Friday, May 16, 2008

HAMILTON PREACHES EQUAL RIGHTS

HAMILTON PREACHES EQUAL RIGHTS

Hamilton - loves the Monaco race.

Lewis Hamilton is determined to achieve his aim of winning the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks time, but is not expecting any preferential treatment from his McLaren team.

Hamilton came within a whisker of victory last season, only to lose out to then team-mate Fernando Alonso after a team orders rumpus that sparked the feud between the duo.

Although the 23-year-old was undoubtedly quicker than Alonso in the second half of the race, and was itching to pass, he was told to hold station in second.

It was a decision that rankled with Hamilton at the time.

Heading into the Principality showdown, Hamilton has a clear 14-point advantage over current team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.

The Finn has unfortunately failed to finish in the points in the last two races, and is already questioning his title challenge.

Although Hamilton is only seven points behind current leader Kimi Raikkonen, he feels it would be unfair if the team opted to favour him over Kovalainen at what is still an early stage of the season.

"He is an extremely talented driver, and I heard he had a fantastic race in Turkey," remarked Hamilton of Kovalainen, who finished 12th in Istanbul following a first-lap puncture.

"He was just unfortunate, but I have no doubts he will be up at the front next time out.

"Felipe Massa had a couple of bad races (for Ferrari) and has bounced back.

"We are a team and I felt sorry for him (Kovalainen) that he was not able to compete in Turkey.

"If I am not winning then I wish he was and it is the same feeling vice-versa, so I want it to continue as it is, fair and square.

"It would not be right for the team to push me ahead of him."

Hamilton last week said he missed winning, and given McLaren are strong at Monaco, it would appear he has the ideal chance to be back on top of the podium.

That would end Ferrari's four-race winning streak. However, the young Briton is not anticipating his team to dominate to anywhere near the degree they did a year ago.

"Monaco is the dream grand prix to win, the most important race to win personally," said Hamilton.

"If I feel I can win anywhere, it is definitely Monaco. But you have to be in the right place at the right time.

"And it is difficult to know exactly how we will do at Monaco because there are so many differences to Istanbul.

"Ferrari seem to be really quick in the slow corners, and although our performance will be really good, I don't think we will have the dominance we had last year because the teams are much closer.

"It depends if we can put together a better package for that weekend. I think we can, but it will be closer."



  • HAMILTON PASSES FRENCH TEST
  • RAIKKONEN HAPPY TO CUT AND RUN
  • MORE TURKISH DELIGHT FOR MASSA
  • No comments: