Lewis Hamilton rubbishes reports about leaving McLaren

Mumbai: British driver Lewis Hamilton today dismissed reports of his leaving his Formula One team McLaren and joining some other team for the next season as "rubbish" and said he was currently focused on regaining his world championship title after five years.

"I have not signed up with anyone. I don`t have a timeline (to sign a new contract). I have to get that (contract) sorted out. People are doing this in the background. Lot of stories are written about it, lot of speculations... Don`t get distracted from this rubbish. I am 100 per cent focused on the world championship," said the 27-year-old McLaren driver here today. He was interacting with the Indian media ahead of the Vodafone Speed Fest at the Bandra Kurla Complex, the new and upcoming commercial hub. "At present, winning the world championship is my target," said the 2008 champion, who is currently lying second, 37 points behind leader Fernando Alonso of Spain in the 20-race Formula One world championship. Reports in the United Kingdom have said that McLaren have already set their sights on Mexican Sergio Perez, of Sauber, to sign him up for next season in place of Hamilton, who, having won three races this season, is negotiating a 60-million pound offer from Mercedes. Seven more races are remaining to be run this season with the next one coming up at Singapore, a night event, on September 23. Hamilton, who has won 20 GP races in his career, said McLaren, with teammate and fellow-Briton Jenson Button (sixth position currently), was in a strong position in the world championship and would get better in the season ahead. "We could have done better in Barcelona, (where he was docked a penalty point and sent to the rear of the grid). But we learn from experience. We are in a strong position and will only get stronger," he said. Asked about the experience of climbing with an artificial limb, Sinha said "she was not at all uncomfortable and scaled the 21,110 feet carrying the load comprising kits, food, water bottle etc.". To a query what prompted her to take up the adventurous sport even after losing a leg, Sinha said the idea came to her mind when she was going through a news report in the hospital bed about a group of people`s successful expedition to Mt. Everest last year. Sinha said her elder brother, Omprakash Sinha, a former CRPF jawan, encouraged her when she disclosed her willingness to scale the Mt. Everest. "Following the discussion, I had a talk with Bachendri Madam over phone, who had promised to train me," Sinha, who did her basic mountaineering course with A grade from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, said. Thereafter, Sinha said, she did not look back and underwent rigorous training. Pal said she was taken aback when Sinha expressed her willingness to climb Mt. Everest with an artificial limb. "Her confidence level is very high and she is prepared to climb in all weather conditions, Pal said, adding that "she will have to undergo training in glaciers and crevasse (almunium ladder to cross icefalls particularly in Khumbu Icefall) before taking up the expedition to Mt Everest." PTI