Indian GP frenzy wows Lewis Hamilton, the ex-champ

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His love for Indian food is well-known and chicken tikka is his top pick. However, it’s not his palate that drives Lewis Hamilton to the country, but the growing passion for Formula One here.

The former champ has come calling to India four times since 2008 for promotional events, but Tuesday’s visit to Bengaluru was his first to the city. The 26-year-old loves to keep coming back to India.

“I just loving coming to India, it’s just incredible”, said Hamilton after enthralling the crowd for two hours with his tricks on four wheels.

“I love Indian food, even during the Silverstone Grand Prix we ordered for Indian food. Back home in Hertfordshire, we also do a takeaway from an Indian restaurant. But what I saw today was amazing, I haven’t seen so many people in a Grand Stand at one time,” added the Brit.

Hamilton, in fact, was so overwhelmed by the response that he continued to dole out mesmerising tricks, despite the crowd breaking the barricades and getting perilously close to the track.

If one thought that the crowd frenzy had turned-off Hamilton’s mood, he was far from furious.

“Every time I come to India, I am excited to see the passion for F1. Some Grand Prixs have crazy crowds but this was the craziest I have seen,” he quipped. With the Indian GP lined up for October 30, Hamilton will be back soon and says he was looking forward to the experience.

“I have only seen some small images of the track and we haven’t tested on it yet. I am very excited about the race. I think it’s great for India and for FI that we are going out to new countries."

"We started coming to India four years ago and I could never imagine then that we could have a Grand Prix here. I’m going back and telling them how the people in India are crazy about F1. They love it and are so passionate.”