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Boss hails Hamilton as 'faultless'
TEAM principal Ron Dennis hailed Lewis
Hamilton's performance as faultless'' after
the McLaren driver produced a dominant
performance to take the opening Grand Prix
of the season in Melbourne.
Having qualified on pole, Hamilton led for
the majority of the 58-lap race around Albert
Park before crossing the line 5.4 seconds
ahead of Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber with
Williams driver Nico Rosberg back in third
as only seven cars made it to the finish.
It was the manner of the 23-year-old's victory
that so impressed Dennis as Hamilton
negotiated three safety car periods that twice
saw a comfortable advantage erased.
Each time, the seemingly unflappable Brit
set about the task of re-establishing his authority
with the minimum of fuss and admitted
afterwards he was also driving well
within himself.
Dennis was quick to pay tribute to Hamilton's
measured approach.
It was faultless because even with the
most experienced people in Formula One, it's
the most difficult place to be leading the
race,'' he said.
That's when a mistake costs you so much.
To lead a race and pace yourself, look after
your tyres and all the other things, that is
when you really have to drive so carefully -
not driving on the limit.
It's when you're not at 100 per cent that
you make mistakes, we know that from the
past. It's the discipline that makes the race
so good for him, doing what we have to do to
win.''
Although Hamilton's team-mate Heikki
Kovalainen saw hopes of a podium place
dashed when he was forced into the pits for
fuel shortly after the final safety car was deployed
- the Finn eventually finished fifth -
it was still a pleasing start to the season for
the Woking-based team.
But while McLaren were celebrating, it
was a disastrous weekend for rivals Ferrari
as both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa retired
with engine failures, although the former
did gain a point after Rubens Barrichello's
Honda was disqualified for a pitlane
infraction.
11:07am Tuesday 18th March 2008
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