Hamilton: I'll do my talking on the track

Eurosport - Sat, 18 Oct 14:02:00 2008

Lewis Hamilton has said criticism of his driving style is an inevitable result of his success and said he would do his talking on the track as he chases the world title at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

2008 Chinese GP McLaren Hamilton - 0

The 23-year-old Briton, who could wrap up the championship in Sunday's race, came under fire from rivals Kimi Raikkonen, Mark Webber and Jarno Trulli for his aggression at the wheel during last weekend's race in Japan.

"That's fine with me. They have the right to their own opinion," Hamilton said after dominating the first two practice sessions.

"It's a shame they all think that way but my driving is why I'm here and why I'm leading the championship so I'm not disappointed with the way I drive.

"I do my talking on the track. If other people want to expend their energy thinking about it, that's for them.

"As you can see I don't clash with people, so they can't be that aggressive."

Toyota's Trulli had said he would bring up the matter at Friday's drivers' meeting, but Red Bull's Webber said after the get-together that it had not been mentioned.

Hamilton said the meeting had gone "fine" and that he was focusing on the race, not the clamour surrounding him.

"I look at previous world champions and previous seasons, and a lot of people that have been at the front have had these kind of situations - it's normal," he said.

"If I was in a Force India at the back of the field then no-one would have anything to say about me.

"But everyone has something to say about the people who are at the front and are successful, and whether it's positive or negative it doesn't really matter."

Hamilton came to Shanghai last year needing simply to finish ahead of his rivals to win the championship in his rookie season - but failed to finish the grand prix and eventually lost the title race.

This year he must win the race and hope Ferrari's Felipe Massa - who trails by five points with 20 up for grabs in China and the final race of the season in Brazil - finishes fifth or worse.

After a disappointing run-out in Japan, where he started poorly, collided with Massa and ended up with no points, Hamilton said he was prepared to wait.

"My mentality is I'm not looking at winning it here," he said.

"Last year I was thinking it would have been easy to have won it here in this race. But I'm looking at the fact I have two races and it's important we attack those two races, finish those two races.

"I'm not going into this race saying: 'It has to be done now'. I just want to redeem myself from last week."

Reuters

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  1. oh and I hope tomorrow's race is FIA free and fair! may the best man win and that's the way it should be!

    p.s. Is it silly that a Ferrari Fan wants to see Kubica as World Champion? :P wouldn't that just kinda shut everyone up!! :D :P

    From dalnsour, on Sat 18 Oct 12:36AM

  2. Well written dainsour

    From d_kach, on Sat 18 Oct 12:30AM

  3. Hey everyone! this is my first post on Eurosport's F1 message boards, although I have been a reader for a long long time! I have to agree with everything that ClipsyDuck and Forza Ferrari have said so far! you are truly both gentlemen who do know how to discuss matters and not bicker like other people who say rather insulting and irritating things and have no respect for other fans or other F1 teams!

    I am a Ferrari Fan myself and to be honest I became a Ferrari Fan in 1994 (I was 7 years old then!) and yes it's true that Michael Schumacher was one of the main reasons that i became such a huge Ferrari Fan but i Don't think it's anything to be ashamed off! I do think that Lewis is a very good lad who does bring tons of talent to the whole sport! What i dont understand are the constant accusations between different teams and drivers!

    How the HELL did F1 become such political sport? I am really interested in what the two of you think and others of course as long as your ideas are mature and reasonable! I mean there are many parties to blame, you can blame McLaren and say that they started the espionage scandal and ever since everything has been worse... you can also blame Ferrari's dominance during schumacher's years, you can blame the FIA or you can also blame other underachieving drivers who wish they were themselves in Hamilton's position!! but what do you think the main cause is, I mean the true underlying reason behind the destruction of my favorite sport in the WORLD!! oh and thank you Forza Ferrari for your youtube video recommendation! absolutely breath taking!!

    From dalnsour, on Sat 18 Oct 12:24AM

  4. The F1 drivers agree with me and that is enough said. We'll see what happens tonight at the end of the year. Again, it doesn't sound like any of you have any racing experience and/or being on a race track with an agressive driver. LH's turn 1 antics last week was just the latest in a series of complaints about his on track behavior. Ferrari is the most successful F1 team ever and they dominate other series world wide. I have nothing to be jealous of.....I'm a proud Tifosi. And just wait until Vettel is driving a real Ferrari.....then you will see true domination in F1. Get a life knobs and got off the LH bandwagon.

    From d_kach, on Sat 18 Oct 12:18AM

  5. d_kach, He's not over aggressive, he's RACING. You need to overtake in order to win. Or does that not make sense to you? Obviously this principle doesn't count for ferrari cos they just get every stewards penalty in their favour so they don't need to bother trying to overtake, if they don't win they just cry to the FIA and get given the win anyway. You are jealous. You are, you are, you are. You are. If massa does win the championship and I hope to god he doesn't, it will be soley from stewards penalties and that is not exactly a reason to be proud is it? Its like the kid at school that got A's by kissing the teaches @#$%.

    Hamilton to prove all these idiots wrong.

    From timothyfkey, on Fri 17 Oct 11:57PM

  6. d_kach

    again, youre a @#$%. He`s confident. He`s aggresive, so what. Alonso is a poof with a chip on his shoulder. NO rookie has done what LH has done, even thus far without winning the title.

    He makes racing POPULAR again

    From peter s, on Fri 17 Oct 11:53PM

  7. Have any of you ever actually raced cars and been on the track with an over agressive @#$%? I have and it is extremely dangerous to the drivers, flaggers, fans and pit workers. I'm not jealous of LH at all, he is simply a nuisance on the track and thinks that he can do anything he wants to win which is not in the good spirt of auto racing. I hope he beaches it again this weekend...I would never want to wish an injury to him or any other driver, I jut hope he scores nothing and goes home the loser that he is.

    From d_kach, on Fri 17 Oct 11:45PM

  8. Go Hamilton Go. Say NO TO FERRARI ha ha ha
    I am bored with the Ferrari
    I am bored with the Ferrari

    From Dony, on Fri 17 Oct 11:44PM

  9. he'll do his talking on the track?? let's hope he has a p.r. rep there, since i don't see one in evidence when he's off the track...

    From sagittarius1958, on Fri 17 Oct 11:38PM

  10. Amen to that hoodie

    From timothyfkey, on Fri 17 Oct 11:35PM

  11. Hello jbolan, #66 your felicitation is very rude. I know a lot of decent Peruvians I must say you are a bad example of very decent people.

    From hoodie, on Fri 17 Oct 11:31PM

  12. LH may the Lord Bless and Keep you on Sunday. May he give you the title and keep you safe in the mist of your enemies. Be magnanimous in victory. Keep calm and focused.

    From hoodie, on Fri 17 Oct 11:28PM

  13. d_kach you are probably one of the saddest people I have ever heard. You are jealous that LH is winning and no matter what you say we all know that is true otherwise you wouldn't be so uptight. Jealousy is an evil thing, just don't let it take over your life, eh? Shut up and let the DRIVERS decide who is best. Talk about diapers and dummies......... who is spits their silly red dummies out everytime LH overtakes a ferrari driver and makes them look like an amateur? THATS RIGHT.... FERRARI FANS. "OHH HE WAS CHEATING, BLAH BLAH BLAH". Get a grip.

    From timothyfkey, on Fri 17 Oct 11:12PM

  14. Cant say I entirely agree with katch's point of view, but it did make me laugh, now I'm going to be looking out for Anthony's little bag on Sunday morning.

    From Bentley Boy, on Fri 17 Oct 11:11PM

  15. sheez... valentinorossi46... you're not bitter, are you?? what do you 'really' know about any of us posting here?? for all you know, there are present f1 drivers logged on just to see what we have to say... for all you know, the commentators are looking for material to use for their next broadcast... sheez, for all you know, i could be hamilton incognito... breathe, my friend, you'll live longer...

    From sagittarius1958, on Fri 17 Oct 11:11PM

  16. who's to say that hamilton's recklessness wasn't brought BEHIND CLOSED DOORS... considering all the b.s. that's been going on lately, the drivers may have chosen to keep quiet on this one... only they will know for certain...

    From sagittarius1958, on Fri 17 Oct 11:07PM

  17. Forza your new picture does look very dapper, but I thought it was only girls who put up pictures of themselves, bring back the Ferrari that's what I say

    From Bentley Boy, on Fri 17 Oct 11:06PM

  18. bentley: If they don't have the balls to say it to his face then they should keep quiet. The opportunity to raise concerns presented itself and nothing is said, i think it was the media blowing things out of proportion a little

    From ginger_gitt, on Fri 17 Oct 11:06PM

  19. d_kach you are a @#$% moron!! What has Hamilton ever done to you? Nothing!! He doesn't talk, he produces!! Massa is a waste of space if he doesn't have pole position. Hamilton can win from anywhere!! Your attack on Hamilton is nonsense and deserves an afterthought. Jealousy is a @#$%!!

    From lamont m, on Fri 17 Oct 11:04PM

  20. he a big Kid shut up and race!

    From raiders1, on Fri 17 Oct 10:55PM
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