'Lewis did gain an advantage'

2008-09-09 11:47

Hamburg - Lewis Hamilton was "too optimistic" in overtaking Kimi Raikkonen in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, Raikkonen's Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa says on his website.

Massa, who was awarded the race on Sunday after Hamilton was penalised for the manoeuvre, said the McLaren-Mercedes driver should have waited before attempting to overtake Raikkonen again.

"What Lewis did is the sort of thing that can happen, but I think he was maybe a bit too optimistic in thinking he could just hand back the position, albeit only partially to Kimi and then immediately try and pass him again," Massa said.

Hamilton had been forced to cut a chicane in a first overtaking attempt, but after emerging ahead of Raikkonen on the straight he allowed the Finn to take the lead again.

However the 23-year-old Briton immediately launched another attack to get past Raikkonen.

Race stewards decided he had gained an unfair advantage and imposed a 25-second penalty. That demoted Hamilton from first to third and handed the race to Massa.

Immediate opinion

"Incidents like this have often been discussed in the official driver briefings when it has been made absolutely clear that anyone cutting a chicane has to fully restore the position and also any other eventual advantage gained," Massa said.

"If Lewis had taken the chicane correctly, he would never have been able to pass Kimi on the very short straight that follows it. That was my immediate opinion after seeing the replay.

"Maybe if Lewis had waited and tried to pass on the next straight, that would have been a different matter."

Hamilton is now only two points ahead of Massa in the drivers' championship ahead of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix in Monza, although McLaren have appealed against their driver's punishment.

"It is now looking very interesting in terms of the championship, as I am just two points behind," Massa said.

The Brazilian had not been in winning contention in Spa on Sunday. Raikkonen, until he crashed on the penultimate lap, and Hamilton had set the pace throughout.

"I drove my race in Spa to finish, thinking about the championship situation and I did the right thing, because I gained one place after Kimi's crash and then after the race, came another move up the finish order. I am happy with that because the championship is really open now," he said.

- SAPA