By DPA,
Singapore : Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton said he is disappointed but not depressed over Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) dismissal of an appeal against a penalty, reducing his lead to a single point over Ferrari rival Felipe Massa going into Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix.
At a welcome party Tuesday night, Hamilton posed for photos and signed autographs.
“People will probably expect me to be depressed about the result, but that is not me,” Hamilton said.
“All I want to do now is put this matter behind me and get on with what we drivers do best: racing each other,” he said. “We’re racers, we’re naturally competitive, and we love to overtake.
“Overtaking is difficult, and it feels great when you manage to pull off a great passing manoeuvre. So I’m disappointed, yes, but not, but not depressed.”
The world motorsport body FIA Tuesday dismissed the appeal from McLaren-Mercedes against the 25-second penalty that Hamilton received for cutting a chicane in the Belgium Grand Prix.
The landmark event Friday through Sunday in Singapore is the first night race in the history of the sport.
The 5,067-metre street race winds through the heart of the city-state. Unlike the tight, twisting Monte Carlo track, the circuit is wider and faster.
The lighting system consists of 108,423 metres of power cables, 240 steel pylons and 1,500 light projectors, creating light that is four times brighter than that used at sports stadiums.
Despite being penalized, Hamilton said he would not change his driving style.