Sports

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has sunnier outlook after winter in Colorado

2012-02-01T21:55:00.000-08:00

McLaren launched their new Formula One car before a global audience on Wednesday. And the global audience dutifully gawped in wonder, even though the new creation, the MP4-27, motionless and driverless and tilting sharply to the right, looked as if it had just come off the track at Suzuka's notorious 130R turn.

McLaren's more significant relaunch at their glitzy Technology Centre in Woking came in the shape of the sport's most vivid driver, Lewis Hamilton, who looked a revitalised figure after the most difficult season of his career last year, when he was beset by problems on and off the track.

Hamilton, who was beaten by his team-mate, Jenson Button, for the first time in his McLaren career in a season marked by clashes with stewards and other drivers, has spent much of the winter among the mountains of Colorado.

"I feel fresh," he said. "I had a really good winter. The team gave me a good bit of time off after such a long season, and obviously we went through a lot. I had friends and family there and was able to find out what they thought and how I could improve. I knew where things were wrong and it's not easy to clarify them in the mind but I was able to do that. There are still things I'm working on."

Hamilton, 27 last month, added: "There have been lots of highs and lows but last year was definitely one of he toughest years, personally. And also with the racing. I had a low moment when I lost the championship in 2007 but that was just one moment.

"A lot of it is in the mind. And if you're clogged up with a lot of things and operating at only 60% there's a loss of time. But I feel as though I'm back to 100% right now. Last year was one of those years where I had a lot of less energy and less focus where it needed to be. But now the focus is where it needs to be."

Meanwhile, the 2008 champion has put as much clean air as possible between himself and his former close friend Adrian Sutil after the German driver described him as "a coward". Sutil was upset by Hamilton's decision not to testify at the former Force India driver's two-day trial in Munich this week and hit out after being convicted for causing grievous bodily harm to Eric Lux, chief executive of the Lotus team owners, Genii Capital. After being given an 18-month suspended sentence and fined €200,000 (£167,000) Sutil said: "Lewis is a coward. I do not want to be friends with someone like that. He is for me no man. Even his father sent me a text message and wished me luck for the process. Lewis came with nothing. He has changed his phone number. I could not reach him any more."

But Hamilton, who did offer a statement for use at the trial, refused to get involved when the issue was raised at Woking on Wednesday. Before Hamilton could answer a question relating to Sutil's remarks a McLaren spokesman said: "We've been told Lewis shouldn't really go there because it might go under appeal, so can we move on to the next question?"

Pakistan can whitewash England: Afridi

2012-01-31T23:17:00.000-08:00

I've been dropped from ODI team, not rested: Haddin

2012-01-30T22:16:00.000-08:00

Team India denies it but is Dravid's retirement imminent?

2012-01-27T23:20:00.000-08:00

Match report: India stare at another embarassing whitewash

2012-01-27T00:13:00.000-08:00

Australia lead by 382 despite Kohli's ton

2012-01-26T01:20:00.000-08:00

Miandad, Qadir hail Pak's victory over England

2012-01-20T02:45:00.000-08:00

Hill: F1 will miss Barrichello

2012-01-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

I couldn't breathe, says sweltering Li Na

2012-01-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

MELBOURNE: China's Li Na complained she could barely breathe stifling conditions in Australian Open after coming through a tough first match 6-3, 41061 against Ksenia Pervak Kazakhstan.

Fifth-seeded Li, the reigning French Open champion and runner-up Kim Clijsters won in Melbourne last year, a dangerous Pervak 69 minutes, but later said high temperatures had a rough day.

"It's not easy," said Li, who last week reached the final of the Sydney International.

"I'm not used to it. I came down from Sydney, but it was only like 20 degrees. It was really hard today."

"I felt really at the end of the first heat on the court. Also, I had no feeling in the air. I could not breathe. As I was feeling like that's going on?" he added.

Li Pervak matched for much of the first set both players traded on the booming ground strokes, but Li always looked more threatening, and drew first blood when he broke to go 4-2, only to give up the next game to break.

But Li, 29, the world number 40 then accelerate to break right back, winning five consecutive games to take the first set and open the second to lead 3-0.

Pervak stemmed the tide for a moment, when he broke Li made it 3-1, but it was only a temporary reprieve of the world's number six rushing to go to the game Hisense Arena.

Li said he was pleased with his form coming into the first Grand Slam.

"I was happy with what I was doing at the Hopman Cup and Sydney. Yes, I think I'll just continue," he added.

Chinese player says he rediscovered his hunger after the great slump, after his breakthrough win the French Open last year, when he became the first Asian to win the grand slam title of Great.

Li is a relatively smooth way up to the fourth round, where he can face the 2011 final rematch against Clijsters.

Article Source:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis/australian-open-2012/top-stories/I-couldnt-breathe-says-sweltering-Li-Na/articleshow/11509405.cms

India want tighter security in last two Tests: Reports

2012-01-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

DRS is not in Laws of Cricket: Peter Hartley

2012-01-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

Saina sails into quarters of Korea Open

2012-01-05T03:04:00.000-08:00

History beckons both India and Australia but spotlight remains on Tendulkar

2012-01-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Number six slot crucial for Team India's fightback

2011-12-30T22:21:00.000-08:00