Five times Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton has clarified his comments where he called India a “Poor Country” after facing backlash from his Indian fans.
His clarification comes after people in India did not take kindly to his statement where he called it a poor country. “My reference was that a grand prix there felt strange to drive past homeless people and then arrive in a huge arena where money was not an issue,” he wrote in Instagram and Twitter.
Please read 🇮🇳❤️ pic.twitter.com/UtXRvcP74A
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) November 15, 2018
“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,” the 33-year-old Briton said.
In an earlier conversation with the BBC about his experience in India, he said, “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.”
After facing backlash, he took to Twitter to clear his stand. His tweet got mixed reactions from his fans. While some agreed with him, others pointed out that the economy is growing to be the fifth largest soon.
https://twitter.com/AmrutAtre/status/1063070889179340801
India will overtake UK this year as the world's fifth biggest economy
Just wait and watch dude..— Ankit tiwari (@Ankit82859) November 15, 2018
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff supported the World champion and claimed that his words were “spun out of context.”
“He spoke with empathy about India and the painful contrast between wealth and poverty that we face while traveling the globe as sporting ambassadors,” he said in a statement.
Toto: “It is once again unbelievable to me how the words and the meaning of Lewis get spun out of context in this way. He spoke with empathy about India and the painful contrast between wealth and poverty that we face while travelling the globe as sporting ambassadors.” (1/2) https://t.co/4YYazNj4ot
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) November 15, 2018
“Lewis did not criticize the nation and his words were those of a thoughtful and considered champion. The only fault here lies with the people who have twisted his words to mean something else entirely,” Wolff said.
Toto: ”Lewis did not criticise the nation and his words were those of a thoughtful and considered champion. The only fault here lies with the people who have twisted his words to mean something else entirely.” (2/2) https://t.co/4YYazNj4ot
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) November 15, 2018