Hamilton ready to press on

INDIANAPOLIS – Lewis Hamilton will step into his McLaren Mercedes-Benz car this weekend determined to take full advantage of the momentum that has made him Formula One’s best-ever rookie by winning Sunday’s United States Grand Prix.

Shrugging aside the controversy fanned into life by teammate and rival Fernando Alonso’s comments that suggested British favouritism, Hamilton intends to follow up his maiden win in Montreal last Sunday with another stirring triumph at ‘the brickyard’. McLaren team chief Ron Dennis may have played down the significance of Alonso’s remarks, but it was clear from what the defending double drivers’ world champion told Spanish radio that he is feeling the pressure.Hamilton has moved eight points clear in this year’s title race, leaving the Spaniard wondering what he can do next to keep pace with the 22-year-old newcomer’s astonishing rise to fame and success.Alonso’s remarks that “from the first moment, I wasn’t completely comfortable – I am in an English team, with an English team-mate, who is doing brilliantly” were swiftly turned into hard-hitting tabloid stories in London.But Dennis, familiar with the terrain after overseeing the great battles between McLaren teammates Frenchman Alain Prost and Brazilian Ayrton Senna two decades ago, quickly moved to quash the suggestion that either driver was favoured by the team.Dennis said the remarks were taken out of context.As this latest furore erupted, Hamilton won his race, departed Montreal and kept a low profile, resting up in readiness for his next assignment on a circuit where he is expected to be strong and where Alonso has often struggled in the past.But support for Alonso, who last year complained of feeling abandoned at times by Renault on his way to his second drivers’ title, came this week from his former Renault stable-mate Finn Heikki Kovalainen.The former Renault test driver, who took Alonso’s race seat when he moved to McLaren, said: “No, Fernando is not feeling the pressure.I don’t think Lewis has any impact on him at all.Fernando is mentally very tough.He is one of the top guys and he pushes hard to win every race.Nampa-AFPMcLaren team chief Ron Dennis may have played down the significance of Alonso’s remarks, but it was clear from what the defending double drivers’ world champion told Spanish radio that he is feeling the pressure.Hamilton has moved eight points clear in this year’s title race, leaving the Spaniard wondering what he can do next to keep pace with the 22-year-old newcomer’s astonishing rise to fame and success.Alonso’s remarks that “from the first moment, I wasn’t completely comfortable – I am in an English team, with an English team-mate, who is doing brilliantly” were swiftly turned into hard-hitting tabloid stories in London.But Dennis, familiar with the terrain after overseeing the great battles between McLaren teammates Frenchman Alain Prost and Brazilian Ayrton Senna two decades ago, quickly moved to quash the suggestion that either driver was favoured by the team.Dennis said the remarks were taken out of context.As this latest furore erupted, Hamilton won his race, departed Montreal and kept a low profile, resting up in readiness for his next assignment on a circuit where he is expected to be strong and where Alonso has often struggled in the past.But support for Alonso, who last year complained of feeling abandoned at times by Renault on his way to his second drivers’ title, came this week from his former Renault stable-mate Finn Heikki Kovalainen.The former Renault test driver, who took Alonso’s race seat when he moved to McLaren, said: “No, Fernando is not feeling the pressure.I don’t think Lewis has any impact on him at all.Fernando is mentally very tough.He is one of the top guys and he pushes hard to win every race.Nampa-AFP