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Boring Brazil race would suit McLaren fine

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-22 09:34

LONDON: McLaren want to make the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix as dull as possible to ensure Lewis Hamilton brings home their first Formula One title in nine years.

McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the Chinese F1 Grand Prix in Shanghai October 19, 2008. [Agencies]

Briton Hamilton dominated a processional Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai from start to finish on Sunday to go seven points clear of Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa with one race remaining.

If the 23-year-old Briton finishes in the top five at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit on Nov 2 he will become the sport's youngest champion and McLaren's first since Mika Hakkinen in 1999.

McLaren are 11 points adrift of Ferrari in the constructors' championship, with a maximum 18 points still to be won, but team boss Ron Dennis made it clear that was a secondary concern.

"We have no problem with Massa coming first and (Ferrari teammate) Kimi (Raikkonen) coming second (in Brazil)," he told reporters after Sunday's race.

"Our target will be to finish the race and do what we have to do to win (the title). The most important thing will be to stay out of trouble.

"It's going to be a challenge for the whole team to do what's necessary, and not to make any mistakes. I think for everybody it will be a very exciting race, but our objective will be to make it boring for everybody."

Home hero

Massa has started on pole for the past two seasons at Interlagos and would have won twice in a row had he not conceded the lead to Raikkonen, enabling the Finn to beat Hamilton to the title by a single point last year.

Hamilton struggled at the circuit last year, a gearbox malfunction sending him to 18th place before he fought back to finish seventh.

The Briton, who would also be Britain's first champion since Damon Hill in 1996, told his website on Monday that anything could happen.

"In terms of preparation, I have to look at things realistically and appreciate that I have another weekend of maximum effort ahead of me with the team," he said.

"You can still take absolutely nothing for granted: I still need to pull together a strong qualifying lap, be competitive during the race and avoid failing to finish.

"I know just how this sport works sometimes, so you'd be foolish to go to Brazil feeling over-confident," added the winner of five races this year.

The Briton, whose own boyhood hero was the late Brazilian champion Ayrton Senna, said Massa would also be feeling the burden of expectation in a race that could crown him his country's first champion since Senna in 1993.

"I know that Felipe is very proud to be Brazilian, and that he'll be pumped up to perform in front of his home crowd. And that gives you extra confidence and a mental boost for the whole weekend," he said.

"But it does bring extra pressure, too. You know you are there to entertain the people and you don't want to disappoint them by sending them home empty-handed."

Agencies