Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton: No regrets on changing teams

Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of the McLaren team rebuffed suggestions by his team boss that Hamilton would regret his plan to change teams next year.

“It’s clearly, absolutely not the case,” Hamilton told reporters Thursday in Austin, Texas, site of Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix, which will mark Formula One’s return to the United States after a five-year absence.

“Of course, it’s quite emotional for me but I’m very, very happy with the decision I’ve made,” Hamilton said in a transcript provided on Formula One’s website.

Hamilton, who won the Formula One championship in 2008, announced in September that he planned to move to the Mercedes GP team next season after a long association with McLaren.

When asked about the change, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh told F1’s website this month that “I hope [Hamilton] thinks today that he’s made an awful mistake and I hope he thinks that next year.”

Hamilton said Thursday, “I was a little bit surprised to hear that” and “I’m sure everyone has emotions within the team, but I’m still here giving 100% to them for the last two races.”

Hamilton, 27, is fifth in this year’s championship standings. After Austin, the series’ season finale is the Brazilian Grand Prix on Nov. 25.

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