Hamilton stays positive

Hamilton stays positive amid challenges both on and off the track

The reigning world champion is hoping the sport’s ongoing civil war between the FIA and the Formula One Teams’ Association does not leave him potentially on the sidelines in 2010.

Meanwhile, he will continue to do his best in a McLaren car which is way off the pace this season, with Hamilton starting in a career-worst 19th place on the grid for Sunday’s British Grand Prix.

He said: “I have not really had much time to think about the other things (off the track) due to the amount of work I have had going on, especially in the last couple of weeks.

“Given the problems we have had with the car, I am devoting all of my time – apart from the appearances and things you have to do – to try and help the team move in the right direction, learning from our mistakes.

“I am no engineer or aerodynamicist, but I am always asking questions, as much as they all do the same of me.

Tough

“I have been thinking about that mostly, but yeah, it is tough in the sport right now.

“I can only hope I am racing next year because I want another shot at the world championship, so I am very hopeful for it.”

The British driver won his home Grand Prix 12 months ago with a mesmeric drive in the wet as he went on to take the championship.

Underlining the old phrase of ‘what a difference a year makes’, a rueful Hamilton said: “I guess so.

“As racing drivers, as people, we all have good years, we all have bad.

“I’ve had

a run of four good years, and I’ve finally come to a year where it’s pretty disastrous, to say the least.

Struggle

“But we continue to push and work as a team to try and improve, and there will be a better day. It’s just a long, long struggle for us at the moment.

“But we’ll keep pushing and hopefully we’ll get back there one day.”

But Hamilton said the current McLaren car is “all over the place.”

“There is nothing I can do with my driving style to stop it other than drive slow,” he said.

“All the engineers and mechanics are as committed as before, but the unfortunate route we took happened a long time ago and it is kind of undo-able.”

Speaking about his 19th place on the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix, Hamilton added: “It’s going to be very tough for us from there.

“Going into this weekend we wanted to get into the points because we’ve not done that for a while now.

“Especially for me in front of my home crowd, I wanted to be able to give a little bit back.

“But now I’m in the position where all I can do is drive my heart out and give it my all.”

via: skysports.com