| At the start of Grand Prix at Sinopec, China , James | | | | becomes harder and harder to achieve. |
| Allen, one of the commentators for ITV, said: | | | | When we find ourselves confronted with obstacles |
| "To finish first you first have to finish." | | | | or distractions this is a key time when we need to |
| It proved to be a rather ominous warning for rookie | | | | maintain our focus. We need to remind ourselves of |
| Formula One driver Lewis Hamiliton (McLaren) who | | | | what is at stake and by staying focussed on our goal |
| this weekend had the 2007 world championship in his | | | | we will be able to surmount any obstacle that comes |
| sights. | | | | our way. We need to remember that what we learn |
| He had the perfect setup for the race. He had | | | | as we strive to achieve our goals is as important as |
| clinched pole position and was leading for most of the | | | | achieving the goal itself. The obstacles you encounter |
| race. However, Hamilton was on intermediates and | | | | are actually gifts placed in your path to strengthen |
| his tyres were becoming increasingly worn. McLaren | | | | you and help you to grow rather than to frustrate |
| delayed bringing Hamilton in for new tyres, the | | | | you. |
| weather was somewhat changeable and they didn't | | | | "In every adversity there lies the seed of an |
| want him to be on the wrong tyres. But better the | | | | equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson |
| wrong tyres than no tyres at all because as the race | | | | showing you how to win the victory next time." |
| progressed his tyres became so degraded that his | | | | Robert Collier |
| loss of grip was costing him valuable seconds and | | | | Hamilton made a mistake going into the pits that |
| allowing second-placed Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) to | | | | arguably he would not have made if he were on |
| ease closer and closer. | | | | better tyres. Still, as Henry Ford said: |
| Raikkonen overtook Hamilton on lap 29 and Hamilton | | | | "Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing |
| immediately started to fall behind with his control of | | | | necessary to a worthwhile achievement." |
| his car diminishing. He finally made for the pits on lap | | | | Hamilton can achieve his dream but his rivals will fight |
| 32 but, as he rounded the ninety degree left-hand | | | | him to the very last lap at the last race in Brazil. He |
| corner in the entry lane, he slid off and ended up in | | | | needs to place second or third to be assured of the |
| the gravel. His race was over and his quest to win | | | | title. It will not be an easy challenge. It will require him |
| the world championship stretched further into the | | | | to use the best of his driving skills. The Brazilian track |
| distance. | | | | will again be unknown territory but Hamilton has |
| Raikkonen won convincingly with Hamilton's | | | | raced and won on unfamiliar tracks during this season. |
| team-mate Fernando Alonso in second and Felipe | | | | He will need to draw upon all his experience and that |
| Massa (Ferrari) in third. Although Hamilton gained no | | | | of his team. He will need to be in the zone where |
| points from this race, Raikkonen's win was both a | | | | there is no separation between man and machine. |
| blessing and a curse as it means that he still had a | | | | The two weeks separating the Shanghai race and |
| four point lead over his nearest rival Alonso. | | | | that of the one in Brazil could have been two of the |
| The race reminded me of the number goals that we | | | | happiest weeks in Hamilton's life. Instead, they will |
| set ourselves and never achieve simply because we | | | | probably feel like two of the longest. He will have to |
| do not finish them. Though this is not the case of | | | | use his maximum powers of concentration to keep |
| Hamilton, who with disappointment etched upon his | | | | his focus on success and on his goal of becoming |
| normally smiling face said, "I'm sorry for the team, | | | | world champion. It will be his ultimate test of focus. |
| but I can still do it," we often give up when the going | | | | Racing driver Mario Andretti would perhaps repeat |
| gets tough. We also lose focus of our goals as we | | | | these words of wisdom to Hamilton: |
| allow distractions to get the better of us. | | | | "Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, |
| We may start to convince ourselves that the goal | | | | but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in |
| was not important or even not achievable in the first | | | | every way you can by increasing your knowledge |
| place. We start to rack up a series of incomplete | | | | and adding to your experience, so that you can |
| goals and this starts to nibble away at our | | | | make the most of opportunity when it occurs. |
| self-confidence so that each successive goal we set | | | | |