Indian Grand Prix will be spectacular, feels Hamilton

CHENNAI - For the 2008 Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, it was just another spin on the race track as he enthralled a fair-sized crowd with a few “hot laps”, and did some doughnuts in an AMG Mercedes SL63 car at the MMST circuit here Friday.

Hamilton said he looked forward to participating in the Indian Grand Prix next year in Delhi and was confident that it would be a spectacular event given the following Formula One enjoys in the country.

“India’s Grand Prix event will be the most spectacular Grand Prix event due to the incredible fan support. Fans make the event. It will be a great moment to be in India and I will definitely be there,” Hamilton said.

“India is ready for F1. I heard the track is ahead of schedule which is great. It is going to be spectacular to have a Grand Prix here in New Delhi. I would love to spend a whole week in India as I have been here only on short visits,” he said.

“Normally, I come in the morning and leave by evening, so it would be great to spend some time in India,” said Hamilton, who was airlifted from the airport to the track Friday morning in a helicopter and is scheduled to fly out Saturday night to Zurich and then on to Singapore for the next weekend’s race.

Hamilton, who is in contention for the championship this season, had a word of praise for Karun Chandhok, whose Formula One career in his debut season this year has come to an abrupt end over funding issues.

“Karun Chandhok is young and it is great for him and for India. I hope he gets better opportunities as he has a good future ahead of him.”

“F1 is a tough sport as it depends on how much (funding) you can bring rather than your ability. I am sure some opportunity will open up for him and he will get a better car,” said Hamilton.

He hoped that seven times World champion Michael Schumacher, who returned to F1 after a three-season break, would continue racing.

“It is good to have Michael Schumacher back in F1 and it is great for the sport. When you are driving around with Schumacher, you say ‘wow, here you have a living legend who has won the world championship seven times’. It is tough for him to come back after being away for so long. I hope he will continue to stay,” said Hamilton.