Zoom Hamilton focused on the Chinese GP weekend

The Japanese Grand Prix did not see Lewis Hamilton produce the finest drive of his career, leaving the Fuji Speedway venue with no points after a penalty and a collision with with no championship points. With Felipe Massa just five points behind in the championship fight, Hamilton knows that the penultimate round of the championship this weekend in China could be decisive in his title aspirations.

"We both had penalties, Felipe and I, but that is motor racing," Hamilton stated today as he looked back on the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. "You move forward and try to avoid it in the future."

Asked whether the drive through penalty incurred for his botched first turn in the event would have an effect on his driving this weekend, Hamilton simply answered: "No."

Former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso was also taking a fairly laid back approach today as he gave his opinion on the penalties picked up by both Hamilton and Massa last Sunday. "It is the same as always," said the Spaniard. "We probably believe that there are too many penalties because sometimes the races are decided by the stewards. Sometimes they are wrong, sometimes they are fair."

Moving on from the issue of penalties, Hamilton talked of his chances at the Chinese event and as ever, the Brit expects a stiff challenge at the sharp end of the field. "I think McLaren and Ferrari will both be competitive in the last two races, as will BMW and Renault but who knows who’s going to win?”

“For sure whoever does the best job will finish at the top. We all have a chance of doing that,” he concluded.

Earl ALEXANDER
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