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MOTORSPORT

LEWIS OUT TO LEAVE THEM IN THE DARK

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Lewis Hamilton: Confident

Tuesday September 16,2008

By Bob McKenzie

Lewis Hamilton’s next motor racing outing is to Paris, where he could pick up four points in the championship without starting an engine – but he is more confident of winning the title on the track.

Hamilton is stopping off at the offices of the FIA on Monday for the International Court of Appeal, which will decide if they agree with the stewards of the Belgian Grand Prix who decided he had not won the race.

They gave him a 25-second penalty, which relegated Hamilton to third, and saw him pick up six points while his title rival Felipe Massa inherited the victory and 10 points.

Hamilton’s seventh in rain-lashed Italy on Sunday, a place behind Massa, keeps him a point ahead in the world title race, which moves to Singapore next week.

A reversal of the decision in Spa would put Massa seven points behind. But such is the cynical view of the FIA’s favourable attitude to Ferrari there are few who would bet on that.

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I’m not really thinking about Paris
î

Lewis Hamilton


“I’m not really thinking about Paris,” said Hamilton. “I feel like I won in Belgium, so I’ve not even bothered to think about it.

“What has happened has happened and I’ll move on whatever the result. I’ll continue to prove that there’s nothing that can put me off or bring me down.”

He insists it will not be a distraction and plans to fly on to Singapore after the hearing to prepare for a unique experience for all in Formula One. The first floodlit grand prix at night, in the city centre, will test teams and drivers on every level. The race begins at 8pm on the Sunday, while qualifying will take place at 10pm.
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“I’m just focusing on keeping myself in shape, not letting anything distract me,” said  Hamilton. “I’m not messing around doing stupid things. I’m keeping myself nice and quiet and doing everything right.

“There is no night driving you can do. There’s talks of simulators, but I’m not really sure whether you can simulate or not.”

After that it is on to the Fuji circuit in Japan, Shanghai and then Brazil. All four races have the strong potential to be wet, but Hamilton’s stunning run through the field in his dismissive overtaking of rivals in Monza in the rain sent a message.

“I really do feel in the next four races we will be very strong. We’ve a good package for Brazil,” he said.

As a sideshow, watch out for more from Sebastian Vettel and the Toro Rosso team, who have overtaken their ‘big brother’ outfit,Red Bull Racing, in the championship.

Vettel, now the youngest winner of a grand prix, is no one-off. Although destined to switch to Red Bull to replace David Coulthard next season, Ferrari and McLaren would love the man who was allowed to leave by BMW.


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