Lewis Hamilton’s quest for the Formula One world championship was destabilised last night by one of the sport’s leading figures, who claims that the British driver will squander the title again.
Flavio Briatore, the flamboyant Renault boss who manages Hamilton’s arch rival Fernando Alonso, taunted the championship leader going into tomorrow’s penultimate race of the season in China.
The Italian said: ‘In my opinion Hamilton will throw it away once more. He and McLaren were amazing last year. To lose the title with a 17-point advantage (over eventual champion Kimi Raikkonen) with two races to go is worthy of the Guinness Book of Records.”
However, Briatore added: “Hamilton hasn’t learned anything. We saw that in Japan last week (when he was scoreless following an early mistake).”
‘He should be told he is an F1 driver, not a Martian. He is no Muhammad Ali. He is a youngster who still has to show his worth. He’s a good driver, but the good drivers are also the ones who bring the results home.”
The Italian also blasted McLaren, who were fined $100 million and stripped of their constructors’ points for a spy saga involving Ferrari last season and also made allegations against Renault.
“It is logical that I support Ferrari, as an Italian, as Flavio Briatore, as Renault, for the relationship we have with Ferrari,” he said.
“Instead McLaren accused us of spying, we went on for four months with this nonsense that never existed.”
When Lewis was asked about his opinion he said “I don’t have an opinion on it. I focus on my job and that’s the most important thing. I think we can be competitive this weekend and challenge for points and try to win. What the others do is none of my business.”
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