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Mercedes back Hamilton amid India controversy

Mercedes back Hamilton amid India controversy

Mercedes back Hamilton amid India controversy

Mercedes back Hamilton amid India controversy

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has leaped to the defence of Lewis Hamilton after the Formula 1 champion faced an online backlash over comments made regarding visiting India for three grands prix between 2011-2013. Hamilton spoke of being conflicted while competing at the Buddh International Circuit, owing to poverty seen in the surrounding area.

The five-time world champion suggested that he would be in favour of Liberty Media introducing more races in motorsport's European and American heartlands, on the back of an announcement that a Vietnam GP will join the calendar in 2020.

While describing previous races in new countries, Hamilton told BBC Sport: "I've been to India before to a race which was strange because India was such a poor place yet we had this massive, beautiful grand prix track made in the middle of nowhere. I felt very conflicted when I went to that grand prix."

Hamilton made his own explanation of his comments on social media and Wolff issued a statement via Mercedes' Twitter account to back his man.

F1 raced in India three times – Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull winning each time before it was dropped following a tax dispute with local authorities.

MORE: Hamilton clarifies India comments after backlash
MORE: Hamilton could take Abu Dhabi grid drop

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