Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton is not planning on changing his aggressive approach for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix despite being advised to do so.
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McLaren's British driver Lewis Hamilton walks to a hospitality suite at the Shanghai Circuit yesterday. |
Hamilton was criticized by past and present drivers for his over-aggression at last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix which cost him crucial points. Many urged him to temper his ways if he is to win the title.
Despite his lead being cut to five points going into the penultimate race of the season, Hamilton said prudence was not on his agenda.
"When we have not had good races there's always going to be criticism, whether positive or negative," Hamilton said. "You move forward, you put it in the past."
"Coming here I feel as strong as I always do. We still have two races, I'm five points ahead, we have a great opportunity to take the next step.
"It's motor racing, what can you do? I don't plan on changing my approach."
Hamilton brushed aside Renault's Fernando Alonso's promise to help rival Ferrari's Felipe Massa win the title, saying it was none of his business what other drivers did.
"I don't really have an opinion on it," Hamilton said of Alonso's comments. "I focus on my job and the most important thing is to be competitive this weekend and try to earn some points. I want to bring it out and be at the front and what the others do is none of my business."
Hamilton looked isolated on a news conference platform with Alonso, Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen and the third remaining title contender Robert Kubica, who criticized the Briton's driving last week.
Alonso, who has won the last two races, was in ebullient form and in no mood to backtrack on his comments about favoring Massa, despite the presence of Hamilton.
"You cannot misunderstand what I said," he said. "My best relationship, for example, is with Robert. I would like to see him win the championship but I know that it (will be) difficult to recover 12 points. I will do my own race, but after the race ... you prefer some drivers to win or some teams to win compared to some others.
"You can take whatever from my comments but it's very simple."
Kubica's title bid is extraordinary, given he has only won one race in his career - in Canada this year - and the BMW is at best fighting it out with Toyota and Toro Rosso for fourth best in the field.
BMW has relied on reliability more than speed and Kubica has benefited from a points system that rewards consistency more than brilliance.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily October 17, 2008)