Planet-F1

Surprised Lewis defends Belgian manoeuvre

Monday 8th September 2008

Lewis Hamilton has defended his move at the Belgian GP which saw him demoted from first down to third place after controversially being retrospectively penalised.

Hamilton was involved in a ding-dong battle with Kimi Raikkonen when he was forced to cut straight through the chicane at Spa-Francorchamps.

The move saw Hamilton overtake the Ferrari man but immediately he slowed to allow the Finn back in front, knowing that he would be handed a penalty if he did not.

23-year-old Hamilton legitimately passed Raikkonen soon after but hours after the race the FIA stewards then revealed that they had decided to demote the Briton down to third for his actions.

Hamilton instantly saw his Drivers' title lead skimmed from eight points to two and, as McLaren launch an appeal, the driver insists he acted properly.

"It began to rain," said Hamilton.

"I caught Kimi and I got a good tow from him down the back straight and I was in a good position to dive down the inside at Turn 18.

"He covered his spot, which was fair, but he braked very early, so I was able to outbrake him and go around the outside, which I did.

"I left him enough room. I didn't close the gap so much that he had to go on a kerb.

"Yet he accelerated, or picked up more pace going into the corner, and drove me as wide as he possibly could. I had no road left.

"There was a question I had to ask: if I stay where I am, I'm going to go over the Astroturf - there's some of it behind the last kerb - or go over it and hit him. Or I go left.

"That was the option I had to do, and I did it.

"But I knew I had to let him past, and also the team came over the radio and said 'you have to let him past' which I did.

"I was accelerating so that I didn't lose too much ground because I thought that would be unfair.

"Fortunately I got back in his slipstream, and again he moved to the inside and back to the outside.

"Again, I dodged him and went up the inside and at the apex to the corner he hit me at the back, and that nearly caused me to spin.

"Fortunately I kept hold of it and went on from there. That was a great fight and I don't think there was anything wrong there.

"The rules say you should let him back past which I did."

Asked as to whether he would be surprised if the stewards punished him, Hamilton replied: "Absolutely, absolutely.

"This is motor racing and if there's a penalty, then there's something wrong because I was ahead going into that corner, so I didn't gain an advantage from it.

"We were still able to race at the next corner and I gave him his spot back, and I think it was fair and square, so I think it would be absolutely wrong."

FIA rules state that is not possible to appeal in relation to a drive-through penalty, but the case could now go to the FIA Court of Appeal.

Related Links
Hamilton stripped of Belgium GP victory
McLaren to appeal Hamilton penalty