Hamilton's Father Reveals Hurt at Racists

Lewis Hamilton may have been crowned world champion on Sunday but that has not dispelled the bad feeling left from a week that had seen him racially abused on a Spanish website, insulted by two Brazilian comedians and handed a toy black cat - a symbol of bad luck in Brazil - at a sponsor's function.

Yesterday his father, Anthony, spoke for the first time about how he had attempted to deflect the worst of the bad feeling away from Lewis and revealed that the extent of ill-will was so bad that his 16-year-old son, Nicholas, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had also been handed a black cat as he entered their hotel. "I thought that was extremely unprofessional," said Hamilton senior. "But do you know what they fail to realize? We've a black cat at home and she has been extremely positive for us.

"My family has taken a lot of stick this past week, not just this week, but the past few months," he said. "I did think that maybe this isn't the place for my family because as a parent you make sure you do right for your family and kids.

"But I never said anything to Lewis. I kept it to myself, even though I was going home thinking, 'I didn't think the world was quite like this'. And then you think 'It's just the way it is', and I'd send Lewis a text saying 'whatever happens, people love you'. The negative people are a small percentage, and even the negative ones have a heart."

Anthony Hamilton said he would not let the negativity spoil his enjoyment at his son becoming the youngest world champion at 23. "We came into this to do a decent job and we deserve to be here. If people like us, then great. If [they] don't, then I am sad for them and maybe God will forgive them.

"But we are decent people and remain decent people. I just don't understand why our message gets missed. But when things go against you, you rise above it and get stronger and stronger. Everything negative thrown at us is just huge positive energy. It's like fuel, the more you give us the more it fuels us, and it's brilliant. You can't run and hide."

Hamilton awoke as the new world champion, announced that he felt refreshed and brushed aside the notion that he is interested in matching Michael Schumacher's formula one record of seven drivers' titles. He did, however, admit that he will be aiming for three after the McLaren chairman, Ron Dennis, promised him the gift of a £1.5m McLaren F1LM Supercar should he reach that milestone.

Hamilton radiated an almost childlike delight as he relayed details of the deal his employer had offered. "This is the car I have always wanted since I had a car book for Christmas with the photograph of this orange McLaren on the cover about 10 years ago," he said. "When I am at the factory I always stop and open the door of this machine, which I think is the most beautiful car in the world."

The champion, who earns an estimated £10m-a-year from McLaren, could easily afford to buy one but he was at pains to insist that money is not his top priority.

"I'm comfortable in life," he said, as he addressed the topic of potentially becoming the sport's first billionaire. "It's an amazing feeling to know you have some money considering I never had £100 to go and buy a pair of trainers when I was younger. So to think I can do that now is great, but money doesn't really appeal to me. As a young kid, to be given an opportunity in formula one, I would have done it for free. It just so happens I get paid to do my hobby, everything I love. My reward is winning the world championship. What else do I need?"