MONZA, Italy, (Reuters) – Lewis Hamilton has had enough of being an ‘easy target’ for his Formula One critics.
McLaren’s 2008 world champion said yesterday that he was determined to bring back the good times, starting with Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, after the toughest season of his career.
A regular in the stewards’ room after a spate of crashes and controversies that have overshadowed some typically thrilling performances on the track, the Briton crashed out of the last race in Belgium.
That was his second retirement of the year and, as he recognised afterwards, he had only himself to blame.
“It’s just one of those years. I think everyone goes through tough times and I’m going through that,” he told Reuters.
“What can I say? It’s the way of life. Good times will come, and people will make less of the bad times.
“People always remember the bad times over the good times for some reason, but I’m here to try and put things right and have a much better weekend.”
Hamilton lasted less than a lap at Monza last year, after clashing with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa at the start, but the circuit has been a McLaren favourite over the years and he was second in his debut season of 2007.
The Briton has had plenty of incidents since his stellar debut in 2007 but this time has come in for more criticism — perhaps because his frustration has contrasted with world champion Sebastian Vettel’s cruise towards a second title.
