Strife in the fast lane for Lewis
Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chairman Webber and Jarno Trulli are to raise recent incidents involving Hamilton at today’s drivers’ briefing at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Both Webber and Trulli insist they are not picking on Hamilton, who has faced a storm of criticism of late in relation to his on-track performances.
Robert Kubica last week sparked the furore by slating Hamilton for a number of moves in the rain-hit Italian Grand Prix last month.
Hamilton then caused his own downfall in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix with a late braking manoeuvre into turn one after seeing Kimi Raikkonen overhaul him on the run down to the first corner.
Raikkonen was forced off the Fuji Circuit, resulting in Hamilton incurring the wrath of the stewards for the sixth time this year as he was hit with a drive-through penalty.
The outgoing world champion slammed Hamilton’s error, calling it “an inexplicable mistake,” while former three-times champion Jackie Stewart felt the 23-year-old was being “slightly arrogant.”
It means Webber will now raise the late-braking matter with race director Charlie Whiting in front of all the other drivers.
The Australian is looking to make clear the situation, not just for Hamilton, but all concerned in the hope of avoiding a future recipe for disaster.
“The braking areas are an issue because you cannot move around in the braking areas like that,” asserted Webber.
“We lost a marshal at Monza (2000 Italian Grand Prix) when there were guys moving around in the braking areas.
“When you look at the first corner in Fuji it was pretty wild. He (Hamilton) was having a crack.
“But if someone had been sitting on his right rear when he pulled out there, then that was a crash.
“There was also no way he was going to make the first corner, and whilst it is not illegal to outbrake yourself, we want to have a bit of a chat about moving around in the braking areas.”
As for Trulli, he will draw to Whiting’s attention Hamilton failing to allow the Italian by when he was leading in Fuji and the Briton was trailing at the back of the pack.
“I am definitely unhappy with Hamilton,” said Trulli.
“I was leading the race and he was lapped, but for two laps he held me up. Lewis did not even watch the mirrors.
“He probably should have paid more attention because he was more or less out of the race. He was dead last. I don’t understand why he did what he did.
“I feel it is unfair to talk about it with him personally. It is better to discuss it with him and tell him (at the briefing).
“I will go into the drivers’ briefing and I will tell Charlie what happened and say Lewis could have handled it a different way because it wasn’t fair.
“I am not going against anyone. I am not the kind of person who if I don’t get on with them I make it a war of words.
“I just want an easy life without fighting. I just want to make the sport fair for everyone.”
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