Hamilton eyes strong result

Hamilton was forced to make a handful of apologies in the wake of his controversial sixth-placed finish in the principality 10 days ago.

Initially Hamilton "made peace" with the four-man panel of stewards after suggesting, via an obvious joke that badly backfired, that his skin color lay at the heart of their choice making.

The 26-year-old vented his frustration against the stewards after being penalized three times over the path of the weekend, and five times in six races this year.

Hamilton was given drive-through penalties - one looking back - for causing a collision with first Felipe Massa in his Ferrari and then Williams' Pastor Maldonado, the latter at a time when he was on course to score his first points for the team.

The McLaren star described the Brazilian and Venezuelan as "ridiculous" during his post-race outburst, later apologizing to both men via his Twitter account on which he had also been ill-treated in the aftermath of what unfolded.

Hamilton has already made it clear a invasion in one of his favourite races, the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend, will help put the stigma of what happened in and after Monte Carlo behind him.

Aiming for a third win in five races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Hamilton said: "Montreal is a very special place for me.

"It's where I took my first Formula One pole location and won my first race. I also won there last year from pole.

"I've always got on actually well with the track as the layout seems to suit my driving style.

"Perhaps even more prominently the fans in Montreal, and everyone in North America who makes the trip to the city, are some of the best in the world.

"They are so positive, helpful and friendly. My trips to the city have been some of my favourite experiences in Formula One.

view this : perry scales, usa movers, home products

Mark Webber doubts rescheduled Bahrain GP will happen

The Australian, 34, said: "Even though a decision has been made, I'll be highly astounded if the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead this year."

Bahrain was due to be the season-opener on 13 March but was called off due to unrest and pro-democracy protests.

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, agreed generally on Friday to restore the race to the calendar on 30 October.

Webber, writing on his official website, added: "In my personal opinion, the sport should have taken a much firmer stance earlier this year rather than constantly delaying its choice in the hope of being able to rearrange it in 2011.

"It would have sent a very clear message about F1's place on something as fundamental as human rights and how it deals with moral issues."

The government has cracked down hard on resistance activists during 11 weeks of martial law and military trials of mostly Shi'ite dissidents are continuing.

The FIA's choice to reschedule the race - with India moving to a December date - was a move strongly criticised by human rights campaigners and also opposed by teams.

"It's obvious that the parties involved have struggled to reach a choice but sadly I feel that they still haven't made the right one," said Webber.

view this : perry scales, usa movers, truck scales, home products

Hamilton: Don’t anticipate much from DRS in Monaco

Lewis Hamilton believes that the choice to allow DRS in the Monaco Grand Prix won't lead to a huge increase in overtaking.

On the whole, the system has led to a obvious increase in passing manoeuvres during the season so far, although the location of the DRS zone in Spain at the weekend meant drivers found it more hard to use their blown rear wing to make a move for position.

There had been talk that DRS could be barred for the Monaco weekend given the nature of the circuit, but the FIA has established that the rear wing can be utilised in a zone on the start-finish straight during the race.

However, Hamilton said he didn't think there would be many DRS-assisted moves for place in the principality given the position and length of the DRS zone.

“I think the DRS zone at Monaco is only around 300 metres, so it's pretty short, and not really long enough to allow us to really get enough of a launch on the car ahead,” he said. “I think the aerodynamics will only really start functioning properly once we've reached the braking zone for Ste Devote, so I don't think we'll see too many DRS-assisted overtaking moves next weekend.”

Hamilton did add however that the new Pirelli tyres were probable to spice up the action on the streets of the principality.

“I think the tyres will probably give us the greatest scope for thrill and the best chance of passing,” the McLaren man said. “While I don't think the Super-Soft and Soft compounds will be as critical around Monaco as they were at a place like Turkey, I still think the drop-off we encounter as the tyres go off should create opportunities for overtaking.

view this : truck scales, moving quotes, perry scales

F1 leader Vettel wins Turkish Grand Prix

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel cruised to victory in the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday, winning ahead of coworker Mark Webber to get bigger his lead in the Formula One standings.

The F1 champion, who has three victories this year, was never in problem at Istanbul Park after starting from the pole for the fourth successive race and winning by a contented 8.8 seconds.

"Throughout this race we had this cushion and were able to act, quite than react," the 23-year-old Vettel said. "We never really had anybody close at the back, which would have been a different situation."

Vettel leads McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by 34 points and Webber by 38.

"I think the day you start to think you are invincible is the day you get beaten, for sure," Vettel said. "There is always someone, at some point, who teaches you a lesson, who gives you a hard time and beats you."

Vettel is even less likely to get approved away after four races, given the championship went down to the final day last year.

"We saw how quickly these things changed last year; it was very close," Vettel said.

view this : perry scales, home products, moving quotes

Smoke to swap rides with F1's Hamilton

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and 2008 Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton are exchange race cars at Watkins Glen International.

The Mobil 1 Car Swap will take place June 14 at the well-known road course in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Hamilton will take laps in Stewart's No. 14 Chevrolet and Stewart will climb into the cockpit of team Vodafone's McLaren Mercedes MP4-23.

"Tony and I will have some fun with the swap and make sure we put on a good show," Hamilton said of what will be his first foray in a stock car. "It's a racer's circuit and will give us both the chance to appreciate the differences between the two styles of racing at this legendary track."

Each will drive the long course at The Glen, which is 3.4 miles through 11 turns. NASCAR uses the 2.4-mile short course, which doesn't comprise the famed Boot section, but Stewart, who has a record five Cup victories at Watkins Glen, has determined it in a Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race.

"When you've been around spirited racing for as long as I have, you really look forward to new experiences, and this car swap with Lewis is absolutely one of those opportunities," said Stewart, who also won an IndyCar Series title. "I already have quite a bit of respect for what Lewis and the F1 drivers and teams do, so to experience laps in the cockpit of an F1 car and see what Lewis can do in the Cup car is amazing I am really excited about."

The Glen became world-renowned by hosting the United States Grand Prix from 1961-1980 and has been home to NASCAR Sprint Cup races since 1986. This season marks the 50th anniversary of The Glen's opening F1 race.

Details of how many laps Stewart and Hamilton will make are still being worked out. They'll follow the lead of Jeff Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya, who swapped rides at Indianapolis in 2003 when Montoya was heavy in F1. 

view this : moving quotes, perry scales, home products

Webber ponders F1 future before Turkey

Mark Webber has not lined out finding a new Formula One team if Red Bull don't offer him a new agreement at the end of 2011.

The 34-year-old was widely predictable to retire if no new deal was forthcoming from Red Bull but told Italian newspaper La Stampa on the eve of this weekend's race in Turkey he still has amazing to offer.

"I have my flaws, but I'm strong-minded," Webber said.

"Last year I fought for the title, and I want to go for it yet again When this season ends my agreement with Red Bull will expire.

"If the team doesn't want me anymore, I will have to react to a good question: to hang up the helmet, or to change teams? Let's see what happens."

The Australian will be hoping for a alike drive in Istanbul to his last outing in the Red Bull car when he came from 18th on the grid to finish third in China.

The Turkish grand prix was the scene for Webber's much publicised collision with coworker Sebastian Vettel last year.

Webber was foremost the race when the pair came together as Vettel tried to pass, allowing McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton to grasp a win while teammate Jenson Button came second.

Webber was able to direct his stricken car to a third-place finish but the incident forced Vettel to leave and began the rumour mill about a split in the Red Bull garage between the two drivers' camps which rumbled all year.

Despite that incident, Webber said he was looking onward to returning to Istanbul Park.

view this : perry scales, moving quotes, home products

Whitmarsh: Lewis will remain at McLaren

With McLaren stressed at the start of this year's Championship, rumours emerged claiming that Hamilton is allowing for looking elsewhere for a race-seat.

The 26-year-old didn't help the rumours with his contradictory statements.

While in one breath he affirmed that "loyalty has its limits" in the next he insisted that he is "committed to them. I want to try and help them as well as becoming one of the most winning drivers myself."

Whitmarsh, though, believes it's only a matter of time before Hamilton commits his long-term prospect to the Woking team.

But, having said that, he's in no rush to start contract talks.

"Lewis has a long career ahead of him and I think he's intelligent sufficient to realise that the environment he has here is good for him and plays to his strengths," said the McLaren team boss told the Daily Mail.

view this : texas coatings, perry scales, home products, moving quotes

Race - Hamilton takes sensational Shanghai win

Lewis Hamilton scored a tremendous victory for McLaren in a Chinese race of excellent drives, catching and passing Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel on the 52nd of the 56 laps as the reigning world champion's risk on a two-stop strategy - and a 25-lap run on Pirelli's hard rubber - just failed to pay off.

Behind them, Mark Webber troop a brilliant race from 18th to third in the second Red Bull, only seven seconds behind Hamilton, after transmittable and dispatching Mercedes' Michael Schumacher and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, then doing the same to Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes and McLaren's Jenson Button in the final stages.

It was an unusual race, that began with Button and Hamilton leading from Vettel, before Vettel repassed them as the first pit stops were made. He jumped Hamilton just previous to his stop on Lap 13, but admitted he was somewhat confused when leader Button initially drove into the Red Bull pit before anxiously being waved through to McLaren next door!

Rosberg had stopped on Lap 12 and then had a curse in the lead for Mercedes from Lap 17 until he stopped again on Lap 25. That put Vettel back in the lead awaiting he stopped for the second and last time on Lap 31, whereupon Massa had a spell in front. The Brazilian was right back on form, contentedly outpacing team mate Fernando Alonso this day.

view this : moving quotes, perry scales, texas coatings, home products

Vettel Rolls In Shanghai P1

Carrying the energy of wins in both of the season's first two races, Sebastian Vettel looked every bit as strong in gap practice Friday at Shanghai International Circuit.

Vettel, chasing the rare feat of initial a season with three straight wins, posted a quick lap of 1:38:739 to easily beat out coworker Mark Webber in the sister Red Bull RB7.

Webber, at 1:39:394, was the only other driver to eclipse the one minute, 39 second fence as third-place Lewis Hamilton (1:40:845) was more than two full seconds back of Vettel.

Jenson Button, who reported throughout the practice that his KERS system wasn't working, and Nick Heidfeld finished the top five.

The 90-minute session didn't turn out to Heidfeld's liking, however, as the German stopped his Lotus Renault GP entry on a wet track below overcast, hazy skies.

Heidfeld went over the curbs at Turn 10 and lost power, damaging his car.

Rookies Pastor Maldonado and Paul di Resta also spun, in that order, at different times.

view this : perry scales, chicago movers, texas coatings

Alonso rates his F1 rivals

Alonso was asked by Spanish paper AS to give his view on his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, current World Champion Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, McLaren duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton as well seven-time Champion Michael Schumacher.

Two-time Champion Alonso described Vettel as follows: "Very fast. Very fast and accurate. If he starts first in a race it is hard to stop him."

Mark Webber, who finished third in the Drivers' Championship last year is "experienced, calm and reliable. It is very difficult to see him fail."

Alonso believes his former McLaren team-mate Hamilton is "a great driver and one of the fastest of the present Formula One grid" while Button "has a great nature for difficult races in the rain or with the safety car in the dry".

As for Schumacher, Alonso says "he is the champion, we all respect him and he is a driver able of surprising".

And his views on his team-mate Massa?

"Very quickly, he knows the team, he ongoing with Sauber, but is now with Ferrari and very hungry to win."

view this site : chicago movers, moving quotes, chicago movers

Qualifying - Vettel takes vital Yas Marina pole

Sebastian Vettel will start the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix just where he wants, on pole position after lapping his Red Bull in 1m 39.394s. But the most important qualifying session of the year was a major disappointment for the team mate Mark Webber who managed only fifth place in 1m 39.925s and will be separated from Vettel by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Jenson Button.

Earlier, Hamilton had been fortunate to avoid the contact with Felipe Massa when, after a big slide on his first lap in Q2, he’d had to back off the pace and resumed just as the Ferrari was alongside. The former champion walloped a camera pole, but his McLaren did not sustain any damage and he recovered his momentum brilliantly to lap second quickest before his time eventually left him fifth in that session.

He already held second place as Q3 drew to its close, but trimmed his time down to 1m 39.425s to demonstrate to Vettel that he may yet have a race on his hands on Sunday. Alonso’s late improvement was bad news for Webber. The Spaniard lapped in 1m 39.792s to jump to third, ahead of Button on 1m 39.823s.

Webber will share row three with Massa, who lapped his F10 in 1m 40.202s, while Williams’ Rubens Barrichello’s 1m 40.203s left him seventh ahead of the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg on 1m 40.516s and 1m 40.589s respectively. Like Massa, both suffered in late-session traffic. Vitaly Petrov was 10th for Renault, with 1m 40.901s.

Vettel redefined the ante in Q2 with the fastest lap of the weekend thus far in 1m 39.874s, ahead of the revitalised Button, Rosberg, Webber and Hamilton. Further back, Robert Kubica surprisingly failed to make Q3, taking 11th place behind team mate Petrov with 1m 40.780s in a Renault that still seemed not to be running as well as it did on Friday.

Fernando Alonso has F1 title in his own hands

Fernando Alonso has the championship lead on his side as he aims to clinch the Formula One (F1) world title in a historic finale Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

But in a season of roller-coaster rides for all the stars, Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton are also in the frame.

It is the first time in F1 history that four drivers are in the title race ahead of the season-ender.

A simple engine failure in Alonso's Ferrari could for instance open the door for the others, he may be shunted off the track by another driver, make a mistake himself or have yet another negative experience with the safety car as has happened already three times this season.

However, Alonso has a third career title in his own hands as championship leader. He has amassed 246 points from 18 of 19 races, with Webber on 238, Vettel on 231 and Hamilton on 222.

Under the current system, the top 10 drivers get points in a 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1 format.

Alonso has done his maths and says 'I just need to finish second. It does not matter who wins in Abu Dhabi if I finish second'.

The Spaniard can also afford third place if Webber does not win, and fourth or fifth if Webber and Vettel do not win.

Webber will secure the trophy if he wins and Alonso comes no better than third. A team order of sorts may be used if Vettel leads from Webber and Alonso in the final lap, as Ferrari also ordered Felipe Massa to let Alonso pass for victory at the German GP.

Race - Alonso wins in Korea, double DNF for Red Bull

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso scored one of the biggest wins of his career in a rain-affected Korean Grand Prix on the Sunday afternoon, and a day of total disaster saw neither Red Bull driver finish. Mark Webber crashed out early while running second, and Sebastian Vettel’s engine blew up as he was leading on the 46th lap.

The result puts Alonso into an 11-point championship lead over Webber, 231 to 220, with just two races left.

As dusk fell and the race was just completed before the two-hour cut-off point, what had begun as impending disaster for the Korean race organisers turned instead into a brilliant triumph. But it was edgy. After the rain got heavier just before the start, the race was red-flagged after just two laps had been run behind the safety car. That led to a lengthy delay until it was resumed as conditions got marginally better, but after the restart at 16.05 the safety car continued to lead the field for another 15 laps before racing finally began on the 18th.

Vettel sprinted into the lead from Webber with Alonso third and Mercedes GP’s Nico Rosberg deposing McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton for fourth. But then Webber spun and hit the wall in Turn 13 on the 19th lap, collecting Rosberg. Out came the safety car again until Lap 24, whereupon Vettel resumed control ahead of Alonso and Hamilton.

After their pit stops between Laps 31 and 32, Hamilton jumped Alonso for second as the Spaniard had a minor delay due to arriving slightly sideways and making it difficult for mechanics to reach the right front wheel, but they were racing under the safety car again after Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi had taken out Virgin’s Timo Glock on the 31st under braking for Turn Three.

As racing resumed on the 35th lap, Hamilton ran wide in Turn One as his front wheels were locking, handing second back to Alonso. And that’s how it seemed likely to stay as Vettel built a lead of 2.7s by Lap 41. But then Alonso and Hamilton began to move in, and going into Turn One on Lap 46 the Ferrari dived inside the Red Bull to take the lead. On the exit to the corner Vettel’s engine blew, and as Mark Webber breathed a sigh of some relief, Red Bull had their head in their hands.

Now it was Alonso’s race to lose, but though Hamilton gave it everything he had, annihilating the Ferrari in the first two sectors, Alonso was able to make it all back in the final one. Towards the end Hamilton dropped back, keeping a badly worn right front intermediate tyre alive, and was 14.9s adrift as a delighted Alonso took his fifth win of the year and his 26th overall.

F1 cars ready for Friday's Korean debut

The F1 Korean Grand Prix starts its three-day event Friday at Yeongam in South Jeolla Province, with 24 drivers from 12 teams and their machines now gathering, along with hundreds of staffers.

The drivers can practice up to three times from Friday to Saturday noon, ahead of a qualifying session to try and take poll position.

Qualifying will take place over three occasions. In the first 20-minute time race the slowest seven drivers will get grid positions 18 to 24 and the second 15-minute race will decide the next order of the next seven drivers.

The remaining 10 drivers will compete for poll position in the final 10-minute session.

As the Korean Grand Prix is holding its inaugural race the drivers have less information on whether the Korean International Circuit is easy to overtake or not.

For that reason, the drivers are likely to focus on the qualifying sessions as the starting positions could have a huge bearing on the end result.

Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing leads the drivers’ championship with 220 points, Spanish hero Fernando Alonso of Scuderia Ferrari-Marlboro and Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing shared second with 206.

The top 10 finishers are awarded points on a sliding scale, with the winner receiving 25, while 10th place gets a solitary point.

While the drivers could add up to 75 points in the last three events, two Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will need to shine to keep alive their slim hopes of winning the championship.

Hamilton: Now is the time to fight

After three retirements from the last four races, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton knows he cannot afford another DNF in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix if he is to keep his title hopes alive. He also knows, however, that an overly cautious approach could cost him the points he needs to close with the championship leader Mark Webber.

Hamilton finished third at the Suzuka last year - his first Formula One race at the legendary circuit - when McLaren were outpaced by the likes of Red Bull and Toyota. This season, the former champion is out to make amends.

“Suzuka is very much unfinished business for me,” he said. “I raced the best I could last year, but our car just wasn’t fast enough. This year, I’m holding nothing back - I need a strong result to get my title hopes back on track, and that will be my complete focus from the moment I first sit in the cockpit on Friday morning.”

Hamilton limped out of the last round in Singapore with suspension damage after contact with Webber’s Red Bull, which stewards deemed a racing incident. The preceding round at Monza ended in similar fashion after he ran into Felipe Massa’s Ferrari; and he knows that Suzuka will punish any further errors.

“It’s a real driver’s circuit - you need to be committed and precise to do well there, and there’s no room for error either: no tarmac run-off, and all the barriers are pretty close, so any mistake is going to hurt your chances big-time,” he added.

Following Singapore, Hamilton dropped from second to third in the drivers' table and now has 182 points to Webber’s 202 and Fernando Alonso’s 191. With just four races remaining, and with McLaren struggling to match the pace of the Red Bulls and Ferraris, he knows he must attack in Japan.

“Now is not the time to hold back; now is the time to fight,” he concluded.

Lewis Hamilton has given the thumbs up to the proposed Indian F1 Grand Prix next year.

With Formula One's bosses giving a go-ahead -- subject to ratification after examining the track -- for the F1 GP to be included as the 20th race of a revamped calendar, starting next year, the former World champion said it will be a big success.

"The Indian Grand Prix will be the most spectacular F1 event due to the incredible fan support," said the Briton.

"It is the fans who make an event and here you have that element guaranteed," he added.

In Chennai, at the behest of promoters Vodafone as part of a contest, Hamilton also promised his participation in the proposed race.

"It will be a great moment to be in India and I will definitely be here," he said.

Asked if he feels India is, infrastructure-wise, ready to host an event of such magnitude, the Briton replied in the affirmative.

"India is ready for F1," said Hamilton.

"I have heard the track is ahead of schedule which is great. It is going to be spectacular to have a Grand Prix in New Delhi," he added.

The driver also talked about the possibility of F1 providing a solid alternative for cricket in India.

"Cricket, I know is huge in India and you guys are pretty incredible," said Hamilton.

"But with a Grand Prix in India and more exposure to F1 racing, perhaps kids can begin to think of race driving as an alternate sport.

"With more people and kids getting exposed to racing in India, they perhaps can aspire to become Chandhoks and Karthikeyans."

The champion driver also had a word of appreciation for Karun Chandhok , the lone Indian driver in F1 at present.

"Karun is young and it is great for him and for India (that he is in F1)," said Hamilton.

"I hope he gets better opportunities as he has a good future ahead of him.

"F1 is a tough sport but I am sure some opportunity will open up for him and he will get a better car," he added.

Hamilton: Most intense competition ever

Lewis Hamilton is loving what he feels is the most intense World title fight he has experienced.

For the third time in the four years Hamilton finds himself firmly in the hunt for a Formula One crown he agonisingly missed out on by a point in the 2007 before triumphing a year later in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The difference on this occasion is there are five drivers fighting to be champion, and with the level of competition of a far higher standard compared to 2007 and 2008.

With six races remaining ahead of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton leads by a slender three points from the Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who may have made mistakes this year, remains a dangerous opponent and is 31 points adrift.

The other two contenders, McLaren team-mate Jenson Button and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, like Hamilton, both know what it takes to become Champion.

"I've not been in this position before where so many drivers have been in the hunt," said Hamilton.

"It's a World Championship, the most intense competition I've ever experienced, and I love it.

"I'm racing against Mark, who has great experience, and two world champions, so I expect nothing but the best from them. Therefore I have to be at my best."

Arguably, Hamilton's own experiences of losing and winning a title in the most remarkable of circumstances stand him in far greater stead than any of his rivals this year.

"In terms of my own experience I've suffered the lowest of the low and enjoyed the highest of the high," added Hamilton.

"I've been to both ends of the spectrum and learned from different situations.

"In 2007 I made a lot more mistakes, and although I've grown a lot, I've still many more to make.

"But I believe that to this point I'm a much more whole and solid driver than in 2007 and 2008."

An easy assumption to make is that because of the gap Hamilton and Webber command over Vettel, they can perhaps afford to play a far more tactical game over the remaining races.

It is a suggestion Hamilton categorically dismisses, believing to do so would be a dangerous game that could easily backfire.

"You would be wrong to assume that because there are so many points available," said Hamilton.

"It would be easy to adopt that frame of mind, go into a race and the next thing you know I'm in that position.

"So I don't feel any different compared to the last race. For me the gap is nothing, we're all equal.

"That's my approach, that I still need to get as many points as I can."

Lewis ‘Dickhead’ Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton’s theatrics landed him in the trouble as he was fined by the police for showboating on a Mercedes-Benz E500 while in the Australia. The British driver, currently in the employment of McLaren-Mercedes Formula one team, was fined US $444 after being stopped by the local police.

The 2010 Australian Grand Prix was surely a race to forget for Hamilton who came sixth and more embarrassingly, 29.8 seconds behind his underdog team mate Jenson Button who claimed the pole. With his off track behavior, the McLaren-Mercedes driver has been dragged into the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

The embarrassment for him doesn’t end here, as the 2008 champion was called a ‘dickhead’ by the Australian Politician Tim Pallas, who happens to be the roads minister for Victoria. The rather blunt title is not down to some deep routed prejudice against the superstars; it is part of a government backed campaign for safe driving which carries the bold slogan ‘don’t be a dickhead’

The driver didn’t personally appear at his hearing in the Melbourne, probably because he had already confessed beforehand to the offense of the reckless driving and was thus convicted with the guilty plea. Thus, an offense that took place back in March has finally been accounted for. It can be argued that such high profile superstars, given their fame and influence, do merit a higher degree of responsibility on their part. Commenting on the whole saga, Hamilton claimed, "I have found this very upsetting because I am passionate about road safety and I do voluntarily carry out activities to promote international road safety, particularly among young adults."

Australian driver and fellow Formula1 compatriot, Mark Webber offered a more empathic front by criticizing the strict laws of Victoria that leave little margin for cutting loose a time or two – ‘A Nanny State’. While some might consider it a bold move standing up for a foreign driver and championship rival; putting the sense of national road security in the backseat was rather naïve of the Aussie driver.

Hamilton: Break wrong time for McLaren

Lewis Hamilton says Formula 1's summer break has come at the wrong time for the McLaren, just when the team needs to push ahead with the development of its MP4-25 to match the pace of the Red Bull and Ferrari.

With every team's factory closed during the summer break, there is little opportunity to improve the cars before the Spa in four weeks time. Hamilton, who retired with a gearbox problem in the Hungary, will have to wait another month before his team can attempt to close the gap.

"Of course [reliability] is a concern, but there's nothing I can do about it - so it's best just to focus on doing the best job I can with what I have," he said.

"There's nothing I can do, everything shuts down. They [Red Bull] are in a good position where they can go on holiday with a good car already, then they can come back and their car will be the same. Whereas we would of course love to improve our car over that period of the time, but we won't."

But Hamilton added that both McLarens have stayed in the title hunt so far this season without being able to challenge the Red Bull's outright speed.

"If they'd finished all the races where they've started them, they would be miles ahead, but they haven't," he said. "They've clearly had some reliability problems and some mistakes, and we've capitalised on it. We have to try to get as many points as we can and hope that some people have more than the reliability problems than we do."

He also played down the erruption of the row over flexi-wings in the last two grands prix: "I've seen the wings flex, but I don't know why it's an issue now - they've been doing it since China."

Lewis Hamilton hits back at Fernando Alonso jibe

Lewis Hamilton has accused Fernando Alonso of sour grapes as their bitter rivalry in resurfaced following Sunday's contentious European Grand Prix.

Alonso said that the race was "manipulated," and accused Hamilton of disrespect for overtaking the safety car in Valencia.

Specifically asked if Alonso's reaction was a case of sour grapes, the McLaren driver replied: "Yeah."

And Hamilton added: "I saw him overtaken by the Sauber. He must have been completely in another world."

Referring to Kamui Kobayashi's overtaking manoeuvre on Alonso on the penultimate lap, Hamilton added: "It's very unlike him to be overtaken by a Sauber."

For his infringement, Hamilton was handed and drive-through penalty but retained second place behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton

Current team	McLaren-Mercedes
Date of birth	7 January 1985
Place of birth	Hertfordshire, England
Car #	2
Races	61
Championships	1 (2008)
Wins	13
Podiums	32
Career points	383
Pole positions	18
Fastest laps	5
First race	2007 Australian Grand Prix
First win	2007 Canadian Grand Prix
Last win	2010 Canadian Grand Prix
Last race	2010 European Grand Prix
2009 position	5th (49 points)