Lewis Hamilton insists the “storm” created by allegations he avoided paying tax on a private jet will not distract him from his bid to win the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend.
The BBC revealed this week that Hamilton was given a £3.3 million VAT refund following his purchase of the £16.5m plane in 2013.
The information came from the leaked Paradise Papers and has taken some of the gloss off Hamilton’s fourth F1 title, which he secured in Mexico last month, becoming the most successful British driver in history.
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But the 32-year-old has shrugged off the controversy and told The Daily Telegraph his sole focus is winning the penultimate race of the season in Sao Paulo.
“Obviously right now there is a bit of a storm surrounding me,” he said. “There are many different stories around, but I don't have anything to add to the whole scenario that has happened. It doesn't distract me from my core values, and also what I am here to do which is to try and win the Brazilian Grand Prix for a second time in my life.”
The Paradise Papers show that Hamilton – whose estimated wealth is £130m - avoided paying VAT on the private jet by importing it to the Isle of Man.
It is not the first time Hamilton has been the subject of criticism this year, having disappointed fans by skipping the build-up to the British Grand Prix in July to go on a short break to Mykonos instead.
He responded with victory at Silverstone and appears equally determined to take this latest furore in his stride.
“I have just come back from an eight-day holiday with close family and friends and had the best time ever,” he told the Daily Mail. “So I come here with this greatest feeling, amazing energy, and want to absorb that positive energy and try to shine my light as bright as I can here in Brazil.
“I have had this huge wave of positive energy and nothing can really dent that. I carry that here and I am solely focused on trying to win the race this weekend.”
Despite already having wrapped up the title, Hamilton told the BBC he has no intention of taking it easy at Interlagos or in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
“Yes the championship is done,” he said. “But I still have two races. It is important to win those two races to continue to solidify what I have worked on this year.
“If I was to sit back now and just relax and let someone else take the glory, sure it would be nice for other people but that is not what I am about.”
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