Renowned F1 racer Lewis Hamilton is all set to replace former world champion Michael Schumacher next year for Mercedes. Speaking at the Vodafone preconference ahead of 2012 Indian Grand Prix, the British driver has opened up his heart. According to Hamilton, it was an honor for him to be chosen for Schumi but those are definitely for him to be filled. He even felt that Indian drivers must be great to ride on these road conditions with so much traffic to clear. The ace driver has never driven here, but that’s what he actually feels ahead of the championship.
Hamilton says that his association with McLaren has been a special one till now. Ever since he was recruited, they forged ahead as a team. It all began when the team ended lowly by losing drivers’ championship with a mere one point back in 2007. However, the following year uplifted their morale as they won the championship with a single point in 2008. Though he is very much active in the Formula One circuit, he was unable to get another title for the team. During the year 1998, a thirteen old boy walked up towards then McLaren team head Ron Dennis with intentions of driving for them. That incident marked the career of the boy whom the world now recognizes as Lewis Hamilton.
The F1 circuit were astonished with the sudden surge of Hamilton who raced past the then world champion Fernando Alonso only to lose to Kimi Raikkonen. However, the current association with his teammates will come to an abrupt end once he gets on with his career after signing up for Mercedes starting from 2013. In all these fresh turnouts, the accomplished driver has no regrets of whatsoever regarding any matter. Meanwhile, speculations are rife that it is all because of McLaren’s inability to give a stiff challenge to Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull.
In addition to the cause, Hamilton’s inconsistency to upstage Vettel too has been of a great concern. Though this is one side of the coin, the other reveals grave facts such as the loopholes in his current team and lack of adjustments to get along with the requirements. Participating in the Singapore challenge was half-hearted during which the gearbox failed but it appears that the team has given up long before the race began. The team possessed one of the quickest cars and still they were unable to win because of the mistakes they committed.
The 2008 world champion believes that had only there were not so many mistakes and technical snags then that would have his best season. Mercedes started backing up Hamilton by offering mechanical support whenever there were any problems with the engine during his stint with McLaren. This is an added advantage for the champion because of the latest turnout of events. As far as references to Schumi are considered, he feels that the former German world champion is beyond comparison. It was he who brought international fame for the luxury sport and it will be a challenge for him to represent Mercedes.
