Lewis stands by decision to miss parade

A DEFIANT Lewis Hamilton stood by his decision to snub Wednesday night’s spectacular London demonstration – and warned he would be prepared to do it again.

Hamilton was the sole driver of this year’s 20-strong field not to attend the stunning parade as Formula One cars roared along Whitehall from Trafalgar Square ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix.

Hamilton, 20 points adrift of championship leader Sebastian Vettel, informed Mercedes boss Toto Wolff of his desire to withdraw from the event in Austria last Saturday evening.

Mercedes insisted they had no issue with the Briton’s move, but Formula One’s new American owners Liberty Media acknowledged their disappointment at his failure to attend.

Meanwhile, the mere mention of Hamilton’s name was subjected to boos by some of the tens of thousands of British fans who lined the streets of the capital hoping to catch a glimpse of the sport’s biggest star.

Despite persistent probing here at Silverstone on Thursday, Hamilton however pleaded no wrong-doing. He instead claimed his two-day holiday in Mykonos - ahead of a race which last month he billed as the most important of the season – was the idyllic preparation.

“Everyone has the right to make the decision for themselves,” Hamilton said. “I felt it’s been a pretty intense season so far and I felt it’s the best way to prepare for this weekend. The season is the most important thing for me. That’s it.

“I told the organisers last week that I wouldn’t be going. I told Toto and the team and they were very understanding and respectful.”

Asked if he would be in attendance if the sport staged a similar event next year, Hamilton, 32, replied: “I guess I will decide when the time comes.”

Hamilton is this week bidding to claim a recordequalling fifth British Grand Prix victory, and a fourth in a row here at Silverstone to get his stuttering championship charge back on track.