LEWIS HAMILTON INSISTS: I AM A WORTHY CHAMPION
Crashgate can't tarnish world drivers' crown
LEWIS HAMILTON has rubbished claims he should not have won the F1 title last year, insisting: 'I am a true champ!'
The McLaren driver's historic victory has been called into question amid the fall-out from the Crashgate scandal that has rocked F1.
Hamilton pipped Ferrari rival Felipe Massa by one point to become the youngest champ in history.
But there are suggestions Massa would have won the Singapore Grand Prix if Renault had not fixed it in favour of Fernando Alonso.
Feeling
But Hamilton, 24, insisted: "I am a worthy World Champion. I have got the number one on my car and I deserved it. I am extremely proud of my achievements since coming into F1. Getting in that car is the one thing I can do in my life that I know I am better at than most people.
"It is a great feeling to know that I can do it well and that it is widely respected and loved.
"I remember my race in Singapore last year. I was driving with one eye on the world championship and wasn't going to take too many risks. I was happy to finish on the podium.
"There are things that happened last year with penalties that affected my points. And I still think I won in Belgium. I think that was my race." Hamilton led Massa by just one point with four races left heading into F1's first night race in Singapore last year. The Brazilian - now out of action following his accident in Hungary - snatched pole and shot into a 4.5 seconds lead over Hamilton.
Smashed
But his hopes were ended when the safety car was called out after Nelson Piquet controversially smashed into the wall on lap 15. Like the rest, Massa raced into the pits but drove off with the fuel hose still attached.
The Sao Paulo racer was hit with a drive-through penalty and finished 13th but Hamilton admitted he settled for third knowing his lead would be seven points with three races left.
Hamilton, looking back at last year, added: "When you are leading the championship it is a different mind-set to when you are chasing. I was just thinking about the championship in the remaining races and getting the points I needed to win the title. If I had needed wins I would have gone for them."
Complaint
There is no chance of the Singapore result being reversed when motor sport chiefs meet in Paris tomorrow. Any complaint had to have been lodged with the FIA by last November.
But Renault have been left to carry the can and could be booted out of the sport, despite the departures of team chief Flavio Briatore and technical boss Pat Symonds.
The French car giant could escape with a multi-million fine or a suspended sentence amid fears they will quit F1 if they are hit hard.
This article has 12 comments
Lewis won the championship fair and square, nobody can turn back time and claim to know what would have happened if Renault hadn't cheated. its time formula one got back to what its supposed to be about actually racing and not all the politics that go with it. All these hangers on are killing the actual sport. health and safety are important but lets get back to racing and passing on the track and not in the pits
By jane. Posted October 8 2009 at 10:56 PM.
But zz, do really think it matters if you think he is not popular? Lewis has everything anyone could wish for, millions in the bank, the best job on earth, a lovely girlfriend, and loving familiy, his health. So you see what you think does not matter. Do you have all that? No.
By Sue. Posted September 27 2009 at 9:31 PM.
I agree with zz. If anyone was worthy of that Championship last year it was Massa. Remember Massa has been doing this a lot longer than Hamilton has and has therefore worked a lot harder!! As zz states, there are a lot of reasons why Hamilton does not deserve the Championship. People here cannot say that there hasn't been no scandal in the very short term that he has been in F1!!!!
By Jaimie. Posted September 26 2009 at 3:40 PM.
Hamilton has earned the WDC title. He should have been 2 time WDC champion had it not been for the unfair race penalities by the FIA.
For the clown haters of Hamilton, what are you jealous about? his mega millions? his sexy girlfrend? his good looks? You don't even know the man,go back to your miserable lives.
By zz is a zero. Posted September 21 2009 at 9:30 PM.
Hank that's the same for every driver, you can't win a race with a dog of a car no matter who you are. Lewis more than proved himself in the first half of the season, he did well considering how bad his car was, remember he had possibly the worst car on the grid at the beginning of the season.
By Lucy. Posted September 20 2009 at 9:38 PM.
Hamilton is overrated. If he was as good as people claim, he'd have been able to drag a performance out of his car in the first half of the season.
It's no small coincidence that once McClaren started throwing money at the problem, his fortunes improved.
Nothing to do with him and everything to do with the car.
By Hank. Posted September 20 2009 at 2:39 PM.
There's absolutely no question about whether or not Lewis Hamilton is a worthy champion. He's a thrilling driver to watch and I just hope he has a more competitive car next season. It would be great to see him with a true fighting chance of claiming more F1 victories and ultimately another F1 championship.
Good luck, Lewis!
By Nickolove. Posted September 20 2009 at 2:01 PM.
F1 championship is all about incidents and drama, whatever the incidents, the driver with the highest point is declared the champ. Lewis Hamilton could also point to Canada, where he was cruising to victory, but crashed into Kimi, or Massa could point to Hungary where his engine blew, or Valencia where he was released into another driver's path and was only fined, then again Hamilton can point to Spa, yes Spa, so haters shut up!!
By edward. Posted September 20 2009 at 10:14 AM.
well he was very popular at westfield yesterday, hundreds turned up to see him....
By d. Posted September 20 2009 at 9:03 AM.
He's incredibly popular, it's only pathetic haters like you,zz who can't bear to see him achieve anything. The lads going to be winning for many years to come so get used to it.
By lucy. Posted September 20 2009 at 3:17 AM.
Lewis is worthy champion!!!!!, he won Belgian GP but the stewards had the last say. In Singapore, Massa was very nervous and that is why he drove off with the fuel hose still attached to his car. Lewis drove well and got on to the podium with 6 points. If it wasn't for the Renault race-fix, Lewis would have actually won the race and would have won the drivers championship by a big margin. Go Lewis!!!!!!!!
By Ak. Posted September 20 2009 at 3:53 AM.
No, your own reputation tarnishes your WDC Lewis! There is a reason, or rather plenty of reasons, why he's the least popular WDC in the history of the sport.
By zz. Posted September 20 2009 at 2:41 AM.