Hamilton v Button: It's off

Eurosport - Sun, 06 Jul 15:01:00 2008

Formula One title contender Lewis Hamilton was overruled by his father after agreeing to test his fitness against rival driver Jenson Button in a charity triathlon.

2008 McLaren Lewis Hamilton - 0

In what may go down as another public relations own-goal for the 23-year-old McLaren driver, Hamilton senior turned party-pooper after his son had declared himself up for the challenge during a high-spirited British Grand Prix news conference.

"Lewis accepted the challenge like the good sport he is and in the spirit with which he accepts things," Anthony Hamilton said in a statement.

"But unfortunately for Lewis we are withdrawing him from this.

"We are in the middle of a championship and that is the focus of our attention."

Button had earlier challenged Hamilton to join him in a triathlon on July 27 after the McLaren driver claimed this week that he was the fitter of the two and was willing to prove it.

"What if I say 10,000 pounds to the charity of your choice if you beat me?" the Honda driver said after some good-natured banter between the two.

"Are you trying to steer me off this championship or what?" Hamilton countered.

"It's the only thing I can be competitive in at the moment," replied Button, whose team are struggling to score points while McLaren challenge for both titles.

Questioned further by reporters, and after checking out what was required in the event, Hamilton agreed to take on his compatriot.

"The biggest incentive is, if I do beat you, then you've got some money for a charity which is great," said the McLaren driver.

"However you do have an advantage as you've already done one, and I already know that by doing one you're better the next time, but man, I'm up for it. I'm up for it."

Red Bull's David Coulthard, the third driver in the conference who had just announced his retirement at the end of the season, said he was too old at 37 to join them but volunteered to carry the water bottles.

The Briton, hailed as a hero last season when he finished championship runner-up as a rookie, has had a rockier road this year.

He has been criticised for saying his decision to move to Switzerland was due to a desire for privacy rather than for tax reasons and came in for more flak after he drove into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's stationary Ferrari in the Canadian Grand Prix pit lane last month.

Most embarrassing of all was a sponsor appearance in Turkey in May when he was lowered by wire onto a theatre stage to play the role of Greek god Apollo while wearing his branded McLaren race suit.

"In the pantheon of ridiculous publicity stunts, it may rate among the greatest," The Times newspaper said of that appearance.

Reuters

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. i agree Dave W...Senna let his driving speaks for himself and so does the other great champions..and i think,he does get paid also to do PR and show for the sponsors...or else the sponsors will backout...i guess its daddys doing that the challenged was taken back...daddy will someday be the cause of this guys downfall...

    From joanne s, on Sat 12 Jul 1:32AM

  2. Button should shave, brush his teeth and apply to be the safety car driver next season....

    oh but sorry, he ain't quick enough, now is he?

    From BrunoBandido, on Mon 7 Jul 8:05AM

  3. lewis let his driving talk for him today,well done lewis

    From dave l, on Sun 6 Jul 3:54PM

  4. Can't some form of censorhip be done on this site? i can't believe what i am reading.Talk about drivel.

    From Arthur C, on Fri 4 Jul 8:01PM

  5. Typical Lewis. Easy wins with the best car and he goes for it. The slightest hint of a challenge and he wilts. Why don't you quit Lewis?

    From Rohan H, on Fri 4 Jul 2:53PM

  6. Jimmy Weed: The UK does not despise Lewis Hamilton. It despises retards like you. So do us all a favour & go swivel.

    From Damocles, on Fri 4 Jul 12:36PM

  7. Haters of Lewis Hamilton get a life! have you all passed your driving tests by the way, or are you still driving Grand Turismo on PS2? if so, maybe u all should think about geting on with that instead of yapping on and on about someone so good that he's become a talking point(positive or negative) so that you can actually take time out of your miserable lives to be concerned about what he's doing, How many posts on this Forum has mentioned Anthony Davidson? None? Does Anthony Davidson do the same stuff that LH does? yes. Is he news worthy? no. LH is getting all this bad/good press because he's good at what he does. Case closed.

    From danluckylarry, on Fri 4 Jul 10:55AM

  8. He's paid to race not become a PR nightmare,i would like t see how well LH could perfrom in less competitive Car, then we can yes he's good or not. He also says that his Hero was Senna well i would suggest that he shuts up and follows his hero and lets the driving and winning do the talking and then he just become a complete driver....

    From dave w, on Fri 4 Jul 10:34AM

  9. It seems there are not many contenders for the LH Fan Club. He should probably learn how to handle himself by taking a leaf out of DCs book. If he can stay focused on the racing side of his life and shut up the critics with his obvious ability that would be a good starting point.

    From dierk06, on Fri 4 Jul 9:52AM

  10. Lewis really gets on my nerves. I am a Ferrari fan but I have always respected British drivers and teams as I look on UK like homeland of motorsport. Last year I admired him for lots of things, but this year he acts like he is above a Queen herself. British are themselves to blame cos press puts him in the stars high, but he is still baby-driver.
    New Mensell yet to come.

    From dumpors, on Fri 4 Jul 8:38AM

  11. The UK despises Hamilton

    From Jimmy Weed, on Fri 4 Jul 7:02AM

  12. What a jerk! If he wasn't going to compete, he should have had the cahones do say so from th start. I had little respect for Hamilton before, I have a lot less now!

    From reggartland, on Fri 4 Jul 5:19AM

  13. Hamilton never really wanted to do the challenge, he was pressured into it and couldn't back out on his own so he gets his daddy to back out of it for him.

    From Asdfaf A, on Fri 4 Jul 3:40AM

  14. If you read the transcript of the press conference, Lewis never actually agreed to anything, but was warned by DC that JB had thrown down a man challenge. I'd like to see DC handing out water bottles too... I think that JB would kick young Hamiltons arse, but it looks like Anothny has to save his youngster from something that he didn't really get himself into anyway!

    From tobiasdawes, on Fri 4 Jul 1:34AM

  15. Who wrote a supercar off? It wasnt Lewis. Good challenge, bad timing, DC would probably beat them still carrying the water bottles

    From macdonald.ian10, on Thu 3 Jul 11:02PM

  16. Good idea but lousy timing. After the racing season is over is the time for these sorts of capers.

    From Ian, on Thu 3 Jul 9:44PM

  17. Come on now his dad did support him time money when he was young his dad is part of his success does dc jb actually j button does have his dad there but massa kimi oh massa does so it seems dads are at F1 alot come to think about it and the girlfriends and wifes too lol

    From LG, on Thu 3 Jul 9:43PM

  18. Daddy's little boy again. I think Anthony Hamilton should not be let out of his house, let alone come to the circuits with his son. If Hamilton senior were not around I think LH would not make excruciatingly dumb comments

    From max_angelos, on Thu 3 Jul 8:57PM

  19. racing comes first, play games at the end of the year lads

    From STEVE CROYDON SURREY, on Thu 3 Jul 8:55PM

  20. Try not to keep puting your boot down your own throat son - the punters might find out that you're really a complete @#$%.......

    From Futchi, on Thu 3 Jul 8:53PM
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