Gearbox problems cost Hamilton
Hamilton will be ruing McLaren's tactics which cost him points in China
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Sunday, 21, Oct 2007 09:03
McLaren boss Ron Dennis has revealed Lewis Hamilton's title dream was destroyed by a temporary gearbox problem.
Hamilton finished seventh in the Brazilian grand prix with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen winning the race to snatch the championship by one point.
After a disastrous start which saw him lose his place at the front of the grid, Hamilton's car slipped out of gear on lap eight.
The rookie's car almost ground to a halt until the gearbox electronics corrected themselves, with the Briton losing more than 40 seconds to slip to the back of the grid.
Dennis said in difficult moments you have to have a 'sporting attitude' to losing.
"Lewis has enjoyed phenomenal reliability from his car this year. It was just a default in the gearbox which selected neutral for a period of time but then sorted itself out," Dennis told ITV1.
"It was so close, we needed just one car to stop. It's hard to find the right words but I think the whole team has done a great job all year and should be proud of their achievements.
"It's not about one race, it's about the championship, we have to be sporting and positive and look forward to next year."
After leading the drivers' championship since May, Hamilton came agonisingly close to becoming the first driver to win the title in his debut season.
Hamilton's father Anthony insisted his son would bounce back next year.
"None of us are in pain, we feel great. We've just had one of the most fantastic formula one seasons ever," Hamilton Snr said.
"If someone had said last year we'd have been fighting for the title at this stage of the season I'd have said they were dreaming.
"We will come back and if doesn't win it next year he will the year after."