http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42967000/jpg/_42967241_hamilton203.jpg Hamilton leads Alonso in the drivers' standings by two points
Lewis Hamilton escaped uninjured after crashing his McLaren during practice for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.
He smashed into a tyre barrier in the afternoon session, the starter-motor on his car having failed in the morning.
"Everyone makes mistakes, and I'm only human - these small things happen," said the 22-year-old.
McLaren's Fernando Alonso dominated, finishing 0.6 seconds clear of Hamilton in the morning and 0.3secs ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the afternoon.
Championship leader Hamilton completed just 14 laps in the morning and was forced to watch the second half of the session from the pit wall.
To compound matters, a piece of the starter-motor broke off and flew into the gearbox, which led to mechanics removing the floor of the McLaren to make repairs.
Hamilton was back on the track in the afternoon only to run into trouble 56 minutes in.
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Emerging out of the start/finish straight, his attempt to turn the car through Sainte Devote and up the hill ended with him smashing into the tyre barrier.
He was quickly out of his car and clearly unharmed, if a little shaken, and was later seen waving to fans as he made his way back down the pit lane.
"I was pushing and right on the limit, which is something you always have to do at Monaco," said Hamilton.
"I then found the limit - at the mid-point of the second session - and found out how unforgiving this track can be.
"I just locked the rear wheels, and as it came before the apex, I lost the back end, tried to brake too quick, and went off into the wall.
"There is just no room for error in Monaco. To be honest, it was a light impact, even if it looked quite quick.
"I'm obviously sorry as there will be a bit of work for the guys."
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Hamilton insisted the error would have no bearing on the rest of his first race in Monaco, and McLaren boss Ron Dennis said he was not unduly worried by Hamilton's misjudgement.
"This is a mistake all drivers make of all standards. It's not something I will level any criticism at," said Dennis.
"I'd obviously rather not have a bent racing car but, under the circumstances, we're pretty comfortable with his contribution to this season.
"He still has a few Brownie points in hand."
Sainte Devote also caught out Britain's Anthony Davidson as he spun in his Super Aguri and nudged the tyre wall prior to Hamilton's shunt.
Although his incident lacked the impact of Hamilton's, it was enough to bring his session to an end, resulting in 19th place for the 28-year-old.
David Coulthard recovered from a spin through Loews hairpin that led to his Red Bull Racing car requiring a new rear wing to take 10th place.
Alonso, who trails Hamilton in the championship standings by two points, clocked a time of one minute 15.940 seconds for the 3.340km track.
Hamilton had to settle for third in the afternoon, completing only 19 laps in the second stint, and just 33 overall for the day - in contrast to many of his rivals who topped 60 plus.
Monaco Grand Prix, second practice:
1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes 1min 15.940sec
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:16.215
3. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 1:16.296
4. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:16.354
5. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:16.753
6. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:16.784
7. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:16.848
8. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:16.852
9. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:17.292
10. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1:17.414
11. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda 1:17.449
12. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:17.457
13. Takuma Sato (Jap) Super Aguri F1 Team 1:17.459
14. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:17.486
15. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-BMW 1:17.516
16. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso 1:17.898
17. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1:18.086
18. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso 1:18.233
19. Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri F1 Team 1:18.328
20. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:18.662
21. Christijan Albers (Ned) Spyker MF1 1:18.820
22. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker MF1 1:19.358

Gah, stupid media!! Of course he's going to be unhurt after a crash like that. It took a massive blow to a concrete wall to injure Ralf, and even a number of drivers have rolled in recent times and got away with nothing. Stupid headline :p.

Seriously, other drivers make mistakes too. I don't see what all the fuss is about him making a single mistake, whether he hit the wall ro totalled the car or not.

^^ Thanks to technology and FIA for making F1 much safer. If that happened during the age when Ayrton Senna was alive and racing, he would of been badly injured!

Hope Hamilton does get scared after that crash.

So he isn't perfect is he ??

I'm glad hes ok even though I hate him (but hey he is a Brit so you know) !

Maybe were seeing the end of his 'dream' period and everything's gonna start to crumble now ?

"these small things happen"
Small?
Anyway, these things happen, as long as he's okay!

At least hes ok then its not much of a problem. Everybody makes mistakes and Hammy just happened to push too hard and make a mistake in Monaco so you can't totally blame him. I guess the engineers have a pretty big job on their hands!

^^ Thanks to technology and FIA for making F1 much safer. If that happened during the age when Ayrton Senna was alive and racing, he would of been badly injured!

Hope Hamilton does get scared after that crash.

Why do you hope he gets scared?

So he isn't perfect is he ??

I'm glad hes ok even though I hate him (but hey he is a Brit so you know) !

Maybe were seeing the end of his 'dream' period and everything's gonna start to crumble now ?

I seriously, seriously doubt that...

Gah, stupid media!! Of course he's going to be unhurt after a crash like that. It took a massive blow to a concrete wall to injure Ralf, and even a number of drivers have rolled in recent times and got away with nothing. Stupid headline :p.

Seriously, other drivers make mistakes too. I don't see what all the fuss is about him making a single mistake, whether he hit the wall ro totalled the car or not.

Exactly what I was thinking, F1 drivers are the fittest guys on the planet, and a ''small'' shunt like that (well, it was for an F1 driver) is hardly anything to him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rTFJtXT5vw
The crash..

^Well, that was more of an impact than I thought it would be. Thanks for posting up anyway.

Why do you hope he gets scared?



I seriously, seriously doubt that...



Exactly what I was thinking, F1 drivers are the fittest guys on the planet, and a ''small'' shunt like that (well, it was for an F1 driver) is hardly anything to him...
So, he'll be more careful next time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rTFJtXT5vw
The crash..

Wow, thanks for that. The impact looked more heavier than i had expected. He probably locked up his rear brakes, opposite locked, but lost control and crashed into the barrier. Maybe the end result for pushing too hard...

I predict that won't be the only crash from Hamilton this weekend !

Bold statement I know but hes cocky and he will think I get beat all the experienced drivers on the circuit so I will push hard !

Go Kimi & Massa !!!

^^ It's already not the only crash. A Spyker crashed, and Ralf crashed.

I predict that won't be the only crash from Hamilton this weekend !

Bold statement I know but hes cocky and he will think I get beat all the experienced drivers on the circuit so I will push hard !

Go Kimi & Massa !!!

How exactly?

^^

Well not cocky as such just thinks he is better than other drivers on the grid !

The way I look at it is the F1 Media are bigging him up and hes slowly getting big headed and he is now thinking he is the best rookie, I don't think so myself I personally think Robert Kubica is the best rookie out on the grid but most people would disagree with that !

If the F1 Media were bigging you up would you become big headed ? I know full a fact I would If I was in Hamiltons position !

^I don't think he's cocky or arrogant, he's just confident. In F1, if you want to succeed, if you want to do well, you have to be confident, saying ''oh well, if I do this and that it would be alright'', you won't get anywhere. Hamilton's the one pushing the boundaries, he's the one going faster and faster, which he proved today in the Monaco GP qualifying. I thought you would be supporting him because he's British aswell.

Well not cocky as such just thinks he is better than other drivers on the grid !

...but thinking you're better than everyone else IS being cocky, and my questions still stands:

From what sources, from what he has done, or from what he has said, proves to you or to anyone else that he is cocky?

On a tangential note (in a way), if he was outright cocky as you suggest he is, would you rather him come into F1 thinking he is slower than everyone else? Do you think that, ultimately, he would be successful having that mindset?

Let's put it another way; would you go into F1 thinking you aren't faster than everyone else, and having a distinct lack of confidence in your own abilities?

Another note, you say you too would be big headed in Lewis' situation. Does that mean you hate yourself, considering you hate Lewis for being cocky, when you yourself would be cocky also?

...but thinking you're better than everyone else IS being cocky, and my questions still stands:

From what sources, from what he has done, or from what he has said, proves to you or to anyone else that he is cocky?

On a tangential note (in a way), if he was outright cocky as you suggest he is, would you rather him come into F1 thinking he is slower than everyone else? Do you think that, ultimately, he would be successful having that mindset?

Let's put it another way; would you go into F1 thinking you aren't faster than everyone else, and having a distinct lack of confidence in your own abilities?

Another note, you say you too would be big headed in Lewis' situation. Does that mean you hate yourself, considering you hate Lewis for being cocky, when you yourself would be cocky also?

Hamilton comes acroos cocky IMO !

I don't hate myself (I'm not an EMO) ! If I was Hamiltons situaution I would be thinking I'm the best one on the grid only because I was in a fast and reliable car but would I be thinking it If I was driving a Red Bull or Spyker ? NO !!

If I was talented enough to go into F1 I would be thinking I'm in this for the ride if I win or lose I will be happy because I would be doing something I enjoyed and getting payed for it no matter what happens !

I say I end this whole 'Hamilton is not as good as people say he is' theory of mine because there only seems to be me and Cheeky Girl or share this opinion of him and everyone else doesn't !

Timbit your a good member and I respect your opinions but just not on Hamilton !