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Lewis Hamilton crashed during the first practice session of the Japanese Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver - and championship contender - locked up his front right wheel heading into a right-hander at the Suzuka circuit, before smashing into the tyre wall and shredding his front left wheel.
As you can see from the footage below, the damage was quite extensive. Hamilton's McLaren needed a new gearbox, floor, and front and rear wings. The repairs took so long he was only able to complete four timed laps.
Later, Hamilton admitted he was "probably pushing too hard", although teammate and championship rival Jenson Button nearly suffered at exactly the same corner.
But his chances of correcting his mistake have been put on hold as heavy rain meant it was impossible to run Saturday's qualifying session at the 3.608 mile circuit.
Despite two half-hour delays in an attempt to let conditions improve after persistent rain blighted the programme, race stewards finally decided to postpone the session until Sunday morning.
The McLaren driver later confessed "I was aquaplaning all the time - I couldn't get to full throttle. I couldn't even use half-throttle!"
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said "In such circumstances, it's neither safe nor sensible to consider driving a F1 car in anger".
Suzuka suffered a similiar fate in 2004 when a passing typhoon pushed qualifying onto Sunday's race-day programme. Tomorrow's qualifying session is expected to start at 10am local time, with the race starting just four hours later.
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RDMracer commented on this article
at 04:05 pm on 08 October 2010
again!? maybe he could keep the car in one piece if he didn't game so much.
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samey.umako commented on this article
at 04:25 pm on 08 October 2010
He would never have done that with Ayrton's car...
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BonzoKenny commented on this article
at 04:30 pm on 08 October 2010
You know what? I wouldn't change Hamilton for the world! He pushes, and every GP weekend you can assure that he will not leave anything out on that track. He gives it all everytime he sets foot in that Mclaren. He's been unfortunate the last few GP's, and some were his fault and others weren't. If it weren't for his "driving style", he wouldn't be a WDC! I assure you he'll push in qualy and the race and get a podium! I assure you!
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Arse_Magic commented on this article
at 04:44 pm on 08 October 2010
Yes. He is super.
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airbuggy commented on this article
at 04:51 pm on 08 October 2010
personally i am no fan at all of hamilton.some of his antics could severely jeopardise a lot of people.however what i must admit that his all-or-nothing style has brought back some excitement to a sport in threat of becoming utterly boring.maybe lewis should have been born in the age of hunt and mansell,when racing was all about hairy chests,handlebar moustaches,and huge balls..i wasn't born then,so i guess only people like jeremy have the answer to this particular question..
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