Lewis Hamilton has insisted he wanted to win the Formula One title on the
racetrack, not weeks later on appeal.
"It would be wrong," said the 22-year-old Briton, still
suffering the effects of a heavy night out after letting the
title slip from his grasp by one point in Sunday's season-ending
race in Brazil.
"For me, I want to win it on the track," he told reporters
in his hotel room. "You want to do it in style, you want to win
the race, you want to win battling it out for the lead or
something in the race.
"Being promoted after some people have been thrown out is
not the way I want to do it."
The rookie, Formula One's first black driver and the title
favourite before Sunday's race, lost out to Ferrari's Kimi
Raikkonen after finishing seventh on a nightmare afternoon at
Interlagos.
Raikkonen won the race but the Finn's first title was
overshadowed by a stewards' enquiry into the three cars that
finished ahead of Hamilton.
McLaren have said they intend to appeal against the
stewards' subsequent decision not to penalise Williams' Nico
Rosberg and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica for
fuel temperature irregularities.
The aim would be to lift Hamilton above them in the
classification, securing the points he needs to become champion
instead.
The Briton, winner of four races in a sensational debut
season, said he would feel uncomfortable with that.
"It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in
the last two races," he said.
"He won yesterday and to have it taken away is a bit cruel
and probably not good for the sport."
Hamilton, who had led team mate and double world champion
Fernando Alonso by four points and Raikkonen by seven before
Interlagos, paid tribute to his team and supporters.
"Last night was good and (team boss) Ron (Dennis) did a
speech and we had a great evening and just sort of rounded up
the whole year," he said.
"It has been a phenomenal year and the support from the team
makes it just a real pleasure for me to be a part of the team.
"I'm extremely proud of them and extremely proud of my
family and everyone that's just supported me to get me where I
am today.
"Later on in the evening yesterday I felt it (the defeat)
more for sure, it's tough on everyone but there's always another
year," said Hamilton.
"I'm only 22, there's going to be plenty more opportunities
for me to win the world championship and I have no doubt that we
can do that in the future."
racetrack, not weeks later on appeal.
"It would be wrong," said the 22-year-old Briton, still
suffering the effects of a heavy night out after letting the
title slip from his grasp by one point in Sunday's season-ending
race in Brazil.
"For me, I want to win it on the track," he told reporters
in his hotel room. "You want to do it in style, you want to win
the race, you want to win battling it out for the lead or
something in the race.
"Being promoted after some people have been thrown out is
not the way I want to do it."
The rookie, Formula One's first black driver and the title
favourite before Sunday's race, lost out to Ferrari's Kimi
Raikkonen after finishing seventh on a nightmare afternoon at
Interlagos.
Raikkonen won the race but the Finn's first title was
overshadowed by a stewards' enquiry into the three cars that
finished ahead of Hamilton.
McLaren have said they intend to appeal against the
stewards' subsequent decision not to penalise Williams' Nico
Rosberg and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica for
fuel temperature irregularities.
The aim would be to lift Hamilton above them in the
classification, securing the points he needs to become champion
instead.
The Briton, winner of four races in a sensational debut
season, said he would feel uncomfortable with that.
"It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in
the last two races," he said.
"He won yesterday and to have it taken away is a bit cruel
and probably not good for the sport."
Hamilton, who had led team mate and double world champion
Fernando Alonso by four points and Raikkonen by seven before
Interlagos, paid tribute to his team and supporters.
"Last night was good and (team boss) Ron (Dennis) did a
speech and we had a great evening and just sort of rounded up
the whole year," he said.
"It has been a phenomenal year and the support from the team
makes it just a real pleasure for me to be a part of the team.
"I'm extremely proud of them and extremely proud of my
family and everyone that's just supported me to get me where I
am today.
"Later on in the evening yesterday I felt it (the defeat)
more for sure, it's tough on everyone but there's always another
year," said Hamilton.
"I'm only 22, there's going to be plenty more opportunities
for me to win the world championship and I have no doubt that we
can do that in the future."