BRIATORE GROVELS TO HAMILTON

Renault chief apologises for calling Lewis a Martian

FLAVIO BRIATORE - apology

From IAN GORDON in Shanghai, 18/10/2008

LEWIS HAMILTON last night received a grovelling apology from Flavio Briatore for branding him "a Martian."

The multi-millionaire Renault boss had outrageously accused Britain's Formula One superstar of being a record-breaking failure and insisted he would throw away the title for a second successive year.

But after Hamilton brilliantly put his McLaren on pole for this morning's Chinese Grand Prix, the QPR co-owner retracted his cheap taunts and said sorry.

A McLaren insider declared: "Briatore spoke to a Mercedes official, who he asked to convey his apologies to Lewis.

"Lewis has accepted the apology and, as far as everyone in the team is concerned, the matter is over and forgotten."

Briatore, who manages Hamilton's fiercest rival Fernando Alonso, had attacked the incredible amount of attention the Herts-born driver gets.

He blasted: "Lewis should be told he is an F1 driver, not a Martian.

"He's no Muhammad Ali. He's a youngster who still has to show his worth.

Advantage

"He's a good driver but the good drivers are also the ones that bring home the results.

"There are good forwards in football who always hit the post or the crossbar and they just can't score.

"Then there are those who can put it in the net - he isn't one of them, for now. In my opinion, Hamilton will again try to throw away the title.

"He and McLaren managed to throw away a 17-point advantage with two races to go last year. For that alone they deserve to be in the Guinness Book of Records."

Your comments

This article has 7 comments

No ammount of hatred, envy and bias will stop pure and genuine talent that you are. Caution is the word. You will be world champion after tomorrow's race. Simple as that. Best wishes.

By eric.. Posted November 1 2008 at 9:10 AM.

Unfortunately Lewis will be a marked man in Brazil.
I fear he will be taken out very early on the race and the Title will once more go to Ferrari.

By Dirk Jonas.. Posted October 26 2008 at 10:09 AM.

For a dunce he's not doing too bad, he has the worlds best driver, Alonso, at his service, and he may be proven right yet about Lewis throwing away another championship! lets wait and see after Brazil.

By Rogerd.. Posted October 23 2008 at 2:58 AM.

just show them all how to win in brasil lewis - all the "bla bla" will be over and you are the deserved champ for the past season.

By Julius Nedl.. Posted October 23 2008 at 5:04 AM.

Flavio you are a dunce

Lewis Hamilton teased the F1 toddlers on Sunday and made poor old Briatore choke. Here is Alonso and Webber's manager spraying Formula Bernie's circus cartel and the heir apparent to the world championship crown. Wasn't Flavio once the boyfriend of Naomi Campbell?. If he can't keep a woman, let alone his own mouth closed, what hope is there for him.

By Mike Douglas.. Posted October 22 2008 at 7:38 AM.

Just let the results do the talking and all the critics will become very quiet.

By Willem Groot.. Posted October 19 2008 at 8:02 PM.

good man lewis, dont let the b,s get you down,ever.

By henry stanley.. Posted October 19 2008 at 12:42 PM.

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