The end of McLaren’s chances?

Date: 27th September 2010 at 4:00 pm | Filed under: Formula 1 News,McLaren | Author: Nick Tomlinson | Tags: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Japan, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, McLaren, Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel, Singapore | image © Action Images

McLaren F1 driver Lewis Hamilton A “very disappointing race” was how team principle of McLaren Martin Whitmarsh described his team’s performance on Sunday’s Singapore night race at the Marina Bay circuit. Only one McLaren managed to complete the Grand Prix and that was the 2009 World Champions Jenson Button. Lewis Hamilton failed to finish just like he did two weeks ago in Monza, these two retirements could really make it difficult if he still has ambitions to win a second World Championship.

Button had a very dull race, he kept his position from the start in the opening exchanges between the drivers, but when it came to the pit stops Mark Webber was able to leapfrog him and then claim the final podium place when Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire.

Hamilton was involved in an incident similar to the one which took him out of the Italian Grand Prix, this time he was unlucky to be forced into early retirement. As he was going round the outside of Mark Webber’s Red Bull car Hamilton didn’t quite leave Webber enough room causing the Australian to catch Hamilton’s car damaging it and causing his retirement from the race. Hamilton was clearly very frustrated when he had to park his car up throwing his steering wheel from the car.

So what does this result mean for the World Championship standings? Webber still leads the Championship just 11 points to Fernando Alonso who’s back to back wins have put him right back in the hunt for the title. Lewis Hamilton is further nine points behind his old team mate with the second Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel just a point behind him. Jenson Button has made ground on his team mate and is now only five points behind the 2008 World Champion.

In the Constructors Championship Red Bull has pulled out more of a lead over McLaren, they now have an advantage of 24 points to McLaren who in turn are just 40 ahead of Ferrari. There are still 100 points up for grabs from the remaining four races of the season left. With just 25 points separating first to fifth the title race is still very much on! The next race takes place in Japan in two weeks time were the top five will do battle again!