Lewis Hamilton slams his detractors
Thursday 7th July 2011
Lewis Hamilton has hit back at his detractors as he prepares himself for this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The McLaren driver has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with his driving style criticised by some of the sport's greats while his future has also been subject to speculation.
Hamilton's aggressive tactics at both the Monaco and Canadian grands prix, from which he retired after a collision with team-mate Jenson Button, brought comment from the likes of Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi and Sir Stirling Moss.
Meanwhile, Nigel Mansell and Jacques Villeneuve have both since stated that the 2008 world champion should remain with McLaren rather than seek a drive elsewhere.
Hamilton has now made it clear that such remarks do not affect him, and went so far as to say that he "couldn't give a toss" what three-times world champion Lauda - who labelled him "completely mad" after his retirement in Montreal - thinks.
Regarding the comments of Mansell and Villeneuve, Hamilton wondered whether "anyone really cares what some of those people are talking about or their opinions".
The 26-year-old added that "if you have an opinion, just keep it to yourself".
The pressure is on Hamilton heading into his home race: he currently trails championship leader Sebastian Vettel by 89 points and has scored just 20 points in the last three races.
However, he is naturally hoping for the best result possible for both him and Button, who stands 77 points adrift of Vettel.
"The dream for us would be to have a one-two at Silverstone," said Hamilton.
"That would be the best weekend I could ever imagine in Formula One. I think it would be incredible.
"The dream would be to see what kind of effect that would have on everyone. I think the atmosphere would be unreal.
"When I got pole position in 2007, that was insane, and when I won in 2008, that was also insane.
"But just imagine having a British one-two in a British team, that would be a weekend that would go down in history.
"So our goal, as difficult as it may be, that's what we're pushing for."
The goal is indeed difficult: in 61 previous British GPs there have only been six British one-twos - and none with the same British team.
In 1962, 1964 and 1965 when Jim Clark won in a Lotus, John Surtees was runner-up in a Lola in the first of those years, whilst Graham Hill was beaten into second place driving a BRM in the latter two.
Such a result would certainly be welcomed by Button, who has never finished on the podium at Silverstone in 11 attempts.
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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