McLaren's Lewis Hamilton said on Monday he wanted to win the
Formula One title on the racetrack, not weeks later on appeal.
"It would be wrong," said the 22-year-old Briton, still
suffering the effects of a heavy night out after letting the title
slip from his grasp by one point in Sunday's season-ending race in
Brazil.
Finnish Formula One driver
Kimi Raikkonen (R) shakes hands with British Lewis Hamilton. The
McLaren Mercedes-Benz Formula One team said Sunday night it was
ready to appeal a steward's decision at the Brazilian Grand Prix,
keeping alive Hamiltons F1 title dream. [Agencies]
"For me, I want to win it on the track," he told reporters in
his hotel room. "You want to do it in style, you want to win the
race, you want to win battling it out for the lead or something in
the race.
"Being promoted after some people have been thrown out is not
the way I want to do it."
The rookie, Formula One's first black driver and the title
favorite before Sunday's race, lost out to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen
after finishing seventh on a nightmare afternoon at Interlagos.
Raikkonen won the race but the Finn's first title was
overshadowed by a stewards' enquiry into the three cars that
finished ahead of Hamilton.
McLaren have said they intend to appeal against the stewards'
subsequent decision not to penalize Williams' Nico Rosberg and BMW
Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica for fuel temperature
irregularities.
The aim would be to lift Hamilton above them in the
classification, securing the points he needs to become champion
instead.
The Briton, winner of four races in a sensational debut season,
said he would feel uncomfortable with that.
"It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in the
last two races," he said.
"He won yesterday and to have it taken away is a bit cruel and
probably not good for the sport."
Hamilton, who had led team mate and double world champion
Fernando Alonso by four points and Raikkonen by seven before
Interlagos, paid tribute to his team and supporters.
"Last night was good and (team boss) Ron (Dennis) did a speech
and we had a great evening and just sort of rounded up the whole
year," he said.
"It has been a phenomenal year and the support from the team
makes it just a real pleasure for me to be a part of the team.
"I'm extremely proud of them and extremely proud of my family
and everyone that's just supported me to get me where I am
today.
"Later on in the evening yesterday I felt it (the defeat) more
for sure, it's tough on everyone but there's always another year,"
said Hamilton.
"I'm only 22, there's going to be plenty more opportunities for
me to win the world championship and I have no doubt that we can do
that in the future."
(China Daily via Agencies October 23, 2007)
