Formula One news

Hamilton: "Paint the Brawn silver!"

Lewis Hamilton admits that he was extremely downcast on realising that his McLaren was significantly lacking in pace at the beginning of the 2009 season, but is now more optimistic for improved results as compatriot Jenson Button leads the championship and a new order is discovered in Formula One.

It may have been practically impossible to believe this time last year, but Jenson Button's total win tally of seven now leaves him just two behind World Champion Hamilton in the record books. Having been a championship contender in his first two seasons in the sport, Hamilton's patience has been tested in a car currently too slow for achieving  top ten results. "After the first three races I was extremely annoyed," Lewis admitted when speaking with Germany's Bild. "You have such high demands and they cannot be fulfilled; the disappointment is huge, like you are about to erupt like a volcano."

Hamilton awaits the start of the Turkish Grand Prix, a race which turned out to be his third consecutive non-scoring event

With the Brawn team having scored a mighty total of 96 points after seven races in comparison with McLaren's (perhaps ironic) 13, however, Hamilton jokingly suggested a plan of action. "I would prefer a car with the characteristics of the Brawn," he said. "It would already have the super Mercedes engine in it but, in addition, I would leave our KERS installed. Then the car would just have to be sprayed silver!"

Despite his own frustations, though, Lewis wishes his compatriot all the best in the quest for the title. "Jenson absolutely deserves this, as for years he's driven in mediocre cars," Hamilton continued. Currently 'best of the rest' to the flying Brawns in the drivers' world championship is Sebastian Vettel, leading the way for his nation in the way Hamilton has done for the past two seasons. "As a driver, I think much of Sebastian," Lewis added. "He is only 21 years old and has already won three races; the load on him must be huge - he can feel the pressure of the Germans wanting a new Michael Schumacher and maybe he will be that one day."

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