'They could've spent F1 track money on schools': Lewis Hamilton clarifies 'poor India' comment

Formula One champion landed himself in a soup recently after he termed India a 'poor' country. In an interview with BBC, the Mercedes driver shared his thoughts on F1's decision to have races in new countries each year.

The Brit explained why he feels 'conflicted' when races are organised in countries like India. "On the racing side, I don't know how important it is to go to new countries as such. If you had the Silverstone Grand Prix and a London Grand Prix, it would be pretty cool," he said.

"I've been to Vietnam before and it is beautiful. I've been to India before to a race which was strange because India was such a poor place yet we had this massive, beautiful grand prix track made in the middle of nowhere. I felt very conflicted when I went to that grand prix," he added.

Hamilton's remarks drew sharp criticism from Indian fans, who pointed out that India is far from being a poor country.

Here are some tweets

No Lewis Hamilton, you are wrong. F1 needs to go to new countries to popularize the sport. I think it’s better you stick to racing and let the sponsors, marketing and branding teams for Formula 1 handle the race circuits. FYI F1 is hugely popular in India. #F1 @F1

— Prem Mohanty (@philipbkk) November 14, 2018

To @LewisHamilton forget how UK looted India, forget how you and your's came to be in UK, right now, we have a man called Ambani who can buy you, put on long John's on you (lamba chadda) and make you clean the same car you drive now. @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/lmGphDJnGU

— Gita S. Kapoor (@GitaSKapoor) November 15, 2018

Never really liked you even before your ridiculous statement and now I like you even less. And I'm sure I'm not the only one .You seem to have no issues coming to India for your promotions and yet you don't wanna race here. Don't ever come back. We don't wanna see your face.

— Cryo (@Cryo68268554) November 14, 2018

#LewisHamilton Shame on you !!!!. Looted other country wealth and calling us poor country. Check the diff between ur gdp and ours. ours is earned after u robbed us not like urs. Time will come you will come to india begging again @LewisHamilton

— Sachin Sharma (@sachinaryans) November 14, 2018

Such scathing remarks from the public prompted Mercedes to put out a statement in defence of their star driver. "Lewis didn't criticise India - he spoke of the personal conflict he felt from racing in F1 in a country where so many people still live in poverty. His remarks came fromm a position of empathy, not criticism," they wrote on Twitter.

Here's their tweet

Lewis didn't criticise India - he spoke of the personal conflict he felt from racing in F1 in a country where so many people still live in poverty. His remarks came fromm a position of empathy, not criticism.

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 14, 2018

Finally, Hamilton too put out a clarification. The 33-year-old explained that his comments were taken out of context. "Hello everyone, I noticed some people are upset with my comments on India. First off, India is one of the most beautiful places in the world," he wrote in an Instagram story.

"The culture there is incredible. I have visited and always had an amazing time, however, whilst it's the fastest growing economy, it also has a lot of poverty. My reference was that a Grand Prix there felt strange, to drive past homeless people and then arrive at a huge arena where money was not an issue.

"They spent hundreds of millions on that track that is now never used. That money could have been spent on schools or homes for those in need. When we did have the race, nobody came because it was too expensive most likely or no interest. However, I have met some amazing Indian fans," he concluded.

Here are screenshots of Hamilton's Instagram story

F1 has consistently expanded their markets beyond their regular racing countries and now they have regular races in China, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, with mixed results.