Pranks failed to throw Lewis off course

Sunday 9th November 2008

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has revealed that there were several attempts to disrupt Lewis Hamilton's preparations ahead last weekend's all-important Brazilian Grand Prix.

Besides getting booed every time he stepped onto the Interlagos track, Hamilton was also on the receiving end of a couple of pranks in the build-up to the race. Brazilian comedians threw a toy black cat, a sign of bad luck in Brazil, at Hamilton during a sponsor's event. They also handed the McLaren driver a football shirt of Vasco da Gama - a team renowned for finishing as runners-up.

Hamilton and his father, Anthony, both shrugged off the prank. Hamilton senior said it was "extremely unprofessional", adding: "We've a black cat at home and she has been extremely positive for us."

Team boss Dennis says there were also attempts to disrupt Hamilton's sleep before Sunday's race.

"We had lots of things thrown at us," he told The Times. "The black cat [a toy one, signifying bad luck, was thrown towards Hamilton on a Brazilian chat show], efforts to disrupt Lewis' sleep, telephone calls, threats of putting an all-night samba band into Lewis' hotel, all sorts of silly things - but you smile, you don't waste energy on it and just get on with the job.

"The team was almost eerily calm, everyone was focused. We were so strong in the last two races; succeed or fail, we were going to do so together, but we did it, and did it our way.

"People can criticise, can jibe, but we did it in a very fair, sporting way."

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