LEWIS DEFENDS LONDON SNUB
Lewis defends snubbing street event in London
AN unrepentant Lewis Hamilton has said he might skip future promotional events in London despite his absence at Wednesday’s event dominating the build-up to the British Grand Prix.
The demonstration at Trafalgar Square, with its parade of performing cars, was deemed a huge success by everyone associated with it.
The only missing ingredient was the man sitting in the press conference room at Silverstone yesterday, the first time he had been seen or heard of since he issued news of his non-appearance via his social media sites on Tuesday afternoon.
Despite the ensuing furore, which caused his name to be booed by elements of the London crowd, Hamilton was not sure he would turn up in future. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I’ll decide when the time comes.’
Under questioning, Hamilton stuck to his original ‘reason’ for missing London: the need for a rest ahead of his home race, adding: ‘ Ultimately we have decisions to make and we have to stand firm with those. I feel proud of the decisions we made.
‘And this weekend I will give everything to shine as much light and raise the flag in the best way I can and drive the best way I can. The goal is to win the British Grand Prix.
‘I try to engage as much as I can. Fans mean everything. They always have. I do things that people don’t comment on — like visits to hospitalised young kids who can’t come to grands prix. That doesn’t get reported.’
The full, real reason for Hamilton staying away remains unclear. Can it really be the case that he relaxed more effectively by travelling to the Greek island of Mykonos than, say, spending a few days in London or with his parents or friends in Hertfordshire?
But where he is definitely right is in understanding the need to get a positive result urgently, having slipped 20 points behind Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
There is also the irritation nearer to home of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who won last week’s race in Austria.
It is hard to know exactly what Hamilton needs to put right. His work ethic?
Well, that has been defended by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who acknowledges his star man’s approach to ‘homework’ is not the most assiduous while insisting it suits his temperament perfectly. Horses for courses, he says.
Of the current grid only Fernando Alonso has practically no bad weekends. Hamilton is having a few more than previously (possibly except in 2011). And, as for Vettel, he has had at least one entire off season.
But Vettel, sniffing victory, is now at the top of his game, while Hamilton is hitting rare heights some days, and off the pace others. Silverstone, with its Union Flags and banners, may act as balm. One hopes that at least he will not be booed as he was in London.
He looked hurt when told about that during the press conference, which might have crackled with more tension had it not been for the beaming Daniel Ricciardo, one of three others on the stage with Hamilton, defusing the electricity with his jokey demeanour.
Hamilton’s record at Silverstone offers further reassurance. He has won here four times, and in 2008 produced one of the great drives of modern times to win by a minute in blinding rain.
Will Mercedes be up at the front on this track? ‘I hope so, but the Ferraris are very strong,’ said Hamilton.
‘So are the Red Bulls in all sections. Think it is going to be very, very close. They did a great job in the last race.
‘To see Red Bull up there was great from a three-way team challenge perspective. It is going to be a spectacular British Grand Prix in that respect.’
Hamilton had not originally been scheduled to attend the press conference, and was only added to the roster after sitting out London.
It is also understood that the FIA offered Hamilton the chance to attend their investigation into Vettel crashing into him in Azerbaijan last month, but he declined.
So they were nonplussed when Hamilton later said he would welcome the chance to sit down to speak to FIA president Jean Todt — the very thing he had turned down.
Anyway, the man who has always been a walking story, rounded off his duties under the grey skies at Silverstone meeting the fans, waving as he ran.