Lewis Hamilton has warned his Formula One rivals he will be “better” this year after being crowned as the planet’s best new sporting talent. Hamilton won the World Breakthrough Award at yesterday’s Laureus World Sports Awards in St Petersburg – joining marathon runner and fellow Briton Paula Radcliffe, who claimed the Comeback of the Year award, on the roll of honour.
Hamilton was pipped to the F1 drivers’ championship by just one point by Kimi Raikonnen in the final race of last season. However, rather than seeing that as a setback, he has set out his ambition for the season – becoming world champion.
“My goals would be winning more races, finishing more races – last year we were very, very close to finishing every race so we have to try and improve that, more pole positions, fastest laps and then the main goal is to win the World Championship, ” he said. “It’s going to be a tough season again and by no means will it be easy so we are working as hard as we can.
“But I feel even more confident than last year, even more determined because I know what to expect, I know how to manage my time better, I know how to train better and how to drive better so I feel very optimistic. ” Hamilton refused to be drawn into the row over Bernie Ecclestone’s remarks that the racial abuse he suffered in Barcelona was “nothing to worry about. ”
The 22-year-old was taunted by a number of fans while he was testing earlier this month at the Spanish circuit, prompting widespread condemnation. Formula One chief Ecclestone’s insistence the abuse was “a one-off… nothing to worry about” provoked criticism from anti-racism groups and the FIA themselves, who insisted they would carry out their review.
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