F1-Blog

Hamilton takes GP2 Title

In his first year of GP2 racing, Lewis Hamilton has taken the GP2 championship title from his closest rival Nelson Piquet Jnr.

Hamilton finished behind Piquet in third position, and it looked like he would have to finish well in the Sunday race to clinch the title, as he needed one more point.

However later in the day the stewards deemed that the fastest lap from Giorgio Pantano was set during a yellow flag, and this then gave Hamilton the one point needed to take the title.

Ron Dennis (Hamilton's major sponsor) had this to say about the new GP2 champion.

“The manner of his many outstanding performances this year, such as those at Silverstone and Turkey, has been phenomenal and he is a deserving champion,” he said.

“McLaren and Mercedes-Benz’s ongoing involvement in Lewis’ career began in 1998 and he is getting better every day, a trend that has been constant during the past nine years.

“Lewis has an exceptional talent, which has been demonstrated this year, and his overall performance during the season gives you a definite sense of pride and satisfaction.”

With the probability that Raikkonen will be leaving McLaren at the end of this year to join Ferrari, it has been suggested that Hamilton may take the second seat at the McLaren team.

“In due course the team's and Lewis’s plans for 2007 will be announced,” said Ron. However word in the paddock says that Hamilton will start in the F1 testing program alongside Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett.

Hamilton however did not need to be 'given' the race by the stewards on Saturday, as he finished in second place in the Sunday race, and would have taken the title at that point.