HAMILTON DISASTER

Byron Young in Shanghai 7/10/2007

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton missed out on the chance to become world champion when he skidded out of the rain-hit Chinese Grand Prix.

After his immaculate performance in the driving rain in Fuji seven days before he was caught out in the damp as he entered the pits on lap 31 while leading.

He overshot the tight left hand bend and beached in a small shelf of sand at the start of the pit entry road.

Even though marshals tried to push him clear he was clearly beached with his wheels spinning in the air.

“I’m disappointed but the battle goes to Brazil,” said the 22-year-old.

Kimi Raikkonen roared to his fifth victory of the season to set up a three-way title decider at the final round in Brazil in a fortnight’s time.

World champion Fernando Alonso was second and Felipe Massa third..

Hamilton will go to Sao Paulo leading the Spaniard by four points and the Finn bys even.

Hamilton did not even have to win today to become champion.

He only had to finish a point behind Alonso if Raikkonen was out of the top two.

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Jenson Button roared from 10th on the grid to finish fifth and his best points haul of the season.

And David Coulthard was eighth to grab a single point and be in the points for two races in succession for the first time this season.

Sebastian Vettel who was at the centre of the crash controversy in Japan and a stewards inquiry here was fourth and BMW Sauber teammate Nick Heidfeld seventh.