Help whoever you like: Hamilton

SHANGHAI – Lewis Hamilton brushed aside Fernando Alonso’s promise to help Ferrari’s Felipe Massa win the Formula One title yesterday, saying it was none of his business what other drivers did.

The 23-year-old McLaren driver will be crowned champion at the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend if he scores six points more than Brazilian Massa, his closest rival, in the penultimate race of the season. Double world champion Alonso was upstaged by the Briton when they were team mates last season and since his return to Renault has done little to hide his animosity for McLaren and the man who could replace him as Formula One’s youngest champion.”I don’t really have an opinion on it,” Hamilton said of Alonso’s comments.”I focus on my job and the most important thing is to be competitive this weekend and try to earn some points.I want to bring it out and be at the front and what the others do is none of my business.”Hamilton looked isolated on a news conference platform with Alonso, Ferrari’s world champion Kimi Raikkonen and the third remaining title contender Robert Kubica, who criticised the Briton’s driving last week.Alonso, who has won the last two races, was in ebullient form and in no mood to backtrack on his comments about favouring Massa, despite the presence of Hamilton.”You cannot misunderstand what I said,” he said.”My best relationship, for example, is with Robert.I would like to see him win the championship but I know that it (will be) difficult to recover 12 points.Nampa-ReutersDouble world champion Alonso was upstaged by the Briton when they were team mates last season and since his return to Renault has done little to hide his animosity for McLaren and the man who could replace him as Formula One’s youngest champion.”I don’t really have an opinion on it,” Hamilton said of Alonso’s comments.”I focus on my job and the most important thing is to be competitive this weekend and try to earn some points.I want to bring it out and be at the front and what the others do is none of my business.”Hamilton looked isolated on a news conference platform with Alonso, Ferrari’s world champion Kimi Raikkonen and the third remaining title contender Robert Kubica, who criticised the Briton’s driving last week.Alonso, who has won the last two races, was in ebullient form and in no mood to backtrack on his comments about favouring Massa, despite the presence of Hamilton.”You cannot misunderstand what I said,” he said.”My best relationship, for example, is with Robert.I would like to see him win the championship but I know that it (will be) difficult to recover 12 points.Nampa-Reuters