Hamilton clarifies India comments after backlash

Hamilton clarifies India comments after backlash

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Thursday 15 November 2018 12:52

Lewis Hamilton has responded after comments he made about racing in India caused an online backlash. Hamilton caused controversy in India by referring to the Asian nation as "such a poor place" when discussing the merits of Formula 1 bringing races to new places.

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.

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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."

After Hamilton was bombarded with messages, many of them abusive, the Mercedes driver took to social media to clarify his comments further…

Lewis Hamilton has defended his comments on the Indian GP after an online backlash...#F1 (???? @lewishamilton IG) pic.twitter.com/XiI0IhSAtm — GP Fans Global (@GPFansGlobal) November 15, 2018

F1 raced in India three times at the Buddh International Circuit from 2011-2013 – Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull winning each time before it was dropped due to a tax dispute with local authorities.

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