London, Lewis Hamilton has suggested he is mentally tougher than Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg and questioned how hard the German really tried to beat him in last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
In comments that will do little to ease tensions between the pair ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, the double Formula One world champion also told British reporters that he was more of a racer than his rival.
“I’ve always said he is really strong mentally,” Hamilton said. “But I’d like to think I’m stronger this year.”
The Briton has won eight of the last 10 races, beaten Rosberg in nine of them, and started all three grands prix this season from pole position. The tension between the two, evident last year as they battled for the title, flared up again in Shanghai when Rosberg accused Hamilton of compromising his race by driving selfishly slow and leaving him exposed to the Ferraris behind. “Nico didn’t try,” he said, repeating the words for effect.
“They said maybe he was just comfortable with second and I said ‘well, that’s the difference between us. I want to win always’. And I would have done everything to get past. Or at least pushed for three laps. He wasn’t quick enough. I want the guy to be up my arse if he’s got the pace, up my arse and putting pressure on me. And if I can’t defend it, you lose it.” — Reuters
Hamilton slammed for spraying champagne
Lewis Hamilton has caught the ire of critics for spraying champagne on the grid girl while celebrating his victory at the Chinese GP. The Briton sprayed the champagne directly at an unsuspecting hostess. Object, a campaign on media sexism, accused him of abusing the grid girl’s position. Roz Hardie, the chief executive of the organization, said that the photographs show that the woman was not just being splashed, but that the champagne was being very specifically directed into her face. “It is unfortunate that a great victory has been marred by what appears to be selfish and inconsiderate behaviour,” Hardie said.