Calcutta / Bangalore: Lewis Hamilton moved on from his weekend clash with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and conceded that McLaren teammate Jenson Button had got the better of him this season.
Flying in from Singapore to thrill Indian Formula One fans with demonstration runs and tyre-smoking spins in his title-winning 2008 car, the Briton, on Tuesday, was determined to look forwards rather than back after another controversial race.
“I think for me now it’s just to find my ground and improve on the results that we’ve had in the last four races,' Hamilton told reporters at the sponsor event on the outskirts of Bangalore when asked about his strategy for the rest of the season.
“Jenson’s done an incredible job... I feel he’s done a better job all season, really. So even if I did a better job in the next five races it doesn't mean a lot to me. I mean, it’s through a whole year.”
Hamilton has been dogged by controversy this year after numerous collisions while trying to overtake his rivals and has failed to finish on the podium since winning the German Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring in July.
Brazilian Massa confronted Hamilton during the post-race interviews in Singapore, slapping his rival on the shoulder so hard that he spun round and then offering a sarcastic ‘thumbs-up’ sign with the words ‘good job, very good job.’
Hamilton then broke off his interviews and left the circuit without further comment.
“I was able to just ignore it and move on,” he said on Tuesday, adding that he still had a lot of respect for the Ferrari driver.
About Tuesday’s experience, Hamilton said: “I’ve visited India many times over last couple of years and it’s never been more exciting to be here than now. The inaugural Indian Grand Prix is only weeks away and you can really feel the growing passion of people and the excitement levels continuing to build,” Hamilton said.
“Vodafone has been supporting our team and Formula 1 for many years and they’ve always brought Grand Prix racing to the people. Getting to drive my McLaren F1 car on India’s public roads was an incredible experience and I really hope it gave people a taste for the incredible spectacle of Formula 1,” he said.
