== Edit Request: 2012 == 

  

 2012 was very much the year that could have been for Hamilton. He remained at McLaren alongside Button for the 2012 season, though doubts remained over whether we would re-sign for 2013 onwardshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/16841566. As testing began, it became clear that the McLaren was quick off the bat, a fact previous McLarens had not shared http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/category/previous-seasons/2012-f1-season/2012-f1-testing-results/. 
 The McLarens locked out the front row for the Australian Grand Prix confirming their speed with Hamilton on pole ahead of Button. Hamilton had an average start allowing Button to jump him before the first corner, and lost a place to Vettel after McLaren erroneously pitted him before a safety carhttp://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98151. McLaren again locked up the front row for the Malaysian Grand Prix with Hamilton on pole, but he was passed by Fernando Alonso and Sergio Pérez after the re-starthttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9165545/Malaysian-Grand-Prix-2012-Fernando-Alonso-wins-for-Ferrari-as-Sergio-Perez-almost-pulls-off-Sauber-surprise.html, finishing third. Hamilton qualified second in China, splitting the Mercedes of Rosberg and Schumacher, but poor pit strategy led to Hamilton's third consecutive third place finish, behind Rosberg and Buttonhttp://www.crash.net/f1/news/178603/1/rosberg_wins_f1_2012_chinese_gp.html. Hamilton qualified in second place in Bahrain, but a series of poor pitstops put him out of contention, and he finished eighthhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/sebastian-vettel/9219436/Bahrain-Grand-Prix-2012-Sebastian-Vettel-wins-but-F1-comes-away-from-Bahrain-with-a-tarnished-image.html. Hamilton was also involved in a controversial racing incident with Rosberg, with Rosberg appearing to push Hamilton off track while he attempted to overtake. The stewards deemed it a racing incident but issued a warning to the drivers. 

 Hamilton qualified on pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, but had to stop the car on track in order for a reputable fuel sample to be given post-qualifying. After the race it was discovered that one of the McLaren mechanics under-fuelled the car accidentallyhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143645/Spanish-Grand-Prix-2012-F1-star-Lewis-Hamilton-demoted-the-grid.html. The stewards decided he had breached qualifying rules introduced after a similar incident involving Hamilton at the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix. Race stewards excluded him from the qualifying resultshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/18047760, and demoted him to the back of the grid; but despite this, Hamilton finished eighth, ahead of Button, who had started in tenth. Tensions were starting to mount within the McLaren garage as they had clearly produced the fastest car, but poor strategy, pit stop errors, and poor reliability had left them with just one winhttp://www.formula1.com/news/features/2012/4/13276.html. Hamilton qualified third for the Monaco Grand Prix, but slow pit stops dropped him down to fifthhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9293321/Monaco-Grand-Prix-2012-Lewis-Hamilton-left-to-rue-McLaren-errors-as-Mark-Webber-wins-from-pole.html as Webber went on to win from Rosberg and Alonso. Hamilton had another pole in Canada, and achieved his first victory of the season there – winning the race for the third time – after overtaking Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Vettel in the closing stageshttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9323260/Canadian-Grand-Prix-2012-Lewis-Hamilton-wins-in-Montreal-five-years-after-maiden-Formula-One-victory.html. With the 25 points for victory, Hamilton was ahead of Alonso and Vettel in the championship by 2 points. But he wouldnt be there long. More grief followed Hamilton at the European Grand Prix. He qualified behind Vettel on the front row, but slow pit stops lost him a position to Alonso, and Madonado crashed into him on the penultimate lap forcing him to retirehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9352410/European-Grand-Prix-2012-Lewis-Hamilton-fury-after-he-is-run-off-the-road-in-Valencia-as-Fernando-Alonso-wins.html. The British Grand Prix saw McLaren struggling in the wet, with both McLarens struggling to find any pace and challenge for the lead. Webber went on to win from Alonso and Vettel, while Hamilton could only manage 8th placehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/18759733. The result meant that he fell to 4th in the championship, 37 points behind Alonso, after leading it just two rounds earlier. McLaren brought a much needed update to the German grand prix, and right away they were back on it. However, ra