Mumbai: British driver Lewis Hamilton dismissed reports on Sunday of his leaving his McLaren Formula 1 team for another next season as “rubbish” and said he was currently focused on regaining his world championship title after five years.
“I have not signed up with anyone. I don’t have a timeline (to sign a new contract). I have to get that (contract) sorted out. People are doing this in the background. Lot of stories are written about it, lot of speculations… Don’t get distracted from this rubbish. I am 100 per cent focused on the championship,” said the 27-year-old McLaren driver here.
He was interacting with the Indian media ahead of a promotional event.
“At present, winning the world championship is my target,” said the 2008 champion, who is currently lying second, 37 points behind leader Fernando Alonso of Spain in the 20-race F1 world championship.
Reports in the UK have said that McLaren have already set their sights on Mexican Sergio Perez, of Sauber, to sign him up for next season in place of Hamilton, who, having won three races this season, is negotiating a 60-million pound offer from Mercedes.
Seven more races are left this season with the next one coming up at Singapore, a night event, on September 23.
Hamilton, who has won 20 GP races in his career, said McLaren, with team mate and fellow-Briton Jenson Button (sixth position currently), was in a strong position in the championship and would get better.
“We could have done better in Barcelona, (where he was penalised and sent to the rear of the grid). But we learn from experience. We are in a strong position and will only get stronger,” he said.
Asked about Mumbai, he said, “It’s a crazy thing, the way vehicles are being manoeuvred, I can never drive here.” (PTI)
