The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hamiltonkeentoriseagain
LEWIS HA MILTON stayed true to the philosophy he has inked on his back as a victory to savour ignited his Formula One world title challenge for this year.
The words ‘Still I Rise’are tattooed across the top of his shoulders and also adorn his helmet from this season — and are a reminder that in adversity there remains the capacity to perform and achieve.
A fter enduring an unhappy seasonopening A ustralian Grand Prix two weeks ago that was littered with technical problems, one of which forced his retirement after just two laps, Hamilton yesterday rose above such disappointment to clinch his first win in Malaysia, and the 23rd of his F1 career.
It was also Hamilton’s 100th points finish in F1, and when you throw in pole position and fastest lap, it was a weekend in stark contrast to the misery he experienced at Melbourne’sA lbert Park.
From lights to flag Hamilton was never troubled, finishing 17 seconds ahead of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to hand the German marque its first one-two in the sport for 59 years.
The ambition for Hamilton now would be to rise all the way to the top again in F1 and become champion, as he was in 2008.
A sked for his thoughts behind the words, Hamilton replied: “The meaning is that regardless of what difficulties you go through, you still rise above them.
“It’s really something my dad has always enforced in me.
“We’ve had so many ups and downs throughout our lives and our careers, as everyone has, but he would always say ‘just rise above it’ and do your talking on track. I had a difficult time in the last race and that’s what I did today, so I feel quite good about it.”
Hamilton also had kind words for the Malaysian people in the grandstands in light of the tragedy that unfolded a few weeks ago with the loss of Malaysian A irlines flight 370.
“I’d really like to dedicate this to them and their families,” added Hamilton.
A lthough Mercedes were dominant, the fact reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel joined them on the podium was an ominous warning fired across their bows.
A fter a disqualification on home soil in A ustralia there was further misery for Vettel’s team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who was initially on course for fourth place.
A t his final pit stop, however, Ricciardo was released with the front-left tyre not fitted correctly, forcing him to stop halfway down the pit lane and be retrieved by his mechanics.
On his return to the track, the front wing then failed, forcing him back into the pits again.
Following this the FIA
also handed him a 10-second stop-go penalty for the team’s unsafe release. To rub salt into the wounds, Ricciardo will also serve a 10-place grid penalty at next weekend’s grand prix in Bahrain, while he was also eventually one of seven retirees during the 56 laps.
Ferrari’s Fernando A lonso had to settle for fourth ahead of Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, with Jenson Button sixth in his McLaren. WilliamsdriversFelipeMassaand Valtteri Bottas were seventh and eighth.