Heidfeld: Lewis has yet to learn his lesson

Monday 13th October 2008

Nick Heidfeld believes Lewis Hamilton's rash move on Kimi Raikkonen in Sunday's Japanese GP is proof that the McLaren driver hasn't learnt his lesson from last year.

In 2007 Hamilton was on course to win the World title, holding an impressive 17-point advantage over Kimi Raikkonen with two races remaining.

However, nerves and rash decisions cost the Brit his shot at the title, allowing Raikkonen to walk away with it by one point in the Brazilian GP.

And this year Heidfeld fears Hamilton is repeating those same mistakes after an impetuous start in Japan on Sunday saw him handed a drive-through penalty for pushing Raikkonen off the track.

"I thought Hamilton would have learnt his lesson from last year," crash.net quotes the 31-year-old BMW driver as having told Motorsports-Magazine.

"He was told by his team in the last race to go steady. As far as I can see from the action replay, the scrap on the first corner wasn't necessary. Hamilton didn't need to do that."

Ferrari, though, have also been making mistakes with Felipe Massa also penalised after he put Hamilton into spin. The Brazilian did manage to recover to seventh place, closing the gap to Hamilton to five points with 20 still to play for.

Heidfeld summed it up best, saying: "McLaren and Ferrari have done themselves no favours."

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Your Comments

Gondo

"I am one of Hamiston's biggest fans. The worst we can do is to shoot the messenger. The facts are there for all to see. Heidfeld is absolutely right. Infact, Lewis owes his lead in the driver's chamopinship to the fact that the other drivers have been equally inconsitant. Had this been last year, Lewis would be out of the championship already. Massa dropped out of the championship fight last season after the Japanese race. He had 84 points at that stage if I remember correctly (23 points behind Hamilton). Come on Lewis, you are better than that. Go get it!!!!!!!!!"

Kennytime

"Having just seen a replay of the Japan GP start, I have to ask: HOW IN THE NAME OF GOD DID LEWIS EXPECT TO TURN INTO THE FIRST CORNER BARRELLING TOWARDS IT AT FULL BORE ... IT WAS ONLY A MIRACLE (and prudent driving from the rest of the front-runners) THAT HE DIDN'T TAKE OUT HIMSELF AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS ... THAT WAS JUST PLAIN STUPID LEWIS. "

KingofDefence

"This coming from Nick "Hasn't won a race in nearly 200 starts" Heidfeld? I never really had an opinion about him till this presumptuous spat. Hey Nick, win a couple races, then maybe you can have a shot at Lewis, eh? He is damn lucky Thiessen caved in and signed him before the Japanese GP. All he's doing is taking up space on that team."

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