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Hamilton dismisses tyre criticism as 'rubbish'

ESPNF1 Staff
May 15, 2010 « Sauber baffled by driver rumours | »
Lewis Hamilton in action during Thursday's practice session © Sutton Images
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Lewis Hamilton has dismissed claims his aggressive driving style causes his tyres to deflate so often.

Joan Villadelprat, a F1 veteran who is bidding to bring his Spanish-based Le Mans team Epsilon Euskadi onto the grid next year, said after the Briton's crash in Barcelona that Hamilton "needs to calm down."

The tire deflation was one of several in Hamilton's career so far, but McLaren has clarified that it was caused by a loose wheel nut leading to a failed rim.

"It makes me laugh to be honest," Hamilton told the Daily Telegraph. "Everyone always talks about my aggressive style. Before they even knew what the issue was last week, they said 'he needs to calm down, he needs to look after his tyres, he needs to do this, he needs to do that,' which is absolute rubbish.

"In actual fact, the way I look after my tyres, you know, I have grown a lot over the past couple of years. In the last race the tyres were sweet, really sweet."

Asked if he was more sensitive about the issue since the arrival of Jenson Button, whose style is very different, Hamilton said: "I'm not really sensitive about it because [other people's opinions] doesn't really have any impact on me as such. I know how to use my tyres."

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