Lewis Hamilton delights the crowd
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
It was a cold a blustery morning at Paqpalli Ghall-Istrina, but that did not dampened the spirits of thousands of racing fans who gave British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton a hero’s welcome as he arrived in a Mercedes sports car with President George Abela and later drove a McLaren formula one car on the taxiway..
Hamilton was on stage just after 10.30am near the Lufthansa hangar to present the the President a cheque for €30,000 from Vodafone for the Community Chest Fund.
Blowing his hands and stamping his feet against the cold, but wearing sunglasses nonetheless, Mr Hamilton asked the excited crowd kif int? (how are you?) before saying he was delighted to be in Malta for the first time.
Hamilton, who will be leaving the McLaren team he has been connected to since the age of 13, will be driving for Mercedes next year.
“Everyone has to have a change,” he said, when asked by the local media about his decision to leave.
“It is about growing, doing something different, learning to communicate with new people.”
“I know what I am doing,” he insisted.
Quizzed further during his press conference, Mr Hamilton acknowledged that it will be “very tough” to win the championship next year, but he expects to make a big impact when rule changes which should favour Mercedes come into effect in 2014.
“We all have to takes risks in life,” he said.
“The target next year has to be podium finishes.”
Echoing the Vodafone theme of the day, he said tries to raise his game all the time.
Hamilton then drove the McLaren MP4-26 F1 car twice on an airport taxiway, impressing the crowd with the car's speed, braking power and noise.
He also took the winner of The Sunday Times Lewis Hamilton competition on a “hot lap” in a Mercedes sports car and will be giving The Times an exclusive interview.
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13 Comments
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Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 10th 2012, 08:29
Ingabru 30000 euro u hekk tara il-qalb li ghandhom il-maltin lejn min huwa anqas ixxurtjat minnhom. Grazzi li organizzaturi u l-partecipanti u grazzi kbira ujoll lil dawk li dahhlu jdejhom fil-but ghall-ghajnuna. Kemm hija sabieha l-ghaqda u nispera li din tikber irtak fil-gurnata tal-istrina .
A.P.Naudi
Kevin Camilleri
Dec 9th 2012, 22:19
A great event, pity for the weather. Thanks for Lewis & McLaren for their great display - true Music and speed. Just a small comment; who came up with the idea of putting the trucks, carrying the speakers, between the people present and taxiway Lima did not take into consideration the people, as the views where obstructed. Thanks for the show!
Laurence Brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 22:05
Pity weather wasnt kind this year. The event was well organized except for transport (park & ride) .which was a big flop and the catering... expensive and disorganized...otherwise well done to the organizers
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Dec 9th 2012, 21:41
Ghalkemm kienet 'l kesha, xorta gew in-nies. Veru tiehu pjacir meta tara lit-tfal jiehdu nteress u jibdew jaghmlu certu mistoqsijiet. Dan lis-sport huwa sport ta' certu moral u motivazzjoni. Well done again.
Emanuel Farrugia - TARXIEN
Reg Fitzpatrick
Dec 9th 2012, 18:59
What a fantastic day it was!
Lewis Hamilton did everything expected of him by all the racing enthusiasts present!
Well done also the Chairman, Alfred Ellul Galea, of the McLaren F1 Club (Malta) for his all-day enthusiasm on their stand. He and other committee members dealth with hundreds of enquires concerning the Club, as well as personally making a presentation to Lewis Hamilton!
Rodney G. Galea
Dec 10th 2012, 14:00
thanks allott reg as if it wasn't for your contribution we wouldn't have been present for this in a life time event. See you for next sesaon's gp viewings.
Laurence grech
Dec 9th 2012, 14:44
bhala event dizgrazja totali.. il gurnata millewwel bdiet tider bil maltemp. ahjar giet ipposponuta.
xita, rih, il karozza qas waslet nadifa kullhadd kellu jerga jahsel.. biex wara 10 minuti regat bdiet tqattar ix xita..
disgrace
Keith Camilleri
Dec 9th 2012, 19:17
Ghax waslet ix-xita Malta, spiccat it dinja!! Ahna morna biex Lewis Hamilton ma joqodx ittir minn fejn kien u ma issib lil hadd. Tajt mhux ha joqod jerga jigi lura ghax ixarbitlek il-karozza illum!!
David Vella
Dec 9th 2012, 21:17
Dawk li se jkollhom bzonn dawn il-flus ma nahsibx li jahsbuha bhalek, habib!!! Dik li ghalik disgrazzja, ghalihom grazzja!
Kevin Camilleri
Dec 9th 2012, 22:15
tezisti kamoxxa... ixxotta l-karozza. PS: il-karozzi ma jihdux rih jekk jixxarbu ta!
Mr J Grech
Dec 10th 2012, 00:01
"Disgrace" il-kumment tieghek. Lanqas li ser tittiekel il-karrozza b'naqra xita....xhin gie Lewis u saq il-F1 kien hemm buzz enormi.
Joseph Micallef
Dec 9th 2012, 12:43
Special thanks go to Kind's - Autosales Ltd for their impeccable organisation and customer treatment. Well done Kind's.
Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 9th 2012, 12:08
Haga tajba hafna meta tghamel minn kollox biex tghin lil min huwa batut u ixxurtjat inqas minnek.
Prosit lil organizzaturi u nghudlhom li hlashom mhux hawn imma fis-sema
A.P.Naudi
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