a ferocious thunderstorm flooded the Sepang circuit. It was only the fifth time a Formula One race had been abandoned because of weather, and a large part of the blame was laid at the door of Formula One supremos who pushed the start back to 5pm to attract a bigger Sunday morning TV audience in Europe. With not enough time to allow the track to dry before darkness fell, only half the championship points were awarded.
- 2012: Alonso escapes to victory -
FERNANDO Alonso survived a rain suspension of almost an hour, a rash of spins and a strong late challenge from Sauber’s flying Sergio Perez on a drying track to claim a surprise first win in eight months. Alonso arrived at Sepang as nobody’s pre-race favourite in an underpowered and clunky Ferrari, but emerged from the chaos caused by incessant heavy rain at the head of the pack and doggedly clung on. After a final pit stop for dry tyres, Perez pushed hard for his maiden win. He was closing fast and looked about to steal victory until he overshot a turn with six laps remaining, allowing the Spanish double world champion to escape from his clutches. Perez still claimed his first podium place in second, with Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren third.
- 2016: Hamilton’s epic meltdown -
DANIEL Ricciardo’s victory was overshadowed by Hamilton’s emotion-fuelled outburst that he was the victim of a Mercedes conspiracy after his engine exploded spectacularly when leading with just 15 laps to go. “No, no,” he cried as flames appeared and 25 world championship points disappeared in a puff of smoke. “Someone needs to give me some answers because this is not acceptable. We are fighting for the championship and only my engines are failing,” Hamilton wailed before later clearing the air with the team. Red Bull’s Ricciardo didn’t care, as he celebrated with a podium “shoey” – drinking champagne from his driving boot. Nor did Nico Rosberg, whose more reliable Mercedes picked up 15 points for third to extend his championship lead to 23 when Hamilton had looked assured to take over at the top. The drama proved pivotal when Hamilton won the final four races of the season, only for Rosberg to take the championship by just five points. — AFP Formula One is about promoting the country as a global destination and if the numbers are not there, the investment is not justified.”
There will be one new face in the pit lane as young French GP2 champion Pierre Gasly, 21, will make his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso after replacing Daniil Kvyat, who has managed just four points this season. — AFP