2007 Chinese Grand Prix: Hamilton crashed into the gravel trap

In the history of Formula 1, with the exception of Giuseppe Farina in 1950, for whom the situation is special given that it was the first edition of the championship, no driver has ever managed to become champion during his first participation in the premier class. Vice-champion behind Damon Hill, the Canadian Jacques Villeneuve came close to the feat in 1996 before being crowned the following year. The second to have come close was a young driver McLaren, very close to winning the title in his first participation in 2007, he is a certain Lewis HamiltonThe story was perhaps too good to be true. First driver of color in history, first season of Formula 1, facing his teammate, double world champion Fernando Alonso, the young Briton is stunning and doesn't give up: he is in the running to win the championship.

In China, the sixteenth and penultimate race of the World Championship, on October 7, 2007, Hamilton arrived in Shanghai with a 12-point lead over his teammate and a 17-point lead over the new driver. Ferrari, Kimi Räikkönen. The cushion is substantial, if the Englishman wins, he becomes world champion.

Worst case scenario for Lewis Hamilton in Shanghai

During qualifying, Hamilton seemed hardly distracted by his potential victory. Unperturbed, he (already) secured his 6th^e Pole position. He was ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, second, and Fernando Alonso, fourth. However, everything went wrong on race day. From the start of the race, Mother Weather decided to turn on the rain, forcing the drivers to use intermediate tires. In the lead, the title was getting closer for the 22-year-old Briton before fate struck him hard. Very hard. The rain valve was cut off, the track dried out, and Räikkönen pitted for slicks. Faced with this change in circumstances, McLaren decided not to cover and left the potential champion on track with worn tires. A few laps later, the strategy proved catastrophic, as The Iceman overtook the Silver Arrow on eggshells. Called to the pits on lap 31, Hamilton arrived too fast, his destroyed tires causing him to drift into the gravel trap, where he was forced to retire.

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On the Celestial Empire circuit, the sky fell on the Briton's head. The image is now etched in my memory: Lewis Hamilton begging the Stewarts for help to push his car and free him from this mistake. Nothing worked; retirement was inevitable.

Winner of the Chinese Grand Prix, the Finn, relaunched in the quest for the world championship, won the following race in Brazil and snatched his only Formula 1 world championship title. Fans of the Stevenage-born prodigy mourned that cursed pit lane, especially since he was not the first victim: Felipe Massa crashed in the same way during the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix.

Fortunately for Lewis Hamilton, things have been more accommodating. The most successful Formula 1 driver in history, he's embarking on a new adventure in 2025, joining the legendary Italian team: Scuderia Ferrari.