Hamilton Bullish Despite 10-place Grid Penalty

Lewis Hamilton admitted yesterday that he will start the French grand prix at Magny-Cours on June 22 the back foot after being hit with a 10-place grid penalty as punishment for running into the back of world champion Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pit lane during last Sunday's Canadian grand prix.

However the 23-year old made it clear that this unfortunate episode will make no difference at all to his approach to the balance of the season, including the British grand prix at Silverstone on July 6. "I feel quite confident that we can still win there. That's my job," Hamilton was quoted as saying by Reuters. "I've got to have that belief in myself and the team. I still feel we can finish in the top three but it's going to be a real challenge."

Hamilton also dismissed suggestions that the Montreal incident was a career low. "It was nowhere near one of my lowest points. I don't even particularly feel it was a low point. It was one of those things you just have to come to terms with and move on. In the race I was on top of my game," he said.

The Briton lost the championship lead to BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica in Canada and is now four points behind the Pole. He added: "I believe it is going to be very difficult to win but I don't plan on it going to the last race. We will push as hard as we can to do the job, it doesn't matter if it is early or the last race. So long as we get it done."

"This will make no difference," said Hamilton of the accident. "It hasn't knocked me confidence-wise. I'm not gutted or disappointed. Going forward the mood is strong. The fact is we destroyed everyone at the weekend. With the car we have right now there is no stopping us."

Hamilton was speaking at the McLaren headquarters at Woking, Surrey, at the launch of the UK's Go motorsport initiative which is designed to encourage young people to make careers in the industry.

Although Hamilton was on the receiving end of criticism from outsiders, the McLaren to brass have refrained from criticizing him. "I definitely will not blame him,"said Norbert Haug, the Mercedes motorsport vice president, "because he was so good, so special on this tricky circuit. He was in a class of his own for the first 20 laps."

Meanwhile the motorsport community was mourning the death of Ove Andersson, the former Toyota team principal, who was killed competing in an historic car rally in South Africa at the age of 70.