Formula One: Mystery ‘thud’ keeps Hamilton bid alive

Car seemed to be under-steering badly before an unexpected ‘thud on the rear’ solved the problem: Lewis Hamilton

SUZUKA: Formula One star Lewis Hamilton said mysterious mid-race ‘thud’ fixed his steering problems at the Japanese Grand Prix and kept his faint title hopes alive. The Briton said his car seemed to be under-steering badly before an unexpected ‘thud on the rear’ solved the problem and allowed him to put in a spell of competitive laps. Hamilton finished fifth and with five races to go, lies fourth in the standings and 44 points adrift of the championship leader, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. “I still got some points which is the main thing,” said Hamilton. “But a very, very unusual thing happened which I have never experienced before.” Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won the race and is second in the title race, just four points behind Alonso who retired after an unlucky first-lap puncture.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2012.