Im beginning to have a problem with Hamilton, and ironically its got very little to do with the guy himself, he seems pleasant when interviewed, races well and has generally behaved himself. Unfortunately, the constant stream of hype, not to mention the atrocious way in which ITV coverage has lost all sense of balance (I, for one, am sick of Brundle & co demanding that whichever driver is on screen is ousted so that they can bask in some more hamilton glory) has left me all but wanting him to throw it in the barriers to simply shut people up!

Now, we’re seeing the scales tipped so far as to have the FIA investigate maclaren simply because they issued standard “hold station” orders and/or had the audacity to choose pit strategies that meant Alonso: the driver who qualified fastest, put in the fastest race lap, made no glaring mistakes and in general did everything necessary to earn the win, actually did so.

It was almost as though they were told to cover the start and not throw the race away into turn one. (Fair enough, I s’pose) Then do a few laps so the team can decide who is faster, and then that person will be allowed to go on and win. A bit like Australia 1998 when Hakkinen and Coulthard had their agreement: ‘The one to the first corner first gets the win’.

I have no issue with drivers backing down after the final round of stops. It would have been exciting if Massa could have challenged more and forced the McLaren’s into pushing constantly to the chequered flag, but the Ferrari just wasn’t up to it. But I do have a problem with deciding the outcome of race based on the given lap times set in the first or second stint.

I just can’t get that start out of my head, especially after we saw Hamilton nab a few places into turn one in previous races, including Fernando on occasion.

@sidepodcast: Yeah, the British media is pretty immature. It’s a great shame really, but it’s probably the same the world over. I also see a little immaturity in Hamilton. But I don’t see petulance yet, just an ego that is growing way too quickly.

@Ankit: It would have been great if Raikkonen had qualified better, I think the McLaren’s may have been pressured more had that happened and they probably wouldn’t have backed off so much.

I mean one lap they are racing tail to head ,and the next lap they slow down by over 2 seconds and no longer challenge each other.

I agree that this must happen all the time, but the fact is that only 2 cars were in contention for the top two places at Monaco, and to see them not race with each other was a letdown.

this weeks ‘i had more laps, but they wouldn’t let me race’, is but one of many gaffs.

as for the british media…ahh, forget it. what’s the point? they’re all waste of space. Kevin Garside is the worst. but i hate them all equally.