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You missed the 'million' out of their fine Mike! :)

Yeah, they've been stripped of all their points, won't be allowed to gain any more in the remaining races and have been fined 20% of their total yearly budget (£50 million or so). Seems a little harsh...they'll have to appeal that, surely?

They were minutes away from being excluded. It was a stupid act on their part obviously the evidence against them was very, very strong!

Oooh, Hamilton - Alonso tensions on the rise with a strange maneuver in the first lap from the reigning champ (chump if you will). I think he will be punished on of these days for doing things like that! :D

British driver Lewis Hamilton has become a step closer to being a world champion on his debut season following Alonso's crash out of the Japanese Grand Prix. There are now 12 points gap between the warring team mates with only 20 points remaining in the season. All it takes is two high ranking finishes from the Brit to secure the title - What ever you do Lewis, don't crash out, Meclaren make sure they have a bullet proof car under than man, bullet proof! :D

It is looking good isn't it!

Have you heard the latest, Alonso wants a split from Hamilton and has been offered his old spot back at Renault! The two of them are totally unsuited to race in the same team. If Hamilton wins he will be under supreme pressure to do well again in his second season.

I don't think that will phase Hamilton though - what he wants to do is win this formula one title in his lifetime and he has a huge chance. Lets face it, he may never get it again - injury, loss of form, etc.

One thing that does niggle me though is that it slightly demerits formula one as an actual spectacle/sporting season. Hamilton is not the greatest driver and for me he hasn't truly earned where is he is now. Talented? Definitely. The best? No. In the best car? Yes. You have to question whether or not other drivers would be in the same position as him if they had a better car.

If we're going to have the whole car argument, we may as well say Schumacher only won so many titles because he was in one of the best cars for ages. It also begs the question: Andy, who's the best driver then?

Schumacher was brilliant in the Renault before the Ferrari and lets face it, he dragged Ferrari up off its arse. Don't give me the line about multi-million pound investment, etc, they had that before and hardly ever got close except for a few times. Schuey was the best of his generation no question. Between him and Fangio I am not sure because of the whole design issue and four decades - However, Fangio won 5 in about 8 seasons when the average career length of a driver was about 5. I am not going to compare him to Senna because I feel that is wrong, there is not enough evidence and there is also the emotional aspect as well.

In this generation, I would have to say it is Alonso but I don't think he is a patch on Schumacher in his heyday. I think he is a very effective season driver not capable of the amazing pieces of technical brilliance and tactical thinking that Schuey had (yes, I know, this will starting the cheating debate again). Raikkonen is also good but not consistant. Massa is far too erratic to be considered as a potential champion yet. The rest are very average in comparison and much of a muchness hence the constant swapping around. Button I have to say has never lived up to his billing and has always disappointed me. For me, this is another reason why Hamilton is challenging Alonso - the chasing pack is not good enough and they are not in cars that are capable of challenging.

All champions are founded on good cars, but the car itself does not make the champion. The driver uses their ability to get the best out of the machine and make it reliable. Ferrari and Schumi were a perfect match but like mr_e says, he devoted years to pulling them up the tables!

McClaren are really strong but that does beg the question how much was founded on the spygate scandal with Ferrari? I am glad they were banned from the constructors championships, they do not deserve the kudos. However, the drivers do not deserve to be punished.

Lets not undermind Hamiltons achievements - he is in a strong position to be a British driver as F1 champ in his Debut season. Unheard of, absolute first. Time will tell if he can be the best driver in the world, if he can beat the Schumi records, if he can hold onto the title even. Alonso is not dead as a potential world champ, schumi had a break after his first two championships before the next bit of silverware - it did not break him, though I think Alonso is more fragile after his childish comments about a rookie.

OK, didn't see that one coming six weeks ago. As I am regarding all English sport this week, I am, purely and simply, without hesitation ..........

gutted.

I remember looking at the driver standings earlier on in the week and thinking something like that was possible, but unlikely. Oh, how wrong I was.

Well McLaren has to take some of the responsibility for their driver not being champion. They did bring alot of tension to the team and then screwed up Hamilton's car twice! Fools! :D Never mind, there is always next year!

There does still seem to be some strange posturing going on a McLaren - their appeal has gone into the FIA but they did not manage to get a good explanation for the mysterious third pit stop and the tyres in China. Very poor show. Good on Hamilton for saying he wants to win the championship fair and square. :D