CHINA: Fans react after dramatic Grand Prix in Shanghai

Fans of McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton rue missed chance as drivers' championship thrown wide open in Shanghai. There was heartbreak for McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton and his fans as Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen turned the Formula One title battle into a three-way fight in the last race in Brazil on Sunday (Ocfober 7) with victory in China after championship leader Hamilton skidded out. Hamilton's double world champion team mate and closest title rival Fernando Alonso finished second with Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa third. It was an afternoon of delight for Ferrari and heartbreak for Hamilton, who had hoped to become Formula One's first rookie champion with one race to spare, the Briton's overall lead was trimmed to four points over a delighted Alonso. And his fans were left rueing a missed opportunity to claim the driver's championship in the Chinese financial capital of Shanghai. "Seriously disappointed. I don't know whether it's a blister on his rear left tyre but he should have won it today. Kimi did a good show but we're all looking for Hamilton to win today," said Colin Gunn. "You know, what can you do? At the end of the day, you just go with the flow, and the winner won and we live for next week," said Michael Windeler. But Alonso fans cheered the result as the title race goes went the wire in Brazil in two weeks time. "Yeah, well in the beginning I was a little bit worried because I saw that Hamilton was way ahead. But then when his car died, it went all exciting again. So I am quite happy about it. It was a nice race and I hope Alonso makes it to the world champion again," said Tomas Gonzalez. Raikkonen, whose cause had looked desperate only a day before, has emerged as a real threat to McLaren's hopes of a first title since Mika Hakkinen in 1999 after clinching Ferrari's 200th grand prix win. Hamilton has 107 points, Spaniard Alonso 103 and Finland's Raikkonen It will be the first time since 1986 that three drivers have remained in contention to the last. And Ferrari fans are sensing Raikkonen has the momentum to stage a late grab for the title. "Kimi's drive was very disciplined and very determined. So it was really nice. I think he has a good chance at the championship in the next race. I think it's going to be an exciting race. I feel bad for Hamilton though, he could have won the race today," said Aushay Sahni. Hamilton had led Raikkonen from pole position while Alonso lagged in fourth place after trying and failing to pass Massa for third at the start. Neither of the leaders changed their wet tyres at the first pitstops, despite the tread being almost worn smooth, and Hamilton was already struggling to control his car before he tried to make his second stop. Toro Rosso's German Sebastian Vettel finished fourth, with Briton Jenson Button fifth for Honda. Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi was sixth for Toro Rosso, with Nick Heidfeld seventh for BMW Sauber and David Coulthard taking the final point for Red Bull.

ITN Source | October 8, 2007

Tags:. .yeah. .honda. .disappointed. .delighted. .smooth