Formula One news

Hamilton looking forward to test team's new car

Lewis Hamilton has travelled to Finland this week for a pre-season training camp in Finland with fellow drivers Heikki Kovalainen, Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett. The newly crowned Formula One champion can't wait to get back in the car. His first outing in McLaren's 2009 contender will be in January.

Speaking about his winter schedule Lewis Hamilton said: "Travelling to Finland for our winter training camp is one of the best weeks of the year for me; it feels like you're miles from anywhere and totally cut off from the outside world. It allows me to focus solely on my training, which is great. It's certainly not an easy week: Finland in the winter is cold and icy and we're pushed hard for day after day."

But after new year Hamilton will be eager to get back on track. "Brazil already seems a long time ago and I'm now focusing 100 per cent on 2009. I had my seat-fitting at the McLaren Technology Centre earlier this month and while the plan at the moment is to start testing in January, I'm really keen to get going.

"After Finland, I'm looking forward to a couple of big events in the UK. I'll be attending the Autosport Awards, the Race of Champions and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year event. They're all fantastic events and they give me a lot of energy because I get to spend time with some of my peers in a relaxed environment and also to meet the British fans, who are always fantastic.

"Before Christmas, I plan to take a holiday and return fresh and positive to kickstart our winter test programme with the MP4-24. I've already had a close look at the new car and the engineers have explained the philosophy behind it and just how different things will be next year.

"I've been watching testing with a lot of interest, I think the new cars will make next year's championship wide open and I'm really looking forward to tackling the new regulations."

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• 07 Jan.
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• 06 Jan.
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• 05 Jan.
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  • Suspended sentence and fine for Verstappen
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• 04 Jan.
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• 03 Jan.
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• 02 Jan.
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• 01 Jan.
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• 31 Dec. '08
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• 30 Dec. '08
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  • Ecclestone: Button should take a sabbatical
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• 29 Dec. '08
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• 28 Dec. '08
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• 27 Dec. '08
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• 26 Dec. '08
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• 25 Dec. '08
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• 24 Dec. '08
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