McLaren Unveils MP4-25, 2010 Formula 1 Car

Like other F1 teams, McLaren publically unveiled its latest Formula 1 car -- the MP4-25 -- this week.

The MP4-25 is as different from last year’s MP4-24 as that car was from its MP4-23 predecessor. Drastic rule changes implemented over the past two years have kept engineers on their toes to ensure their cars remain competitive. Last year, the FIA drastically revised the aerodynamic regulations, requiring a smaller rear wing and a larger front wing. A new ban on in-race refueling forced the use of a larger fuel tank, which in turn required the car’s wheelbase to grow. Subsequently, McLaren redesigned its cooling system and electrical architecture to accommodate the tank.

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Hamilton Sr to launch F1 testing academy

Anthony Hamilton, father of world champion Lewis, is planning to launch a programme called GP Prep Drivers Academy to help young drivers to get testing experience in current F1 machinery.

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F1 fan who bet on a 13-year-old Lewis Hamilton to win world title is revving up to pocket £125,000

A Formula 1 fan who placed a bet on Lewis Hamilton to win the World Championship, when the driver was only 13, is revving up to pocket £125,000.

Hamilton, 23, needs to finish no lower than fifth to capture his first title at today’s Brazil Grand Prix..

In 1998, when Hamilton was just 13, a punter from Peterborough bet £100 with Ladbrokes that he would win the World Championship by the age of 25.

The mystery bidder, whose son used to race karts against Hamilton, said: ‘I just had a hunch he’d go on to bigger and better things.’

Hamilton narrowly missed out on winning the World Championship in the final race of last season.

He is 7-1 on to win today's contest and become F1’s youngest ever champion.

source: mail online

Sir Jackie reckons Hamilton can hang on this time

Sir Jackie reckons Hamilton can hang on this time

Published Date: 27 May 2008
By Ian Parkes
SIR Jackie Stewart believes Lewis Hamilton can hold onto his lead in the Formula 1 world championship, providing McLaren give him the car to do so.
Hamilton's triumph in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix was one to savour, with the 23-year-old becoming only the fifth Briton – after Stewart, Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and David Coulthard – to win around the streets of the Principality.

But Monaco th
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is year was one of those startlingly different races given the rain that caused havoc throughout, and the fact it is a street circuit like no other.

Returning to a normal track in 13 days' time with the Canadian Grand Prix, the question now is whether Ferrari will return to the dominance they enjoyed in the four previous races.

McLaren were quick, in particular in Turkey just over two weeks ago, but clearly not quick enough.

If Hamilton is to stay out in front for the remainder of the year – he now holds a three-point cushion over Kimi Raikkonen – Stewart feels McLaren have to raise their game.

"I see no reason why he can't stay there, but he is against two very good drivers in (Felipe] Massa and Raikkonen, and Ferrari are very strong," said the three-time world champion.

"McLaren are going to have to deliver a car capable of competing with them because he has the driving skills to do it."

It was in Canada last year that Hamilton took the outright lead in the title race, only to lose it – and the championship – in the final race in Brazil.

Stewart at least feels Hamilton has the mental strength to cope on this occasion, adding: "He will have learned a lot from last year.

"You don't gain knowledge without experience, and you don't gain wisdom without experience and knowledge.

"He will have collected that, and that's going to be good for him."

Hamilton heads to Montreal after realising his boyhood dream and emulating late hero Ayrton Senna by winning in Monaco.

During his time, Senna reigned supreme, winning six times at the place he made his home, including five in a row from 1989-93.

Given the way Hamilton mastered the conditions on Sunday, and looked so supremely confident after a mistake early on, Stewart feels he could easily surpass Senna's feat.

"There's no reason why not because he is only 23 years of age. He has loads of time to do it," he added. "In addition to which, he is driving for one of the best two teams in the world, and it's not often a driver gets that chance in the very early part of his career.

"Most of them have to come through a learning curve in relatively uncompetitive teams or cars. But Lewis has stepped in, which brings with it pressure, but he has been able to handle that pressure. He's got a long way to go."

Stewart, who is not afraid to concede he is a Hamilton fan, could easily understand the joy felt by the young Briton after his win.

"He has won here in only his second season in Formula 1, and I did the same," added Stewart, "so I suspect there are very similar emotions. I'm very happy for him

source the scotsman

Hamilton signs up for Goodwood

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed that he will take part in this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed on Sunday 13 July.

Following on from his debut appearance at the hugely popular event last summer, Hamilton will again guide his McLaren Formula 1 car up the narrow hillclimb course.

His presence is especially appropriate as the Festival will have a 'Hawthorn to Hamilton' theme celebrating 50 years since Mike Hawthorn became the first Briton to win the world championship.

The Earl of March, who has held the Festival of Speed on his West Sussex property every year since 1993, is sure Hamilton’s appearance will enhance the show.

“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Lewis back to the Festival of Speed again for the second year running,” he said.

“He really thrilled the motor sport fans here last year, and I am certain that he will put on another great show for them again here in July.

“It will be great if Lewis can repeat Mike Hawthorn’s F1 success 50 years ago and win the world championship for Britain this year.”

The Festival will pay tribute to iconic British figures in motorsport history, including Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Colin Chapman, James Hunt and Colin McRae.

There will also be a host of Formula 1 teams present alongside McLaren, with Ferrari, BMW, Honda, Red Bull, Toyota and Williams all set to exhibit their finest machinery.
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Hamilton strikes £10million deal with Reebok

Lewis Hamilton is once again counting the price of fame after striking a £10million deal with sportswear giants Reebok.

Hamilton's deal with Reebok, who are owned by German company Adidas, is a major coup for his father and manager, Anthony. He has been trying to wriggle his son free of the straitjacket traditionally imposed by McLaren in an attempt to limit their drivers' personal endorsements.

A team spokesman said: "Any marketing activity undertaken by Lewis on behalf of Reebok will be fully consistent with his existing obligations to McLaren, and will run in complete cooperation with Lewis's primary marketing commitments to the team and its partners."

Hamilton's exclusive Reebok stable includes football star Thierry Henry, basketball hero Allen Iverson as well as British boxing hope Amir Khan. Two of the racer's rap favourites, 50 Cent and Jay-Z, are also on the books.

The multi-year contract confirms Formula One's most marketable driver status as the 23-year-old who wants for nothing. As well as his £10m-plus McLaren salary, he has pocketed around £2m from HarperCollins for his autobiography, Lewis Hamilton: My Story.

And Bombardier Learjets have effectively written him a blank cheque for his promotional work, flying him gratis in their luxury planes, which cost minimally £5m to buy on the open market.

His road travel is hardly less luxurious, courtesy of Mercedes, whose ML63 AMG - retailing at £75,000 - is ideal for the rugged terrain around his Geneva tax haven.

Even his oil is thrown in by team sponsors Mobil. Then there's his all calls-paid mobile phone from Vodafone, Tag Heuer watches, Boss clothes, Hilton hotel suites and even bespoke jewellery from diamond company Steinmetz, who presented him with a glitzy ring at last year's Monaco Grand Prix.

They are now planning to turn the one-time Stevenage council estate boy into the King of Bling by naming him as a global ambassador in the build-up to Monte Carlo's showpiece next week. More gems await.

(Source: dailymail.co.uk)

F1 star fined for speeding .......again

Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton has been fined €578 (about R7400) for speeding by a court in Laon, France.

Hamilton had already been banned from driving in France for a month after he was caught driving at 196km/h in a Mercedes on a national road near the northern town of Laon on December 16, 2007 and paid a fine of €600 (R7650) in Janauary 2008

'He is aware of his responsibility towards young people'
.

The speed limit on French motorways is 130km/h. The car was impounded and was collected later by a friend of Hamilton.

Hamilton did not attend the hearing but his lawyer Jean-Francois Veroux said that "for Hamilton it's as if he had made a mistake during a GP because he is aware of his responsibility towards young people".

Veroux added that his client was also willing to participate in a road safety campaign.

A police spokesman said at the time: "He admitted the offence immediately and was really very polite," adding that Hamilton had said in his defence that the motorway was "very clear" at the time. – AFP

Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton to get McLaren F1 lm if he wins two titles

The McLaren F1 lm is the ultimate dream car and has a price tag of £2 million, however Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton has been promised one if he manages to win two F1 drivers titles. The McLaren F1 Lm is the world’s rarest supercar, however that has not stopped McLaren boss Ron Dennis from promising the gift to his young driver.

Lewis Hamilton said “The LM has always been my ultimate dream car since I first saw it when I was 13.” He also added “When I first went to McLaren it was there and I fell in love with it.”

There are only five McLaren LMs in existence, it will go from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 225mph. The supercar is powered by a V12 engine, the car will fall into insurance group 20, however I am sure that Lewis can afford the premium.

Source - The Sun

Lewis Hamilton signs 5-year contract extension with F1 team McLaren

WOKING, England - Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton signed a new five-year contract with McLaren on Friday, extending his total time with the team to 15 years.

Hamilton's original deal was signed in 2006, but McLaren decided on a new contract after the English driver's stellar rookie F1 season in which he finished runner-up to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

McLaren chief executive Ron Dennis said the 23-year-old Hamilton - the first black driver in F1 - had exceeded all expectations and deserved "improved financial terms."

"Today's announcement will take the length of our relationship with Lewis to a total of 15 years, which we believe is among the longest running associations between a sportsman and a team in the history of sport, particularly motorsport," Dennis said.

"Lewis is an exceptional human being, on both a personal and professional level, and will continue to be a credit to this team."

Hamilton said he would be happy to drive for McLaren for the rest of his career.

"Whilst last year was my first year with the team in Formula 1, I have been connected to McLaren and Mercedes-Benz since 1998 and feel that I could easily drive for this team for the whole of my Formula 1 career," he said.

"I am with the right team to compete for race wins and both the drivers' and constructors' world championships in the future."

McLaren was kicked out of the constructors' championship last season as punishment for possessing confidential Ferrari documents.

McLaren F1 chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said the company turned to a new deal for Lewis once the team's 2008 car had been unveiled last week.

"This was certainly not a discussion that was under any particular timeframe as our previous contract with Lewis was ongoing," Whitmarsh said. "Since Heikki (Kovalainen) joined the team in December, it has become more apparent how well he and Lewis will work together to become a competitive force for the team."

Kovalainen replaces Fernando Alonso as McLaren's other driver.

source: canadian press

Police catch up with speeding F1 ace

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=vn20071219051956901C336947

Reims - Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has been banned from driving in France after speeding, a police spokesperson has confirmed.

The 22-year-old Briton, who was runner-up in the world drivers' championship in his debut season this year, has been banned for a month.

He was caught speeding at 196km/h in a Mercedes-Benz on Sunday night. He was stopped by police on a freeway near the northern town of Laon.

The speed limit on French freeways is 130km/h.

"Hamilton admitted the offence immediately and was really very polite," a police spokesperson said on Tuesday.

He added that Hamilton had said in his defence that the road was "very clear" at the time.

"It's a section of motorway that is used regularly by foreigners who have a tendency to speed," the spokesperson said.

The McLaren team driver was also ordered to pay a fine of €600 (about R6 000).

He is scheduled to appear in a court in Laon next month.

Hamilton's car was impounded immediately by the police and then collected on Monday by a friend.

"(Hamilton's team) McLaren were made aware that Lewis was stopped for speeding in France while he was driving in a private capacity," said a spokesperson for the British team, based in Woking, south of London.

"We understand he has received a mandatory fine and suspension from driving in France for one month," the team spokesperson added.

Hamilton finished the racing season one point behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. - Sapa-AFP

Formula 1 Hamilton banned from driving in France for speeding

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90779/91340/6323642.html

World famous Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton has been banned from driving in France for speeding, confirmed a French police spokesman Wednesday.

The 22-year-old driver was allegedly clocked travelling at 122mph (196kmh) in a Mercedes near Laon, in the north of France, on Sunday. Police stopped him, detained the car and fined him 600 euros (about 860 U.S. dollars).

The police gave Hamilton a lift to his hotel in their police car. His Mercedes was later collected by a friend.

A spokesman for McLaren, for that he drives, said: "(We) were made aware that Lewis was stopped for speeding in France whilst driving in a private capacity. We understand he has received a mandatory fine and suspension from driving in France for one month."

He added that the incident would not affect Hamilton's professional driving career.

The police spokesman said Hamilton was "very polite and co-operative" when he was pulled over.

Hamilton was asked to appear before a court in Laon in January.

It marks an embarrassing climax to an extraordinary year for the racer, who was signed on to McLaren's young driver program when he was 13 years old.

Hamilton finished runner-up in his rookie season to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in the 2007 world championship.

Experts have predicted the Stevenage-born Hamilton, Formula 1's first black racing driver, could go on to be bigger than David Beckham and become Britain's highest paid sports star.

Source: China Daily/Agencies