Was Lewis Hamilton Guilty of stealing a win in Belgium?
The Belgium Grand Prix was three weeks ago and still, everybody’s talking about it.
If you didn’t catch what was the most entertaining race of the 2008 F1 season, it was in Belgium where Lewis Hamilton, trailing race leader Kimi Raikkonen, straight-lined a chicane (among other things…) to overtake the Ferrari in the last three laps of the race to win. And mind you, this was after McLaren was charged for stealing sensitive Ferrari material a season ago.
A few days later, the stewards penalized Lewis Hamilton, demoting him from first place to third while awarding the win to Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who finished behind Hamilton for second fastest.
That let Felipe Massa to further cut into Hamilton’s lead for the drivers’ championship. He trails Hamilton by just a single point. Hammy has 78 while Massa has 77.
All these factors make the 2008 F1 Singapore Grand Prix this Sunday must-see TV. Aside from the fact that this will be the first ever night race in Formula One, the probability that the race for the drivers’ championship stays as it is right now is next to zero.
It is understandable why McLaren - Mercedes is appealing to the ruling back in Belgium. If the FIA agrees with McLaren, they will get the six points snatched away from them back, further extending his lead over Massa from one point to seven.
Yes, this year’s F1 world championship may depend on how the FIA handles this situation.
‘’The last thing I wanted to do is crash into him. When you have gone so far, you want to finish the race,'’ Lewis Hamilton said of his battle with Kimi Raikkonen in Belgium.
‘’We had a great battle and there was no need to take stupid risks, so I had to cut the chicane. I’ve since studied the footage about 10 times and I can remember it vividly like it was yesterday.'’
‘’I believe I then gave the advantage back. I honestly, hand on heart, feel I did so.'’
Who will win the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.
Kimi Raikkonen 2.75
Lewis Hamilton 3.00
Fernando Alonso 7.00
Felipe Massa 7.00
Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more F1 betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.
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