Hamilton: I'm not arrogant

Eurosport - Wed, 15 Oct 13:01:00 2008

Lewis Hamilton has rejected Jackie Stewart's claim that he is arrogant and over confident in his driving style.

2008 Japanese GP McLaren Hamilton - 0

The championship leader's temperament has been once more been put in the spotlight after his disappointing 12th place finish at the Japanese GP saw his lead over Felipe Massa cut to five points with just two races left.

"I would never say I was better than anyone else. But I am a Formula 1 driver and all of us have to believe in ourselves to get to where we are," he told his official website.

"You have to have that belief to go out and win: and that's what helps you strive for better performance and to achieve more in your life. I look at the other drivers and I want to beat them.

"Recently, there have been lots of different quotes attributed to me. And sometimes I've said things that have either come out the wrong way or been taken out of context so people get a different feeling of what I've said when I haven't expressed myself correctly."

Hamilton's failure to score in Japan revived fears that history may be repeating itself after he allowed a commanding lead to slip through his fingers at the same stage last year.

"This was not his finest hour," triple champion Stewart told the RBS website, commenting on Hamilton's wild start and subsequent drive-through penalty at Fuji.

"His approach in that first corner was slightly arrogant to other drivers.

"The Japanese race demonstrated that Lewis is still very young, in only his second season, and although he comes across as very cool in interviews, he doesn't always have the same level of mind management when he's racing.

"Lewis Hamilton can still win the championship, but not if he drives the last two races the way he drove in Japan."

Hamilton also denied a recent story that quoted him as saying he was already better than three-time world champion Ayrton Senna.

"I never said that - and I definitely wouldn't say it about Ayrton because he's my favourite driver," he said.

"I think he's the best driver there ever was and, to this day, I still don't believe anyone would beat him. If I could achieve just a small part of what he's achieved, it would be a dream for me."

Meanwhile, former world champions Damon Hill and Niki Lauda have both said that Hamilton needs to calm down if he is to take F1 title.

"Lewis is impatient to win that first title, but you can't force it," 1996 champion Hill BBC Radio 5 Live, "There's no question about his speed or ability, he just needs to stay cool and let it happen.

"It's a mark of Lewis's career - he's always been very keen to get the job done and move on, and you need that impatience, but it can sometimes trip you up if you're not wary. Sunday's race was a lesson, and Lewis learns very quickly. He'll look back and think maybe it would've been better to settle into it more and got his rhythm going."

Lauda, meanwhile, told n-tv.de that he had been dismayed to see Hamilton making the same sort of mistake that cost him a title shot in 2007.

"I am disappointed with Lewis," the three-time champion sighed, "He threw away the championship last year in the same way, with absolutely unnecessary risks."

Seán Fay & Crash.net / Eurosport

Comment 203 - 222 of 242

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  1. Jassy M - Just read your post and see what you were­ trying to say - Unfortunate that it was misinterpreted.

    From Mr Burns, on Wed 15 Oct 2:42PM

  2. if you look at the formula 1 website there is a video­ from Japan which repeats the main incidents from the­ race about 4 times each and then in slow motion. After­ watching this a few times it is clearly visable that LH­ was not the only one who braked late at turn 1 (happens­ nearly every GP) on the massa LH coming together you­ can actually cleary see that massa turns into LH where­ had he actually had room to turn the other way and run­ paralell to LH, the massa bourdais incident is still­ baffling as it was indeed massa who cut across bourdais­ and it was for position so i do feel for bourdais and­ finally! massa def had 4 wheels over the line on the­ webber incident and i dread to think what could have­ happend as he crossed the pit lane exit if another car­ had been coming out!

    From spencer.wood, on Wed 15 Oct 2:42PM

  3. Jessy M i understood what u where saying... problem­ here is to many blinkered views..

    fancy a vodka &­ coke... the weather here is unreal

    From Tony, on Wed 15 Oct 2:35PM

  4. I said sorry i did not mean but it was. Ok?

    From AndJustice4All, on Wed 15 Oct 2:07PM

  5. My apologies rick m it slipped at my anger reading sb­ writing total rubbish which u do at times right n­ wrong.

    From AndJustice4All, on Wed 15 Oct 2:02PM

  6. Jessy M, I've seen some pretty vile comments on­ here but abusing LH brother has got to be the lowest­ yet. You should be ashamed of yourself.
    If you want to­ support Ferrari then I suggest you take lessons from­ Forza or one of the other more balanced fans

    From Mike, on Wed 15 Oct 2:01PM

  7. Jesse M: What has LH's disadvantaged brother got to­ do with anything? You an appalling uneducated­ ignoramus. GO AWAY.

    From Biggles, on Wed 15 Oct 1:52PM

  8. CLISPY DUCK is LH dyslexic brother!!! Do not listen his­ bias rubbish lest approach him he's as dangerous as­ the spoilt arrogant brat LH.

    From AndJustice4All, on Wed 15 Oct 1:43PM

  9. stivsf1: you can't EVEN spell hahaha!
    What a LOSER­ you are proving to be.

    From crispyduck, on Wed 15 Oct 1:33PM

  10. What is your problem Mr. Pond? my posts 193and 195 are­ 1) factual and 20) legitimate comment. Scrooloos is­ right , you post like a child and contribute nothing to­ this forum without slagging off other people.

    From Biggles, on Wed 15 Oct 1:27PM

  11. It's tragic that so many youngsters are arguing­ over F1 when they have no more idea what it's­ really all about than does Hamilton. Hamilton­ apparently never learned that you have to be "one­ of the guys" off the track to become able to win. ­ Going into a corner wheel to wheel at 160, a driver has­ to trust the driver in the other car. Nobody will­ trust Hamilton 'cause he's not trustworthy, and­ they will always f**k him up - because he deserves it,­ not 'cause they fear his skills. He has a way to­ go before he's a proper threat.

    From Cyrano, on Wed 15 Oct 1:26PM

  12. GLISPY DUCK LISTEN TO ME LEAVE F1 AND START A NEW LIFE­ YOU WILL FEEL BETTER THEN A FART BUT UOY WILL STILL­ SMELL LIKE ONE

    From stivsf1, on Wed 15 Oct 1:06PM

  13. Jackie Stewart is right again he is also a dirty driver­ & for those of you who think that will change just­ remember you cant polish a turd

    From U R SOLES, on Wed 15 Oct 1:04PM

  14. LH would have the championship sewen up by now if it­ wasn't for the assh**** who try to run it T Day

    From thomas, on Wed 15 Oct 1:01PM

  15. TRVR-ELKINS IN a court of low if you support a thief­ you will be regarded as an accomplice

    From stivsf1, on Wed 15 Oct 12:59PM

  16. stivsf1: I'm not IN F1 you FOOL!
    I tell you one­ thing though, I at least study the facts before I post­ them AND I'm no hater.
    I've never seen you in­ here before so why don't you drift off like the­ fart that you are hahahaha!

    From crispyduck, on Wed 15 Oct 12:56PM

  17. ulickmagee: ANOTHER hater.....well done!
    Hamilton has­ broken several records since he came into F1. He has­ achieved more in 2 years than mostly all the other­ drivers do in their careers and thhat includes past­ McLaren and Ferrari drivers.
    Whatever happens, it has­ been a sham of a season tainted by the biased decisions­ of a privileged few. No wonder viewing figures are­ down. What's next? Divers being called WWF names­ and coming in dressed in capes. It's quickly­ becoming as fixed as wrestling.

    From crispyduck, on Wed 15 Oct 12:53PM

  18. L H would have the championship sewen up by now if it­ wasn't for the assh***s who run it end of story

    From thomas, on Wed 15 Oct 12:51PM

  19. Sitting here in the evening sun with a Vodka and coke­ overlooking the golden sands in Cebu... everything is­ so clear

    You all forget Hamilton as been arround F1­ for over 10 years.. he's seen the best we all agree­ Schuy... so he has moulded himself on Schuy... thats­ why he will beat all his records...

    Thats why all the­ drivers dont like him... the cannot compete... its like­ a child who plays with a computer....­ NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fear.. where the rest with a­ single brain cell @#$% themselves when the erase a­ file...

    Hamilton is here to stay and F1 will be­ boring.... the great REDEYE MASTER Schuy saw to thar­ Bernie and the boys dont want parade laps like­ before.... I have never seen the sport get so much­ publicity...

    Even if you win the race is no gaurantee­ the result will stand... because the stewards have not­ had their say...

    I just stay here drinking and looking­ at the hot Chicks!!!!!!!!!! Pit Girls nothing on the­ girls here

    From Tony, on Wed 15 Oct 12:51PM

  20. CLISPY DUCK WHY DON'T YOU QUIT F1 YOU WILL FEEL­ BETTER

    From stivsf1, on Wed 15 Oct 12:46PM
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