After making comments two weeks ago about potentially driving in the Indianapolis 500 one day, three-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton now says he has no interest in doing so.
After winning his fourth Formula One race in the last five events, eighth race of the 2017 season and 61st race of his career in the Japanese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was interviewed on the podium at Suzuka by 2017 Indianapolis 500 champion Takuma Sato along with 2nd and 3rd place finishers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.
Hamilton was quick to notice Sato’s Indy 500 championship ring, and he made comments about it before asking Sato to try it on. Hamilton did end up trying it on, and his comments got a lot of people thinking about whether or not he may be serious about racing in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” one day.
Here is what Hamilton said to Sato that sparked all of this discussion.
"“Wow, you’ve got some bling, where did this come from?! I love that, I need that ring! Can I try this ring? Can I see if it’s worth me doing it one day? It looks pretty good!”"
However, Hamilton recently admitted that he doesn’t have an immediate racing in driving in the Indy 500, putting to rest the speculation that he may do so in the near future.
"“Honestly it hasn’t inspired me to do the Indy 500. I’ve always respected it and appreciated it. I got to watch part of it when Fernando [Alonso] did it which I thought was super exciting. I love the idea of drivers being able to do more than one series.”“Just the other day I got to drive an F1 car on an oval circuit which was interesting. I have a huge amount of respect for those drivers as it is quite scary approaching those banks at the speeds that they do. I personally don’t have a desire to drive it. Maybe one day I will go out and have some fun. I have a lot of opportunities to do those kinds of things, but no real plans to do anything serious.”"
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So was the whole Indianapolis 500 ring ordeal with Takuma Sato just an attention-seeking act by Lewis Hamilton? It definitely would not be shocking, especially from Hamilton, who is known for his desire to be in the spotlight both on and off the track.
Plus, while Hamilton did say he respects IndyCar drivers in the quote above, he gave us reason to question that earlier this year in may when two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso decided to drive in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, giving up his ride in the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix to do so.
After Alonso qualified in 5th place out of 33 drivers in his first career IndyCar race, Hamilton took a jab at the full-time IndyCar drivers who made up the majority of the field in the 101st running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.
"“I took a look at the qualifying results. Fernando, in his first qualifying, came fifth. Does that say something about [the level] of IndyCar? Great drivers, if they can’t succeed in Formula One, look for titles in other races, but to see him come fifth against drivers who do this all year round is…interesting.”"
Next: Which drivers will drive for Mercedes and Ferrari in 2019?
Was there ever any reason to believe that Lewis Hamilton was serious about racing in the Indianapolis 500, or were his antics on the podium at Suzuka with Takuma Sato’s Indy 500 championship ring just for attention? Has he really ruled out an appearance in the Indy 500 in the near future, or will he give us reason to believe otherwise within a few years?