TOKYO: Britain’s Lewis Hamilton yesterday rowed back on his suggestion that Sebastien Vettel’s (pictured) Formula One dominance was a turn-off for fans, hailing the German as a “true champion”.
Hamilton said he wanted to “clarify” his comments from Sunday’s Korean Grand Prix, and sent a series of laudatory tweets about the soon-to-be four-time world title-winner.
“Read some of the stories/reports of my comments on Seb. Feel the need to clarify my thoughts. Seb is great champion!!” tweeted Hamilton.
“Not only that, he is a great human being who is funny and humble. Deserves all the success he is having!” he added.
“I admire his dedication & ability to consistently perform without mistakes. This is the mark of a true champion.
“Regardless of what you & I may think about his car, at the end of the day he’s doing the perfect job.”
In Korea, Hamilton said Vettel’s hold on the sport reminded him of the days of Michael Schumacher, who won seven world titles.
“I feel for the fans because I remember the period of time when Michael Schumacher was winning,” the 2008 world champion was quoted as saying.
“I remember waking up in the morning to watch the start of the race and then going to sleep, and then waking up when it ended because I already knew what would happen. I am pretty sure a lot of people were doing that, at least in my family.”
Vettel has won the last four races -- and eight out of 14 this season -- to put one hand on his fourth successive world title, which he can claim at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
His remarkable winning streak has not been to everyone’s liking, with the 26-year-old booed repeatedly on the podiums by disgruntled spectators.
Meanwhile, formula One teams say they have no qualms about scheduling crucial pre-season tests in Bahrain next February after the restive Gulf kingdom’s grand prix went ahead without incident this year.
The 2011 race had to be cancelled, due to civil unrest and the crushing of an anti-government uprising that cost at least 35 lives, and some rights activists have since urged teams and sponsors to stay away.
Teams have argued in their defence that Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone draws up the calendar and they are contractually obliged to race wherever he decides.
However, they do have a choice when it comes to testing venues and there were ready-made alternatives to Bahrain in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh, whose team is half-owned by Bahrain’s Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund, said attitudes had evolved since the height of the unrest.
“I think people are relaxed about going there based on their experience of this year,” he told Reuters.
Bahrain circuit authorities said last weekend, during the Korean Grand Prix, that the Sakhir track would host pre-season tests from February 19-22 and February 27-March 2 next year.
Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the first race in Bahrain and organisers are planning a floodlit day-to-night event like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 2012 race was seen as a public relations own-goal for Bahrain’s rulers, coming against the backdrop of security forces firing teargas in streets and villages while protesters hurled rocks and petrol bombs in images broadcast around the world.
This year’s Grand Prix in April passed largely without incident, despite opposition rallies and regular skirmishes out of sight of most Formula One visitors.
Agencies
