Friday August 21, 2009
Hamilton ready to take on rivals with improved car
DEFENDING world champion Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to pick-up this weekend on the streets of Valencia where he left off in Budapest last month when he takes part in the European Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old Englishman claimed his first win of the season last time out in Hungary for McLaren Mercedes and with a package of improvements on his car believes he can challenge for another win after Formula One’s month-long summer break.
“It’s great to be getting back to business after the break and I’m still buzzing from the win in Hungary,” said Hamilton.
“I’m hopeful of being able to carry that pace into the Valencia weekend — particularly with our new upgrades to the car.”
Hamilton’s improvement and optimism is bad news for championship-leading fellow-Briton Jenson Button of Brawn GP and his Red Bull rivals as they see the title race thrown wide open.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso is another challenger who could upset all the easy predictions of a Button vs Sebastian Vettel duel for the crown as the Renault driver bids to give his home fans plenty to cheer in Sunday’s race.
He secured his first pole position of the season in Hungary and believes he can fight for a podium this weekend.
“Our performance in Hungary was encouraging as the car was quick and we managed to get pole, which was actually a bit of a surprise,” he said.
“To retire from the race was disappointing, but I’m looking on the bright side because I think that the car can be just as competitive in Valencia.”
A strong showing by Alonso may also go some way to quell the disappointment of those who bought tickets in anticipation of seeing seven times champion Michael Schumacher make a dramatic comeback for Ferrari as replacement for injured Brazilian Felipe Massa.
But after injuring his neck in a motorbike accident in February, Schumacher has failed in his fitness fight to make a return and instead Ferrari will run veteran Italian Luca Badoer, a test driver, in the car.
Badoer said: “I have to say, my first thoughts when I take to the track will be for Felipe, because I got a real fright when I saw his accident.” — AFP
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