Hamilton receiving treatment after crash

NUERBURGRING, Germany, July 21 (Reuters) McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton was receiving medical attention after crashing heavily in qualifying for the European Grand Prix today.

A circuit spokesman said that the 22-year-old British rookie, who was taken away by stretcher after the crash five minutes before the end of qualifying, was conscious and talking.

Hamilton, wearing an oxygen mask and with a drip applied, waved and gave a thumbs-up sign as he was taken to a waiting ambulance.

The session was red flagged when his McLaren suffered what looked like a suspension failure, with the tyre bursting and leaving him as a mere passenger while the car sped across a gravel trap and into the tyre wall.

Team boss Ron Dennis immediately left the pit lane wall.

Hamilton remained in the car, jiggling his legs, before trying to extricate himself. He stood up but remained in the cockpit, leaning against the headrest.

After getting out of the car, the Briton then dropped to the ground with stewards around him.

Hamilton is 12 points clear of team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso, with eight races remaining including tomorrow's.

The youngster has finished his first nine races on the podium and had been hoping to become only the third driver, after Michael Schumacher and Alonso, to rack up 10 podium finishes in a row.

He had been fifth in qualifying when the accident happened.

REUTERS BJR KN1904