[hLabXZlK]

Why would Bernie tell Marca that McLaren screwed up by taking a neutal posture in last seasons wdc? I don't want to get into all the partculars of the last three races, but Fred was fighting for his 3rd wdc. That part is over!
Now Bernie has got to start spewing on McLaren.
What a D!(k:

Bernie blames team for Lewis' lost chance

February 1, 2008

(AP Photo CHX108)
Bernie Ecclestone believes McLaren cost its driver Lewis Hamilton the 2007 Formula 1 championship.

The F1 chief executive said in a Spanish newspaper, Marca, that the British team's neutrality toward its drivers kept Lewis from becoming the first rookie champion
'The team let him down' - Ecclestone
.

"Lewis could have won - the team let him down," 80-year-old Ecclestone said.

He added that it was better that Fernando Alonso returned to Renault after a disappointing year with McLaren "because the truth is that he wasn't happy where he was".

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 Drivers' championship by one point from Hamilton and Alonso. - Sapa-AP

[Zpxbawtz]

I think he's trying to arouse more interest in the Spanish GP by making those rather inflammatory remarks to a Spanish news outlet.

After all, wouldn't that equate to more money for him?

[hLabXZlK]

I think there is going to be plenty of interest in the 2008 Spanish GP!

I'd like to here from the McLaren Fans
Is he appealing to your affection for Lewis, a sense of fair play, and propriety,
or is this another pot shot at McLaren?
I swear to god that guy could turn me into a Maca' fan

[EnubreBense]

Honestly, what should have Bernard say to Marca? That McLaren should have favoured Alonso through the whole season?
*What was the question posed to him?
* If Ecclestone was even asked anything about the subject
* if there even was this interview at all

The editor of the story seems to be of the opinion that Ecclestone seems to be of the opinion that the last two races weren't completely Hamilton's own doing, something which I tend to agree. Had the team done better, Hamilton could have won the wdc as Bernie suggested.

[hLabXZlK]

Honestly, what should have Bernard say to Marca? That McLaren should have favoured Alonso through the whole season?
*What was the question posed to him?
* If Ecclestone was even asked anything about the subject
* if there even was this interview at all

The editor of the story seems to be of the opinion that Ecclestone seems to be of the opinion that the last two races weren't completely Hamilton's own doing, something which I tend to agree. Had the team done better, Hamilton could have won the wdc as Bernie suggested.

"Lewis could have won - the team let him down," 80-year-old Ecclestone said

That's the answer! How important is the way the question was framed, or even it's context.

Are you saying the error was McLarens?
I mean there was the matter of the FIA intervention.
Hamilton was the one that got himself beached in Shanghai.
He was the one who was feeling the handling of the car.
A more seasoned driver would have been proactive, and said "This things a sled, I'm comming in boys!
I think it's a bit of a reach to blame McLaren for that.
I've never heard a satisfactory explanation for his transmission glitch
at Brazil.

[EnubreBense]

That's the answer! How important is the way the question was framed, or even it's context.

It sort of is, If Marca asks do you think Lewis could have won the wdc and Bernies says what he says, there is nothing wrong in his answer.
Are you saying the error was McLarens? IMO McLaren had some fault in the way the last two races went down

Hamilton was the one that got himself beached in Shanghai.
He was the one who was feeling the handling of the car.
A more seasoned driver would have been proactive, and said "This things a sled, I'm comming in boys!
I think it's a bit of a reach to blame McLaren for that. Is it really? A more adept team would have played it safe and taken Hamilton, a rather inexperienced driver to the pits, who if my memory serves me right, warned the team of the cars handling
I've never heard a satisfactory explanation for his transmission glitch
at Brazil. And you won't hear any, unless someone comes out and says something you already believe was the case.

[hLabXZlK]

"And you won't hear any, unless someone comes out and says something you already believe was the case."

I'll go along with your explanation of the shanghai incident. If that is true, It is a compelling arguement that McLaren "shares" the blame.

Which explanation do you accept about the extended period of time hamilton spent in nuetral. I honestly didn't know there was an accepted one. Is there!

[EnubreBense]

I'm fine with both, either Hamilton dropped the ball or that there was glitch in the car, heck, it could even be both.

[pataagusata]

I think Bernie's just ticked off because he would have made a lot more money if Lewis had been WDC! He doesn't dare blame Lewis, so who's next in line? Team McLaren!

[Lebybynctisee]

Why would Bernie tell Marca that McLaren screwed up by taking a neutal posture in last seasons wdc? I don't want to get into all the partculars of the last three races, but Fred was fighting for his 3rd wdc. That part is over!
Now Bernie has got to start spewing on McLaren.
What a D!(k:

Bernie blames team for Lewis' lost chance

February 1, 2008

(AP Photo CHX108)
Bernie Ecclestone believes McLaren cost its driver Lewis Hamilton the 2007 Formula 1 championship.

The F1 chief executive said in a Spanish newspaper, Marca, that the British team's neutrality toward its drivers kept Lewis from becoming the first rookie champion
'The team let him down' - Ecclestone
.

"Lewis could have won - the team let him down," 80-year-old Ecclestone said.

He added that it was better that Fernando Alonso returned to Renault after a disappointing year with McLaren "because the truth is that he wasn't happy where he was".

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 Drivers' championship by one point from Hamilton and Alonso. - Sapa-AP

Personally, I think Bernie is trying to suggest (correctly, IMHO) that there was no favouritism for either driver, thus trying to placate Alonso's fans.

And I also think that both Lewis and his team are equally to blame for losing the WDC. Lewis made a big rookie mistake (and fair play, he didn't make too many, did he?) in Shanghai, and who knows what happened in Brazil? It's one of those Mansell in the Williams at Canada conundrums.

[vNZsk39B]

I think Bernie's just ticked off because he would have made a lot more money if Lewis had been WDC!

How come? Do he get a commission of Hamilton's income or what way Bernie would make more money If Lewis won the title?

[8jIDXQ80]

How come? Do he get a commission of Hamilton's income or what way Bernie would make more money If Lewis won the title?

Because he probably sees Hamilton as the most marketable commodity in human terms in F1, and I think he's right about that.

As far as I'm concerned, though, Hamilton never lost his chance to win the WDC. He had the chance and he cocked it up. The chance was always there.

[HBPujWBe]

Why would Bernie tell Marca that McLaren screwed up by taking a neutal posture in last seasons wdc? I don't want to get into all the partculars of the last three races, but Fred was fighting for his 3rd wdc. That part is over!
Now Bernie has got to start spewing on McLaren.
What a D!(k:

Bernie blames team for Lewis' lost chance

February 1, 2008

(AP Photo CHX108)
Bernie Ecclestone believes McLaren cost its driver Lewis Hamilton the 2007 Formula 1 championship.

The F1 chief executive said in a Spanish newspaper, Marca, that the British team's neutrality toward its drivers kept Lewis from becoming the first rookie champion
'The team let him down' - Ecclestone
.

"Lewis could have won - the team let him down," 80-year-old Ecclestone said.

He added that it was better that Fernando Alonso returned to Renault after a disappointing year with McLaren "because the truth is that he wasn't happy where he was".

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen won the 2007 Drivers' championship by one point from Hamilton and Alonso. - Sapa-AP

The Spanish media aren't exactly known for their unbiased reporting skills in the F1 community.

I suspect someone has twisted Bernie's words.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I've always had the impression that when Bernie said McLaren let Lewis down it was down to poor decision-making skills on race day, not because over which driver should have more backing?

[8jIDXQ80]

The Spanish media aren't exactly known for their unbiased reporting skills in the F1 community.

This is another possibility, of course.

[inve.tment]

"Lewis could have won - the team let him down," 80-year-old Ecclestone said. I don't think Bernie is saying anything that many others haven't already said. Of course Hamilton could have won the WDC but hindsight doesn't change things.

[hLabXZlK]

Little Big Man!

[pIp83Uns]

Hamilton could have won if the team had done things differently, but so could Alonso. But they didn't, and Kimi won, but then if Massa's car hadn't kept breaking he'd have probably beat the lot of them...if if if

[hLabXZlK]

As far as I'm concerned, though, Hamilton never lost his chance to win the WDC. He had the chance and he cocked it up. The chance was always there.

You might even say he "queered" the deal!

[pataagusata]

How come? Do he get a commission of Hamilton's income or what way Bernie would make more money If Lewis won the title?

Publicity and name recognition translates directly into money in F1. Anything that has the F1 logo on it when it sells puts money in Bernie's pockets!

[Jxlacvio]

If mclaren had favoured one driver then that driver would have been world champ. Of that there is no question.